For decades, the tennis world has marveled at the dominance of the “Big Three“—Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer. Their unmatched consistency and historic battles made it seem impossible for anyone to replicate their achievements. However, Bjorn Borg believes Carlos Alcaraz, the 22-year-old Spanish sensation, might be the exception.
Alcaraz has already etched his name in tennis history at a young age. In 2022, he became the youngest player to ever reach the World No. 1 ATP ranking after clinching his first Grand Slam title at the US Open. Since then, he has added two Wimbledon titles and a French Open championship to his collection, bringing his Grand Slam tally to four.
Speaking ahead of the Barcelona Open, Borg shared his thoughts with RTVE, confidently stating that Alcaraz has what it takes to rival Nadal’s legendary career. “I believe that Alcaraz will achieve the same or more than Nadal,” Borg said. “He has the right mentality and can play on all surfaces. With a bit of luck, he will be the king of tennis”.
Alcaraz, fresh off his victory at the Monte–Carlo Masters where he defeated Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti in the final, started the Barcelona Open with a dominant win over Ethan Quinn.
Carlos Alcaraz (L) of Spain and Rafael Nadal of Spain pose prior to their Semi Final match during day two of the Six Kings Slam 2024. (Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
Former tennis star Fernando Verdasco sees things differently
Not everyone shares Borg’s optimism. Recently retired Spanish star Fernando Verdasco has taken a more skeptical stance, suggesting that it’s nearly impossible for anyone to replicate what Nadal has done.
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“I am often asked if Alcaraz will win as many Grand Slams as Nadal. What I can say is that it is almost impossible,” Verdasco told L’Equipe earlier this year. “Winning 22 majors—it’s hard to overstate what that represents. You’d need to win two or three every year throughout your career. Any injury, operation, or physical issue complicates that significantly”.
Comparing Alcaraz and Sinner to the ‘Big Three’
Despite his doubts about matching Nadal’s numbers, Verdasco acknowledges that Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner bring an aura reminiscent of Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer. “Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, they are a bit like Roger [Federer], Rafa, and Novak [Djokovic] were. They are above the others,” Verdasco remarked.
While he admitted they aren’t invincible, Verdasco emphasized their unique ability to rise above the competition. “Of course they can lose, but you can see that they have something extra. At every Grand Slam, they are favorites,” he added.
