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Will We Ever See An Unscripted Grand Slam Final Again?
20 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Bios
Carlos vs Sinner was the perfect business plan Grand Slam final pitting two Nike Rolex high profile stars against each other, world no. 1 and 2.
The way the ATP World Tour has been set up suggests we may not see an unexpected, unscripted Grand Slam final – for a very long time.
Sinner and Carlos are clearly just too good for the rest of the pack. Besides the 38 year old Djokovic, there are no apparent threats to the Spanish powerhouse or the Italian baseline bomber.
It does not seem possible that the tennis world will be treated to see a Grand Slam final of outsiders any time soon.
A Grand Slam final such as Guillermo Coria vs Gaston Gaudio or Marat Safin vs Thomas Johansson or Kei Nishikori vs Marin Cilic or Marcelo Rios vs Petr Korda or Yevgeny Kafelnikov vs unseeded Thomas Enqvist seems impossible with the way things are now arranged.
Back in previous decades, the second and third tier ATP players could get hot and inflict major damage – Marat Safin, Guillermo Canas, Martin Verkerk, Gustavo Kuerten, 17 year old Michael Chang, Boris Becker, Marcos Baghdatis, Andrei Medvedev, Alberto Berasetequi, Mal Washington or Cedric Pioline. Now it seems impossible for players like Stefanos Tsitsipas, Joao Fonseca, Tommy Paul, Reilly Opelka, Francisco Cerundolo, Alex de Minaur, Ugo Humbert, Denis Shapovalov, Jiri Lehecka, Jakub Mensik, Learner Tien, Lorenzo Musetti, Dino Prizmic, Justin Engel, etc. to suddenly rise up and become world beaters.
The way things are now, the ATP hierarchy is set and it’s Carlos and Sinner at the top and their duopoly could maintain for the rest of the decade … or beyond.
Gustavo Kuerten · Jakub Mensik · Marat Safin · Marin Cilic
Sam · September 10, 2025 at 5:36 am
Zzzzzzzzzzzzz.
I’ll set my alarm clock for about 10 years from now. 😏
Scoop Malinowski · September 10, 2025 at 8:12 am
Sam, they actually might make every grand slam final Carlos vs Sinner for the next 5-10 year, that seems to be the plan
Steve · September 10, 2025 at 6:23 pm
Give Fonseca two years and we’ll see.
Scoop Malinowski · September 10, 2025 at 9:38 pm
This year Fonseca was on track ranking wise and results, same timeline as young Federer at same age but Wimbledon and US Open flops stalled his progression. He needs a big 2026 to close the gap on Federer at same age. Every great young player has their own timelines and progressions.
Sam · September 10, 2025 at 9:57 pm
Scoop, as far Alcaraz and Sinner go, I’ve heard lots of folks say that neither one—at least at this point—measures up to the level of the Big 3 in terms of the quality of their tennis.
Someone else also said that, if these two are even still playing tennis at 38, they probably won’t be half as good then as Djokovic is now. And I suspect that assessment is right. 🧐
Scoop Malinowski · September 11, 2025 at 8:43 am
Sam there is a rush invalidate Djokovic’s records and supremacy and this is one of their schemes to erase the goat. The fake news media never said Djokovic’s level was above and beyond Fedal but I did. I asked Novak in who he projected could take to tennis to a higher level above him, here is his answer. I remember he liked this question.
catcherine · September 12, 2025 at 3:44 am
These conversations go on and on in all sports. Not long ago I had an argument about who was/is the greatest batsman in cricket (Americans shut their eyes and ears) and we both agreed Donald Bradman.
Bradman played his last signicant game in 1948.
Scoop Malinowski · September 12, 2025 at 8:30 am
Never heard of Donald Bradman, I don’t know cricket at all but I think I know one name people talk about Vir Kohli and the only reason I remember this name is because I used to play a kid in tennis a few years ago with the same exact name.
catherine · September 12, 2025 at 3:52 pm
Virat Kohli was until recently the Indian cricket captain. Doubt it’s the same one – if so he probably chose the right sport.
Scoop Malinowski · September 12, 2025 at 9:12 pm
The Vir Kohli I know is in college now, good solid young player. Your Vir Kohli is the Djokovic goat of cricket?
Sam · September 18, 2025 at 2:01 am
Sam there is a rush invalidate Djokovic’s records and supremacy and this is one of their schemes to erase the goat.
Okay, Scoop, that makes sense.
The fake news media never said Djokovic’s level was above and beyond Fedal but I did.
You mean all during Djokovic’s career?
I asked Novak in who he projected could take to tennis to a higher level above him, here is his answer. I remember he liked this question.
Where’s his answer?? 😏
Sam · September 18, 2025 at 2:52 am
So far Sinner looks like a total complete puppet. It’s so odd how is aura and demeanor are so subdued and almost evoking shame. He should be so proud and thrilled by his success. It almost looks like he’s embarrassed by how much extra help he has gotten to get to where he is.
Maybe he’s embarrassed by his training partner Signore Clostebol. 😹
Scoop Malinowski · September 18, 2025 at 8:02 am
No, Djokovic exceeded Fedal in 2018 2019 is when at Miami Open I asked him, “Federer lifted the sport to a higher level above Sampras, then Nadal took it a notch higher and now you have taken it a level even higher. The natural progression is that somebody will do it next after you, which young players do you think can do this? He mentioned several players as having the potential – Hurkacz, Felix, but I remember he left out Tsitsipas. I will try to find the exact quote, it’s in my Facing Djokovic book.
Scoop Malinowski · September 18, 2025 at 8:18 am
Sinner could not be more dull than he is. He’s in the Laver Cup but it will be a shocker if he does or says anything off script or remotely buzzworthy. Also, the off season exos are being scheduled and Carlos vs Foe and Emma vs Osaka will happen in Newark, NJ in December. But I’ve seen no exos for Sinner anywhere this off season, he had none last off season either. Zero demand to see Sinner. The promoters can’t sell Sinner is what the message is.
Sam · September 27, 2025 at 12:56 am
The natural progression is that somebody will do it next after you, which young players do you think can do this?
He mentioned several players as having the potential – Hurkacz, Felix, but I remember he left out Tsitsipas.
Was that an April Fool’s joke or something? 😹 Those players aren’t even on the same planet as him in terms of skill.
Sam · September 27, 2025 at 1:00 am
Zero demand to see Sinner. The promoters can’t sell Sinner is what the message is.
Speaking of Sinner, aka Il Dopatore, what do you think of the harsh ban given to this 21-year-old Kazakh player?
https://tennisuptodate.com/tennis-news/kazakhstan-young-player-handed-four-year-ban-after-failing-two-dope-tests
Scoop Malinowski · September 27, 2025 at 8:19 am
Sam, At that time all those players were on the fast track to stardom, Shapo, too. It was before Carlos, Sinner.
Scoop Malinowski · September 27, 2025 at 8:21 am
Sinner has been left out of the Riyadh Season Six Kings exo also. It’s a crying shame all these banned players don’t get the wrist slap Sinner got, it’s terrible injustice and a bad look for the sport. Shame on everyone involved.
Sam · October 6, 2025 at 4:15 am
Funny how if you’re a “nobody,” the governing bodies actually do seem to care if you dope. 😛 Or more like, they care that it makes the sport look bad. But if you’re bringing in the megabucks, then all is forgiven. 🤑
Scoop Malinowski · October 6, 2025 at 9:04 am
It’s not a certainty Sinner actually brings in the money. For the second off season in a row, he has no exhibitions set up. No demand to see him. He is not a ticket seller.