With Djokovic, Nadal and Federer all approaching the end of their careers, who could be the ‘new big three’ to dominate men’s tennis?
Carlos Alcaraz, you have our attention.
The 18-year-old Spaniard claimed the biggest win of his young career, winning the Miami Open in straight sets over Norway’s Casper Rudd.
Alcaraz is one of the brightest prospects rising up the ATP ranks. He’s potentially one of tennis’ next superstars, taking over the likes of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.
In a potential sign, he pinched one of Djokovic’s records, the youngest men’s champion in Miami Open history.
It sparks curiosity as to how far he can go and whether he’d be one of the ATP’s next ‘big three’. So let’s unpack what that hypothetical trio might look like.
Carlos Alcaraz
The world number 11 has been on an incredible rise and was not even in the top 100 a year ago. Dubbed ‘the new Nadal’ due to his power hitting game, Alcaraz’s Miami Open win sees his 2022 record sit at 18-2 overall.
Alcaraz is making huge progress in his tennis career after getting to the third round of last year’s French Open as a qualifier, making the US Open quarter-finals and winning in Rio in February.
After recently winning a tough, three set semi-final battle against Alcaraz at Indian Wells, Nadal was full of praise for his young compatriot.
“I think he will be unstoppable in terms of his career. He has all the ingredients. He has the passion. He’s humble enough to work hard,” Nadal said.
Daniil Medvedev
The 26-year-old Russian became the world number one in February 2022 after going down to Nadal in an epic five set match at the Australian Open final.
Medvedev’s milestone saw him become the first men’s number one other than Djokovic, Nadal, Federer and Andy Murray since Andy Roddick in February 2004.
Medvedev is a four-time Grand Slam finalist and won the 2021 US Open against Djokovic, with the loss denying the Serbian star the calendar Grand Slam.
The Russian recently shocked the tennis world after he announced he would be undergoing surgery on a hernia, meaning he will likely miss the French Open.
Alexander Zverev
The German is a former junior world number one and achieved a career-high ranking of number three as a 20-year-old in 2017, becoming the youngest top three player since Djokovic, 20, in 2007.
Zverev reached his first Grand Slam final at the US Open in 2020 as he lost to Dominic Thiem in five sets.
Zverev is known for his fiery attitude and was recently disqualified from the Mexican Open after he furiously attacked the umpire’s chair with his racquet during a men’s doubles match.
Other contenders
Greek star and world number five Stefanos Tsitsipas, Italian Matteo Berrettini, beaten Miami Open finalist Casper Rudd, Russian Andrey Rublev and 21-year-old Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime.
