Carlos Alcaraz is the man Jim Courier expects to end up with more Grand Slam titles than Jannik Sinner by the time both players have packed away their rackets. The former world No. 1 delivered the verdict on the “Off Court with Greg Rusedski” podcast, as reported by Tennis365.

Courier, who won four majors in the early 1990s, stopped short of calling it a straightforward prediction. He framed the race as one that bodies, not forehands, will probably settle, pointing to Alcaraz’s youth and present lead on the biggest stages but cautioning that injuries are likely to dictate the outcome.

“I think the easy answer is Carlos because he’s younger and he’s ahead at this point,” Courier told the podcast. “But injuries, I think, are gonna dictate it.”

The tally that sets the debate

Alcaraz is currently out in front on the Grand Slam ledger. He completed the career Grand Slam at the 2026 Australian Open, his seventh major, becoming the youngest man to do so.

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Sinner sits on five. The Italian added a second Wimbledon crown in 2026 alongside two Australian Open titles and the 2024 US Open.

The gap is two majors, but it has grown this autumn for reasons that have nothing to do with the scoreboard.

Sinner’s season ended on a knee

Sinner announced on 6 October 2026 that he was done for the year, choosing treatment for persistent knee inflammation over a rushed return.

“At the moment, I also need to think about my long-term career,” Sinner said in a statement carried by Al Jazeera. “I will do everything possible to get back to 100 percent.”

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The decision pulled him out of the ATP Finals in Turin, where he had won the last two editions, and out of Italy’s defense of the Davis Cup. Reports around the injury have variously described extra-articular tendon inflammation, a suspected iliotibial band issue, and a small chondral fissure in the knee, but no formal diagnosis was published.

Alcaraz arrives in Turin with Paris in the bag

Alcaraz lifted his first Paris Masters trophy on 8 November, beating Ben Shelton 7-6(5), 7-5 for his ninth Masters 1000 title.

“It is something I have been chasing for a long time,” Alcaraz said after the match. “Some of the toughest defeats I ever had in my career I have had here.”

With Sinner absent, he now heads to Turin as the clear favorite for the year-end title.

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Courier’s second storyline: a coaching reshuffle

Part of the picture, Courier argued, is a change inside the Sinner camp. Darren Cahill is stepping back from the touring role at the end of 2026, and Magnus Norman is joining Simone Vagnozzi on the Italian’s team from 2027. Norman previously guided Stan Wawrinka to three Grand Slam titles.

Courier told Tennis365 that Norman would be at the top of any shortlist for an available top coach, and described the switch as a perfect like-for-like replacement for the understated style Sinner has built around.

The ATP Finals run from 15 to 22 November at the Inalpi Arena in Turin, with the main-draw matches starting on Sunday.

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