Legacies can’t be rewritten, but the comparisons always loom. This stands true regardless of the sport. In tennis, the big three—Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic—were the ones to beat for over two decades. As they won an astonishing 66 Grand Slam titles in total, their rivalry produced some of the most iconic matches in the history of the sport. However, as Federer and Nadal hung up their rackets, the sport looked toward the rising stars Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. These two young rivals have proved their caliber in a short time, collectively winning seven Grand Slams. And, Rafael Nadal thinks they have it in them to take the wheel going forward?

On March 21, the Spanish maestro shared his thoughts on the sport with Cadena SER. He highlighted Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, emphasizing that their rivalry could match the intensity he experienced with Djokovic and Federer. “If we’ve done it, others can do it, and things are there to be improved. Obviously, there are two players who are above the rest: Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, and there were three of us for almost too many years,” Nadal said.

The Big Three captivated global audiences, filling arenas and breaking viewership records. Grand Slams reached nearly 2 billion viewers in 2024, while Wimbledon drew over 280 million viewers in 2022. Rafa further noted, “Thanks to the demands we set for each other, we’ve made our careers something that was difficult to imagine years ago, and now new generations are coming who will fight to surpass us.” But why only Jannik and Carlos out of the new generation?

Well, Sinner and Alcaraz have taken the tennis world by storm since 2020 and 2021, respectively. Their rivalry began gaining attention around 2021 and at this point, it’s Alcaraz who leads their head-to-head tally by 6-4.

It’s not just Rafael Nadal who believes these two can create a rivalry similar to Big 3, even the American legend Jim Courier sees that potential. During the Australian Open, he said, “We shall see how this year develops. There could be lots of twists and turns along the way, but listen, with him and Alcaraz. The star power at the youth level really is so immense here; they’re going to be selling tickets all over the world.”

While it’s yet to be seen if Jannik and Carlos can truly take over, Rafa emphasized that the Big Three set a high standard beyond numbers.

Rafael explains how the Big Three era inspires tennis’s next wave.

The epic rivalry between the Big 3 began to unfold when Federer first made his mark at the 2004 Miami Masters, and Djokovic burst onto the scene in 2006 at the French Open. Recently, on March 13, Nadal joined Andy Roddick on the ‘Served’ podcast to reflect on his incredible journey. With 22 Grand Slams and 92 singles titles to his name, Nadal shared some valuable insights into his legendary rivalry with Federer and Djokovic.

“We as rivals, I mean, I think we showed the world that we can be the biggest rivals, but at the same time we can be colleagues. I don’t say best friends but we can have a good personal relationship,” Nadal said. Their camaraderie set a high standard for sportsmanship, inspiring a new generation of players.

Continuing further, the Spaniard added, “I think that shows a positive example to the next generation. I am proud of that.” He emphasized that respect is paramount, noting, “We don’t fight against each other, we respect each other. And I think that helps this new generation to understand that you don’t need to hate the opponents.”

As they pass the torch, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are now making their mark. These young stars are not only impressive on the court but also display a level of sportsmanship reminiscent of their predecessors. And that’s what Nadal wants to see. “You can respect, you can appreciate the opponent because, in the end, they are the important part of your lives,” he remarked.

Do you agree Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have it in themto carry the Big 3’s legacy forward? Share your thoughts in the comments below!