India, Sept. 8 -- If two players clash in the final of three out of the four Grand Slams in the year, you know you are onto something. If two players are world No.1 (11,540 points) and No.2 (10,780) by a comfortable margin (Alexander Zverev at No.3 has 5,930), you know you are onto something. And if those two players are aged 22 and 24, you know it is just the start of that journey.

Between them, world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz and world No.2 Jannik Sinner have won the last eight Grand Slams on the trot (four each), and the gulf between them and the others is massive. It is heartening that each has found in the other a rival who will push them to seek even greater heights. Take Alcaraz out of the picture for Sinner or Sinner for Alcaraz, and t...