Home / Sports / Shelton disputes Sinner/Alcaraz dominance fade
Shelton disputes Sinner/Alcaraz dominance fade
27 Oct
Summary
- Shelton questions premise of reduced Sinner/Alcaraz dominance.
- Sinner won five Masters 1000s and defended Wimbledon title.
- Alcaraz won Australian Open, then missed French Open and Wimbledon.
Ben Shelton, currently ranked world No. 4, has challenged the notion that the era of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz is waning, despite their significant injury layoffs in 2026. Speaking at the ATP 500 event in Basel, Shelton stated that the pair's dominance has not faded, pointing to their substantial victories. Sinner, for example, secured five Masters 1000 titles and defended his Wimbledon crown, finishing 2026 with a 44-3 record. Alcaraz claimed the Australian Open title in January but was sidelined for four months due to a wrist injury.
Despite his own career-best ranking following a US Open final appearance, Shelton described his 2026 season as a "roller coaster," not meeting his desired standard. He acknowledged early exits at Grand Slams and Masters 1000 events but noted his title wins in Dallas and Munich. Shelton expressed a desire for significant improvement in 2027. His recent form since the US Open has been a concern, with notable losses in Shanghai and Davis Cup.
In Basel, Shelton expressed optimism about the tournament's surface and atmosphere, aiming to turn his recent form around. He is set to face Aleksandar Kovacevic in the first round. The draw also features Novak Djokovic in the same half and marks the farewell tournament for Stan Wawrinka.
