Renowned former Italian tennis player Paolo Lorenzi recently shared his perspective on the impact of the Big 3—Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic—on modern tennis. According to Lorenzi, the dominance of the Big 3 created a challenging scenario for the subsequent generation, with the search for their successors being perhaps too hasty.
Lorenzi stated, “The Big 3 were either too dominant, or the generation that followed wasn’t competitive enough to challenge them, allowing them to reign at the top level for 20 years. During that time, it was primarily them. ATP Masters 1000 or Grand Slam tournaments would see, at most, players like Andy Murray or David Ferrer reaching the semi-finals, but progressing further was challenging for them.”
He further emphasized the eagerness in seeking the next tennis phenomena, pointing out that players like Alexander Zverev and Stefanos Tsitsipas, who were expected to follow in their footsteps, have not proven to be at their level. Consequently, there is now an opportunity for the younger generation to make their mark in the tennis world.
Acknowledging the changing landscape, Lorenzi highlighted the emergence of players like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner as top contenders capable of competing for titles alongside Djokovic, Nadal, and the legendary Roger Federer. He suggested that the era dominated by the Big 3 and Andy Murray may be unparalleled and unlikely to be replicated in the future.
In an exclusive interview with Marca, rising star Carlos Alcaraz shared his views on the perennial GOAT (Greatest of All Time) debate. Alcaraz acknowledged that opinions vary, with some considering Djokovic the best based on numbers, but he believes the GOAT question goes beyond statistics. Expressing respect for all three—Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer—Alcaraz emphasized their status as the best in history.
Looking ahead, Alcaraz expressed his desire to challenge Nadal at Roland Garros, stating, “Of course, I would like to face him in any tournament. It would be incredible to meet him on the court again.” Alcaraz will have an opportunity to fulfill this wish in the exhibition match “The Netflix Slam” in Las Vegas, with his ultimate goal being to compete against Nadal in an official Tour event.
