Former tennis star Marcos Baghdatis has provided a fascinating insight into the legendary 'Big Three', revealing that only Novak Djokovic ever made him feel truly powerless on court.
The Unbeatable Feeling Against Djokovic
The Cypriot, who once reached a career-high world ranking of eighth, faced Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic during his career. While he believed he could eventually triumph over Federer and Nadal, he confesses Djokovic presented a unique psychological hurdle. Baghdatis lost to a young Federer in the 2006 Australian Open final, yet always left the court thinking he could win next time. His experience against the Serbian legend was starkly different.
Speaking to Tennis365, Baghdatis recalled a specific match that cemented this feeling. "I think I once got a nice beating out of him, and it was in Indian Wells. It was a 6-1, 6-2," he said. "I came off the court, and I felt the guy gave me a lesson. I never felt like that with another player. I never felt like that with Roger or with Rafa." This singular experience defined his perception of Djokovic's dominance.
The Changing Landscape of Men's Tennis
The era of the 'Big Three', who collectively amassed 66 Grand Slam titles, is winding down. Federer retired in 2022 and Nadal in 2024, leaving Djokovic as the last man standing at 38. However, Baghdatis notes the Serbian's challenge is now twofold. He must contend with a slight decline in his own prowess while battling the new 'big two' of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
Baghdatis, who retired in 2019, believes Djokovic's chances of securing a record 25th Grand Slam are diminishing year by year. He stated, "He's still in the top five players in the world, he's still competing with the top two, even top three. So, he's still there. But how long, I think, depends only on him." The mental desire to compete at the highest level remains the key factor for Djokovic's continued career.
Fitness Battles and Historic Wins
Djokovic's current campaign is as much about managing his body as his rivals. He recently made history by becoming the oldest man to win an ATP Tour title at the Athens Open in November, claiming his 101st career trophy by defeating Lorenzo Musetti. Yet, this victory came with a cost; he played with strapping on his shoulder and subsequently withdrew from the ATP Tour Finals in Turin due to the ongoing injury.
In a social media post, Djokovic expressed his disappointment to fans, highlighting the physical toll. His immediate focus is on recovery for the Australian Open in Melbourne, which begins on January 12. Staying injury-free is now a critical component of his strategy to challenge Sinner and Alcaraz and add to his monumental Grand Slam haul.
Baghdatis's reflections underscore a pivotal shift in men's tennis. The aura of invincibility he felt from Djokovic now faces its greatest test from a new generation and the relentless passage of time, closing a chapter on one of sport's most dominant eras.
