A bold claim by John McEnroe at the 2025 French Open, echoed by Hubert Hurkacz in July, has ignited a debate: are Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner playing at a higher level than Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic did in their prime? As the young stars dominate men’s tennis, their performances fuel comparisons to the Big Three’s legendary era.
McEnroe, a three-time Wimbledon champion, suggested during Roland Garros that Alcaraz and Sinner, aged 22 and 23, would be favorites to beat peak Nadal on clay. “The tennis level right now is higher than I’ve ever seen,” he said, pointing to their ability to push each other in epics like the five-hour-29-minute French Open final, where Alcaraz rallied from two sets down to win 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(10-2).
Hurkacz, a former World No. 6 now ranked No. 41, added “The level is growing every year,” …“We can say [Alcaraz and Sinner’s] level is better than it was ten years ago, but that doesn’t mean Roger, Rafa, Novak couldn’t get to where we are now.”
Alcaraz and Sinner have won the last seven majors, with Sinner claiming the recent Wimbledon title for his fourth Slam and Alcaraz holding five, including Roland Garros 2025. Their rivalry, with Alcaraz leading 8-5 head-to-head, features three five-set Grand Slam battles, including a 2022 US Open quarterfinal and two 2025 finals. Sinner’s 77.3% career win rate trails Alcaraz’s 80.0%, but his 20 titles (vs. Alcaraz’s 21) and 9 Big Titles (Slams, Masters 1000s, ATP Finals) keep him close.
Both had success on all surfaces, many reflects excitement for their duopoly, though some argue the Big Three’s 20+ Slam hauls set an unmatched standard.
Mats Wilander, a former No. 1, recently talked about Sinner’s aggressive baseline play, noting he hits “harder and earlier” than anyone, while Alcaraz’s speed and variety create problems for any player and on any surface. Hurkacz, who beat Federer and Sinner but lost to Alcaraz in Rotterdam earlier this year, said their level motivates him to chase Slams despite recent injuries.
McEnroe compared their rivalry to his own with Björn Borg, with their contrasting styles. Yet, he cautioned that reaching the Big Three’s number Slams is unlikely due to their consistency.
Various opinions
There is no clear answer on this and everyone will surely have an opinion on the matter.
Alcaraz and Sinner’s 2025 form, outpaces the Big Three’s early careers in speed and intensity and possibly the level in general has gone up. But Federer’s elegance, Nadal’s grit and Djokovic’s defense, along with their records, set a longevity benchmark these two aren’t even close to match yet. Their rivalry could redefine tennis if they can stay injury-free and the future will show how they compare to the previous three legends of the game.
How do you compare the level of Sinner/Alcaraz vs Nadal/Federer/Djokovic? Let us know in the comments below!
What’s Next?
Alcaraz and Sinner will most likely face off again at the two Masters 1000 event in Canada and Cincinnati in the late summer, with Sinner favored at +130 and Alcaraz at +180 for the upcoming US Open.
