Tommy Haas Speaks Candidly About Jannik Sinner

Former world No. 2 Tommy Haas spoke about Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz in an interview on the Behind the Athletes podcast: “In terms of entertainment value, Carlos is probably my favorite player right now because he can do it all. He has great touch, he has a lot of variety—you never know if his forehand will come out at 180 kilometers per hour or be a drop shot, or if he’ll stay behind the baseline on the return or come forward; it’s truly phenomenal to watch him play.”

But the Italian is just as extraordinary, in his own way: “With Sinner, you know what to expect, but as soon as he has the opportunity to take control of a rally, he does. He hits the ball with tremendous power and great precision, deep into the court.”

According to Haas, Sinner still has room to grow: “There’s always something you can improve. I think Jannik can improve his net play and his touch shots, like drop shots. When he’s at his best, he finds areas of the court where he practically never makes a mistake, despite the speed of his shots. And from the baseline, it’s really hard to outplay him.”

The comparison between Sinner and Alcaraz, after all, is one of the most hotly debated topics in the world of tennis. There’s no shortage of prominent opinions: Stan Wawrinka, a three-time Grand Slam champion, has said he gives the Spaniard a slight edge for “versatility and tactical options,” while Todd Woodbridge sees Sinner as the natural heir to Novak Djokovic due to his mental toughness and consistency. Lorenzo Musetti has also weighed in on the topic, acknowledging that Alcaraz plays “the most beautiful and well-rounded tennis,” while admitting that Sinner is “nearly perfect in terms of composure and mental clarity.” For his part, Patrick Mouratoglou preferred not to take sides, emphasizing how the two are elevating the entire tennis world to levels of global attention that have been missing for years.