Agassi analyses Alcaraz, Sinner, Djokovic: Who moves 'like a flying saucer'?

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have reshaped the landscape of the ATP Tour with their meteoric rise and distinct, electrifying styles. One dominates with clinical precision and relentless efficiency, the other dazzles with raw athleticism and instinct.

As Sinner and Alcaraz continue to cement their status at No. 1 and No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings, respectively, eight-time major winner Andre Agassi weighed in with high praise and pointed insights on their game during a recent appearance on the ‘Served with Andy Roddick’ podcast. Hear more of the interview here.

A former World No. 1 and one of only eight men to complete the Career Grand Slam, Agassi is well placed to talk about movement and adaptation. He was particularly astonished by Alcaraz’s seamless transition between the surfaces.

“The thing that amazes me most watching Carlos play live is how little his speed diminishes [from] clay [to] grass,” said Agassi. “Most people who are fast, they go to grass, and their court coverage comes down five per cent, just because you have to play really careful in the corners, you have to let your body weight move. Even if you slide into [certain shots], your first step out has to be very careful.

“Everybody's movement comes down a touch, but his didn’t. It’s like he trusted himself so much on the power of his second push that, running for a drop shot that caught him cold, on Centre Court at Wimbledon, he trusts that pause and then sticks on the jets and gets there. [He’s] like a flying saucer versus the F-15s. Everybody’s flying a plane and he’s changing altitudes, reversing, and his speed doesn’t diminish.”

During his career thus far, in which he has already won four major titles and become the youngest No. 1 in the history of the PIF ATP Rankings, Alcaraz has impressed with his raw physical gifts and willingness to compete.

“He’s still so raw. I hope he learns how to maximise, and we should enjoy watching him before he does, because it’s so much fun for the fans to watch how he plays the game,” Agassi explained. “But he still has so much more upside from a standpoint of longevity."

Sinner, who is one year older than Alcaraz, has strengthened his grip atop the PIF ATP Rankings over the past 12 months. He is completing his 52nd consecutive week at World No. 1 and is chasing a third consecutive major title at Roland Garros.

In contrast to Alcaraz’s instinct-driven brilliance, Agassi described Sinner as a model of precision and efficiency.

“Sinner is the exact opposite, he is constantly maximising. He’s never hit a ball he doesn’t really need to and when he does let one rip, it makes you wonder if he was forced to, what that gear would really look like,” said Agassi. “He’s taking 85 per cent cuts and his jab is like a straight right. Jannik just wants to take over and never look back.”

When it comes to Novak Djokovic, however, Agassi’s reverence reached another level. The 38-year-old might now be in the twilight of his career, but remains an ever-present threat at the top of the game. Djokovic is this week chasing a record 25th major title at Roland Garros.

“I see the greatest defensive player the game has ever seen, and shockingly, when he needs to be, possibly the greatest offensive player the game has ever seen,” said Agassi. “He’s like the boxer that needs to feel the glove hit him before he even engages.

“He goes into this lockdown mode, then you start throwing punches at him, then you get away with a few, then you start getting him engaged and he goes into hyper lockdown mode. Then he throws some offence in, and you’re thinking ‘I couldn’t win a point when he was on defence, now he’s on offence.’"