BRIGHT FUTURE FOR TENNIS

Miami Open winner Sinner and Alcaraz’s rivalry ensures sport is in great hands’

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MIAMI Jannik Sinner's third victory of 2024, at the Miami Open on March 31, will lift the Italian to No.2 in the world and has convinced his coach, Darren Cahill, that tennis is set for years of exciting battles at the top.

Roger Federer has retired, Rafael Nadal is struggling with injuries and Novak Djokovic, 36, is entering the twilight of his career but Cahill, the Australian former coach of Andre Agassi, believes the 22year-old Sinner's rivalry with Spain's Carlos Alcaraz ensures a bright future for the sport.

"He's getting to play a sport that he loves and do it at the highest order - and he's loving every piece of his life at the moment. So he appreciates every single moment that is happening to him," Cahill said after Sinner's 6-3, 6-1 win over Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov in the final at Hard Rock Stadium.

"But he has also got his feet on the ground, knowing it's just a sport... And beyond this, while he's professional in everything he does, he enjoys his life. He's a normal 22year-old kid.

"So there's a lot to learn from him, a lot of good to learn from both him and Carlos.