Carlos Alcaraz's coach's comments on Wimbledon winner Jannik Sinner and Spaniard proven bang on

Juan Carlos Ferrero accurately predicted that Carlos Alcaraz and Italian ace Jannik Sinner would be at the forefront of the sport. Ferrero - who is Alcaraz's longtime tenniscoach - seems to have a keen eye for the future as the pair have since developed a fierce rivalry, clashing in some memorable matches.

The duo faced off in this year's Wimbledon final, where Sinner avenged his French Open defeat to Alcaraz, who had previously staged an epic comeback from two sets down to clinch the title at Roland-Garros. This win marked Sinner's first Grand Slam final victory at SW19, halting Alcaraz's run at the prestigious tournament of two consecutive Wimbledontitles.

Ferrero's vision for the future, first shared back in 2022, has been vindicated by the events of this tennis season. The former world No. 1 saw Alcaraz and Sinner not just as rising stars but as the next dominant forces in tennis.

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Reflecting on the potential of these young talents three years ago, Ferrero told the Daily Mail: "I said to someone that Sinner and Carlos could dominate the tour for the next 10 years.

"There are others like Alex Zverev, Dominic Thiem, Casper Ruud, Stefanos Tsitsipas. They're going to have chances to win Slams, for sure. But with respect, that's what I think."

The Spaniard noted that Alcaraz had not yet hit his peak at the time, likening his emerging rivalry with Sinner to the iconic El Clásico clash between football giants Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Ferrero added: "As I tell him, he's on 60 per cent of his game. He can improve a lot. Once you get to No. 1, it's not done. Opponents will be very motivated against him. It's like Real Madrid-Barcelona, there's a rivalry that gets you to increase your level."

Fast forward three years, and both Alcaraz and Sinner have won multiple Grand Slam titles, clashing often at the pinnacle of tennis tournaments. Out of their 13 head-to-head matches, Alcaraz has edged ahead with eight victories to Sinner's five.

Alcaraz boasts an impressive collection of five Grand Slam titles, with two Wimbledoncrowns, a pair of French Open victories, and a US Open title. Meanwhile, 23-year-old Sinner has clinched two Australian Opens – the one major eluding Alcaraz – as well as a US Open and Wimbledontitle.

After their latest duel at the All England Club, the 22-year-old was full of praise about his rivalry with Sinner, attributing the high quality and entertainment value of their matches to their deep mutual respect.

Alcaraz said: "Every time we play each other, I think our level is really high. We don't see a level like this. I don't see any player playing against each other having the level we're playing when we face each other.

"This rivalry, it's becoming better and better. We're playing in the finals of Grand Slams, finals of Masters and the best tournaments in the world. It's going to get better.

"I'm just really grateful for that because it gives me the opportunity to just give my 100 per cent every practice, every day, just to be better. The level that I have to maintain and I have to raise if I want to beat Jannik is really high."