Rune's bold claim that he can defeat Alcaraz and Sinner has been labeled a farce, with fans still favoring Djokovic.

Following Rune's recent injury recovery update, discussions resurfaced about his previous assertion that he could surpass Alcaraz and Sinner, raising more skepticism about the Dane's chances.

The fact that Alcaraz and Sinner have dominated Grand Slam tournaments for two straight years has sparked widespread discussion within and beyond the tennis world.

Supporters see this as the dawn of a new era, eagerly anticipating these two to break more Grand Slam records set by past legends; meanwhile, critics argue that this duo’s dominance harms the overall development of men's tennis. For instance, Russian tennis veteran Kafelnikov openly stated that Sinner and Alcaraz are making matches predictable, which diminishes the sport's entertainment value.

Serena Williams’ former coach, Mouratoglou, sided with Kafelnikov, suggesting that while the Russian legend hopes someone will eventually challenge Alcaraz and Sinner’s Grand Slam dominance, the key to beating them lies in having the confidence and determination Djokovic once had when he believed he could overcome Federer and Nadal.

Many observers, considering the current state of men's tennis, agree that it is unlikely anyone will emerge soon to challenge them. However, Rune expressed in an interview, “Watching Carlos and Yannick compete at that level is inspiring, but I also believe I can beat them.”

Rune gave two reasons: first, his aggressive and committed mindset during matches makes him dangerous; second, his ability to execute a variety of shots with a simplified approach on court allows him to be versatile.

Once Rune’s remarks were publicized during the Davis Cup, many mocked him. Since he made these comments while avoiding playing Sinner or Alcaraz, some said, “If Alcaraz hadn’t withdrawn from the Davis Cup and faced him directly, I wonder if Rune would still say such things.”

Others believe that since Rune is so confident, he must have received expert guidance or developed some effective tactics to counter Sinner and Alcaraz. Otherwise, given that most think no contender will appear soon, his bold statements seem like asking for trouble.

The skepticism toward Rune is not without reason.

Since winning the Paris Masters in 2022 by defeating Djokovic, Rune has not made significant progress in Masters 1000 or higher-level tournaments. Critics mockingly point out that a player who has yet to reach a Grand Slam semifinal claiming he can beat Sinner and Alcaraz is hard to believe.

Some even emphasize that rather than backing Rune to defeat Alcaraz and Sinner, they prefer to support Djokovic.

In a recent interview, Djokovic discussed the current performances of Sinner and Alcaraz, subtly implying that he feels somewhat powerless now, which explains why the Serbian star is calling for someone to step up and challenge the young duo.

Although Djokovic himself seems to acknowledge he can no longer easily overcome Alcaraz and Sinner, many still consider him the most reliable candidate to defeat these two rising stars because of his consistent performance and competitive strength.

Looking at this year’s completed Grand Slams, Djokovic is one of the few players to reach the semifinals in all four majors. His failure to advance further was due to injuries at the Australian Open against Zverev and losses to Sinner and Alcaraz at the French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open.

Reaching such stages in Grand Slams and having opportunities to face Alcaraz or Sinner shows Djokovic’s outstanding level. Thus, if one were to pick the player most threatening to the two, Djokovic would be the top choice. Compared to Rune, whose best Grand Slam result is only the quarterfinals, the answer is clear about who has a better chance to challenge their dominance.

Interestingly, just after Rune confidently claimed he could beat Alcaraz and Sinner, he lost to Spanish player Martinez in the Davis Cup, leaving many speechless.

What further dampens confidence in Rune’s ability to challenge Alcaraz and Sinner is his recent severe Achilles tendon injury.

Before this serious injury, Rune had not made major waves in tennis. While recovering competitiveness after the injury is already commendable, many firmly believe it is impossible for him to improve drastically enough to defeat Sinner and Alcaraz.

Some bluntly say, looking back at Rune’s claim to beat Sinner and Alcaraz and his certainty in doing so, unless his post-injury performance is miraculous, it’s safe to conclude his statements were merely a joke. They still place their hopes on Djokovic as a more reliable option!(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Starry Moon River)