In the pantheon of tennis greats, the names of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic resonate with a certain reverence. Their collective dominance over the sport, termed as the reign of the ‘Big 3,’ has been an awe-inspiring spectacle. Today, only Djokovic continues to uphold their legacy as the remaining torchbearer. However, amidst the twilight of this era, a new star is rising from the birthplace of the famous ‘La Tomatina’ festival. Spanish sensation Carlos Alcaraz, with his 4 Grand Slam (GS) titles, is rapidly carving his niche in the tennis world. Recently, he shared his perspective on the speculated emergence of the next generation’s ‘Big 3.’
For nearly two decades, Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic reigned supreme in men’s professional tennis, amassing an incredible 66 GS titles between them. Today, Djokovic leads the trio with a record 24 major wins, followed by Nadal’s 22 and Federer’s 20. Their supremacy went beyond mere trophy counts; they consistently held the world’s top ranking for an astounding 947 weeks, roughly equivalent to 18 years. They also held the top three ATP rankings together 8 times, reflecting their unmatched consistency and dominance on the court.
Recently, Alcaraz was asked to weigh in on the legacy of the ‘Big 3’ and to identify current players who could potentially match or even surpass their extraordinary achievements. Speaking to El Nuevo Día, Alcaraz acknowledged the high benchmark set by the trio, but expressed his skepticism about the possibility of a similar rivalry emerging in the future.
Alcaraz’s rise to prominence, along with the impressive performance of Jannik Sinner, who clinched the Australian Open despite recent controversy, has led to speculation about them becoming the modern generation’s ‘Big 2.’ However, the young Spaniard was quick to highlight the enormity of the task ahead. To match, or even come close to the legendary records of the ‘Big 3,’ they would need to secure at least 35 more GS titles, excluding Djokovic’s ongoing tally.
Beyond discussing the prospects of the new ‘Big 3,’ Alcaraz also shared his experiences of playing against the legendary trio. He has faced both Nadal and Djokovic multiple times, leading to an enriching experience that he savors. Although he never had a chance to compete against Federer on the ATP Tour, he has had three encounters with Nadal and eight with Djokovic. Reflecting on these experiences, Alcaraz expressed pride and admiration for these icons of the sport.
Currently, Alcaraz is preparing for the Battle of Legends in Puerto Rico, where he will compete against Frances Tiafoe in a charity match. Following this, he will participate in the BNP Paribas Open, starting on March 3, where he has already claimed two championships. With Alcaraz’s star on the rise, the question isn’t whether he will be a part of the next ‘Big 3,’ but rather, how he will shape the future of this magnificent sport.
