Is today's tennis truly more thrilling than the era of the Big Three? Alexander Zverev believes so, arguing that the sport has evolved into a faster and more physically demanding spectacle.
Zverev, who emerged onto the scene when Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic were at their absolute zenith, witnessed firsthand their unparalleled dominance. During their reign, these three titans collectively amassed an astonishing 66 Grand Slam titles. It was a period where breaking through for a major title was exceptionally rare, with only a select few like Juan Martin del Potro, Andy Murray, Stan Wawrinka, and Marin Cilic managing to interrupt their streak. However, the landscape began to shift significantly around 2022. Federer retired that year, and Nadal clinched his final major in 2022 before stepping away from the game in 2024.
But here's where it gets interesting: the perceived 'open door' for new champions didn't necessarily lead to a wider spread of Grand Slam winners. Instead, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have rapidly ascended, claiming four of the last eight major titles between them over the past two years. This has led to a debate about the current state of the sport.
World No. 3 Zverev, who was the last player outside of Alcaraz and Sinner to reach a Grand Slam final (losing to Sinner at the 2025 Australian Open), was asked to compare the challenge of reaching a major final during the Big Three's era versus today. He explained, "It’s a complicated question because back then the Slams were kind of set. [In] Australia, Novak was winning, Roland Garros was kind of Rafa’s Slam to lose, and Wimbledon was always between Roger and Novak." He continued, "There were maybe not as many openings, but that does not mean that tennis is worse now. I think tennis got better, tennis got quicker, tennis got faster, tennis got more physical."
Zverev elaborated that players might have perceived certain Slams as almost pre-determined, with the US Open perhaps being the most open. "But at the same time, the last two years, all four majors were going to Sinner and Alcaraz all the time. Maybe it changes this year, of course I am hoping it changes this year." He also pointed out that the surfaces have become more uniform, allowing for greater unpredictability. "I talked about it a lot last year, I think the surfaces got much more similar to each other where anyone can beat anyone on every surface, while back then it wasn’t the case."
And this is the part most people miss: Zverev acknowledges the current dominance of Alcaraz and Sinner but remains optimistic about future shifts. "The last two years showed us that Jannik and Carlos are dominating, but maybe it’s going to change."
So, what do you think? Is Zverev right that tennis is better now, or do you miss the era of the Big Three's consistent dominance? Let us know in the comments below!
