Legendary coach Rick Macci has offered a clear view on the ATP Tour race at the top of men’s tennis, saying he does not believe any current player will match the level set by Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.

Since the start of 2024, Alcaraz and Sinner have been the sport’s defining names, sharing five of the last 11 Grand Slam titles between them after Novak Djokovic collected his 24th and most recent major at the 2023 US Open. Their grip on the biggest stages has continued in 2026, with Alcaraz winning the Australian Open and Sinner taking Wimbledon. Alexander Zverev, meanwhile, captured his first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros.

Alcaraz now owns seven major titles, while Sinner has established himself as a five-time Grand Slam champion.

Among the younger names being discussed as possible long-term challengers are Rafael Jodar and Joao Fonseca. In an exclusive interview, Tennis365 asked Macci whether he believes those players can eventually compete with the two leaders of the game.

Macci was willing to acknowledge their potential, but drew a firm line when it came to the very top. “Fonseca can definitely be in the mix,” said Macci. “A lot of those guys are going to go into the top five because they’re so young.

“But, the way Sinner plays – he has firepower off both sides, and he can produce quality off of quality. He’s hitting the ball 80 miles an hour eight times in a row, and holding the baseline.

“And his mind’s made of granite — that’s why he’s number one on the planet! He has the most important thing, he doesn’t have all the motor skills like Carlos.

“Alcaraz, he checks every box. The only time he gets in trouble is when he has too many options. But what a good situation… his toughest opponent, a lot of times, is in the mirror. It’s not the other guy.

“So, these other guys can make a cameo and be top five, but no one that I see right now is going to be in that mix [with Alcaraz and Sinner], because they still have a few things not like them — whether it be a little different movement, or maybe not as strong at this or that.

“Whereas, Alcaraz checks every box, and the way Sinner plays, especially in 2026, you can’t penetrate the guy on any surface.”

Macci’s perspective carries particular weight. He has coached five future world No 1 players: Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Jennifer Capriati, Maria Sharapova and Andy Roddick.

A former world No. 6 has singled out one ATP player as “slightly better” than the others still standing at the 2026 Cincinnati Open.

The tournament lost its two biggest names before it even settled into the Masters 1000 stage, with Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz both withdrawing because of injuries. That opened the door for the rest of the field, but the top seeds have already fallen away in numbers.

In Cincinnati, the top five seeds were Alexander Zverev, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev and Alex de Minaur. None made the quarter-finals. Zverev, Auger-Aliassime and de Minaur were beaten in the last 16, Medvedev went out in the third round and Djokovic exited in the second.

That leaves sixth seed Taylor Fritz as the highest-ranked player in the last eight. Flavio Cobolli and Lorenzo Musetti are also among the top 10 seeds still alive, while the quarter-final line-up is completed by Tommy Paul, Thiago Agustin Tirante, Arthur Fils, Brandon Nakashima and Frances Tiafoe.

Fritz is the only Masters 1000 champion among the eight remaining players, thanks to his title in Indian Wells in 2022. Nakashima, Musetti and Tiafoe have all been Masters 1000 finalists, while none of the four players in the top half, Paul, Cobolli, Tirante and Fils, have reached a final at this level.

Still, Gilles Simon believes the Frenchman is the man to beat. The former ATP player and two-time Masters 1000 finalist wrote on Twitter/X: “Even if it’s close for me, @ArthurFils is slightly better than all the players who remain in the draw,” Simon wrote on Twitter/X.

“When you see his consistency in Masters 1000 events, even though he often arrives without much rhythm, it’s very impressive.

“I really hope he’s going to pull it off, come on mate.”

Fils responded with two hands folded in prayer emojis to show his appreciation.

The 22-year-old has reached the quarter-finals or better at five of the six Masters 1000 events he has played in 2026. He was forced to retire in the second round in Rome, but has also been a semi-finalist in Miami and Madrid this year. He is currently ranked No. 21.

The debate over Grand Slam prize money has been one of the defining tennis issues of 2026, with leading players on the ATP and WTA Tours pressing for a fairer split across the sport.

That pressure has already been visible this season. At Roland Garros, the top players staged a media boycott in support of their calls for better distribution. A similar action was discussed for Wimbledon before being abandoned at the last moment, leaving the US Open as the next major checkpoint in the wider dispute.

The American major has now responded with a landmark announcement. The 2026 US Open will pay out $108 million, a tournament record and a 20% rise on the 2025 total, which had itself set a new benchmark.

New USTA CEO Craig Tiley, who previously worked at the Australian Open said, “This is a significant first step in a multi-year investment in athletes as the US Open continues to be the best economic opportunity for players and the most valuable platform in tennis for players, fans and partners.

“We are proud to deliver record-setting prize money and expanded player benefits as well as providing a new platform to work together with players.”

The tournament has also unveiled a Player Support Programme and a Grand Slam Player Council. The support programme begins with a $2 million commitment in 2026, split equally between men and women, and is designed in a way that closely resembles the pension-like fund players have been seeking.

The new council is intended to improve communication between players and organisers, with the aim of reducing the tension that has marked parts of the 2026 season.

In a statement, Brian Vahaly, Chairman of the Board and President of the USTA. said: “The US Open has a long history of listening to players, and this player support program and Council builds on that commitment.

“We look forward to working directly with players to better understand the opportunities and challenges they face, and to continue finding meaningful ways to support them both on and off the court.”

Players have not yet said whether they will protest at the US Open, but the latest steps point toward a more constructive relationship.