Juan Carlos Ferrero, who once beat Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, believes Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are already filling the void left by the Big Three and could surpass their records.
Federer, Nadal and Djokovic won a combined 66 Majors and spent the equivalent of 18 years sharing the world No. 1 ranking during two decades of dominance. With Federer retired for four years and Nadal for almost two, while Djokovic continues on tour, there were fears men's tennis would suffer a lull. Ferrero, a former world No. 1 and Major winner who spent seven years coaching Alcaraz, has had a front-row seat to the rise of the sport's new young greats.
A rivalry already filling the void
Since their split last December, Alcaraz has continued to enjoy success. He won the Australian Open in January, becoming the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam. Ferrero also watched Alcaraz form an exciting rivalry with Sinner, who has five Grand Slam titles to the Spaniard's seven.
“Right now, we're seeing it with Carlos and Jannik, and I don't think it's that difficult,” Ferrero told Eurosport Spain when asked whether it would be difficult to see a repeat of the Big Three era. He also thinks other players are beginning to challenge those two.
“I think we're seeing a rivalry that we've already seen with one other player. Well, hopefully [Alexander] Zverev, or those close to him, whether they're ranked fourth or fifth, will raise their level and we can see a bit more competition among the Grand Slams. But it's difficult to predict that.”
On the right track
Ferrero acknowledged the scale of the Big Three's achievements. “I think what Rafa, Roger, and Novak have achieved... It's really hard to imagine someone winning so many Grand Slams in this day and age. But well, both Jannik and Carlos are getting there little by little. They're winning one or two Grand Slams each year. And well, for now, they're showing that they're on the right track.”
Alcaraz and Sinner haven't been as dominant in 2026 due to injuries. Alcaraz spent almost five months sidelined by a wrist injury, missing the French Open and Wimbledon. Sinner has been out since July and ended his season early with a knee injury.
Zverev takes advantage
Zverev, another of Ferrero's former pupils, has capitalised on their absence. The German lifted his first two Major titles this year at Roland Garros and the US Open, and will soon rise to No. 1 in the world as Sinner's ranking points from 2025 drop off.
Ferrero, the 2003 French Open champion, wasn't surprised to see Zverev make the most of his opportunities. “I think it's well-deserved. He's a player who I believe has been working towards this for a long time,” he said.
“Perhaps his level and development had stagnated a bit over the last three or four years. But in the last year and a half, I think he's realised this and has really been trying to improve. It just so happens that neither Carlos nor Jannik have been there. He's taken advantage of the opportunity. But I think that now, having seized that opportunity, he's going to be mentally stronger to try and compete on equal terms with them.”
