The era of the Big Three in world tennis is coming to an end. With Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer already retired, only Novak Djokovic remains from that legendary generation. In this context, a former player with an impressive Grand Slam record shared his thoughts on Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner as the future dominators of the sport.
“The last era has been the best in tennis history, with three, almost four, true phenomenons who would have dominated any other generation,” said Feliciano Lopez in a recent interview with Agencia EFE. Acknowledging this, he turned his attention to the new generation of players: “If we compare it to that, of course, it won’t be as positive.”
However, Lopez then highlighted two of the ATP Tour’s new stars. “We have Sinner and Carlos leading the way in tennis worldwide, and their rivalry will only improve over time because both will keep getting better, and that’s what we should focus on,” he said.
“It’s a blessing for tennis at a time when the Big Three is fading, and only Djokovic remains, that these two phenoms have emerged. I would focus on that,” the former Spanish player added. “Of course, without overlooking all the other great talent, apart from Sinner and Alcaraz, that is also very good.”
Feliciano Lopez plays a backhand in their men’s first round match of Roland Garros against Federico Coria.
Lopez responds to critics of Alcaraz
In the same interview, Feliciano Lopez was asked about the recent criticisms of Carlos Alcaraz, particularly regarding claims that he is inconsistent. “People say he’s irregular, but we can’t pay attention to all the comments because you’ll go crazy,” the former player explained.
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“Carlitos has an incredible personality, spectacular tennis, and he’s still on his path… Personally, I’m very excited because I have many years ahead to enjoy watching him,” Lopez added.
And addressing concerns about Alcaraz’s future, he assured: “I don’t know what we should be worried about. He’s a player who, at 21 years old, has already won four Grand Slams, is healthy, and has a bright future ahead of him. Honestly, the only thing Alcaraz makes me feel is excitement because I have many more years to enjoy him.”
Who is Feliciano Lopez?
Feliciano Lopez had a long career as a professional tennis player. He debuted in 1997 and retired in 2023, after a remarkable 26-year journey. His highest ranking was 12th in 2015, and he won a total of 7 titles, including two ATP 500 titles at Queen’s Club in London. He also won the Davis Cup with Spain five times.
However, Lopez’s biggest achievement came in the form of a historic record he still holds: he is, along with Roger Federer, the player with the most Grand Slam tournament appearances of all time, with a total of 81. Additionally, he holds the sole record for the most consecutive appearances at Grand Slam events, with 79.
