For two decades, men’s tennis was a three-man show. Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic didn’t just dominate—they owned the sport. Between them, they held the No. 1 ranking for a staggering 947 weeks—that’s 18 years at the top. But time catches up with everyone. Federer and Nadal have hung up their racket and Djokovic, while still going strong, is closer to the end than the beginning. So, who’s next? Who will carry tennis into its future? If you ask Serena Williams’ former coach, the answer is clear: Carlos Alcaraz.

Patrick Mouratoglou, who has coached players like Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka, recently shared why Alcaraz is built for this new era. Speaking on the UTS Tour, he broke down what makes the young Spaniard so special. ”If you look at Alcaraz for example, he’s more a puncher,” Mouratoglou said. “But it’s very interesting too because yes, he can do so many different things and he does everything so well. He drop shots, he comes to the net, unbelievable power, unbelievable touch. He can return volley and he does all this in a match. That’s crazy.”

However, he did highlight that the Spaniard is less consistent. Mouratoglou added, “Of course he’s not as consistent as Rafa or Novak at their peak or Sinner now, who’s incredibly consistent. But he’s more fiery.”

Despite his inconsistent form, where he faced quarterfinal exits at the Australian Open and Qatar Open recently, the legendary coach continues to put his faith on him.

The 21-year-old’s game is a complete package. He blends raw power with finesse, throwing in drop shots, volleys, and explosive baseline rallies with ease. His unpredictability makes him a nightmare for opponents and a dream for tennis fans. And that’s how he has built an extensive legacy at such a young age.

In 2022, he became the youngest World No. 1 in history at just 19 years, 4 months, and 6 days old. And he hasn’t slowed down since. The Spaniard already has four Grand Slam titles to his name. Even more impressively, two of them came against Novak Djokovic, a man with 24 Grand Slam trophies and an argument for being the greatest of all time. Beating Djokovic in a Slam final is rare. Doing it twice by 21? That’s different.

Tennis legend Andre Agassi summed it up best: “What I can tell you is Alcaraz defends like Novak, has power and spin like Nadal, and has hands and finesse like Federer.” That’s high praise. But what does Alcaraz himself think about going up against these legends?

Carlos Alcaraz opens up on competing against the ‘Big Three’

While Carlos Alcaraz never got the chance to battle Federer on the ATP Tour, he did share a practice session with him at the Rolex Shanghai Masters last year. Against Nadal, his idol, he’s already played three times, leading their head-to-head 2-1. And his rivalry with Djokovic has shaped up to be one of the most exciting ones in recent times. Who would have thought? With eight matches between them, Djokovic currently leads 5-3, including a recent win at the Australian Open quarterfinals.

Speaking to El Nuevo Día, the 4-time Grand Slam champion reflected on what it’s been like to face these legends.“Well, with Federer I coincided much less. With Rafa in his last years and with Djokovic I am still fighting. But it is a source of pride; in the end they are three of the best in the history of our sport. To have coincided even a little with some, and with others, for me has been incredible. They are references. Rafa has been my idol and the other two, I have great respect for what they have done, and great admiration. So, having shared with them, for me it has been incredible.”

For a young player, that’s the dream—to compete against the players who inspired you. And in Alcaraz’s case, he isn’t just competing. He’s winning. Right now, Alcaraz is in Puerto Rico for the Battle of Legends, where he’ll take on Frances Tiafoe in a charity match at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum. After that, Alcaraz will head to the Indian Wells tournament which kicks off on March 3. He’s already a two-time champion there and will be looking to defend his title. If he does so, he will join Djokovic and Federer as the only players to win the Indian Wells three times.

With his skill set, mentality, and hunger for success, Alcaraz has everything it takes to carry tennis into its next chapter. Can he build a legacy as great as the Big Three?