The debate is raging: Is today's tennis truly tougher than the era of the Big Three? Alexander Zverev certainly thinks so, and he's not afraid to say it. He believes the sport has evolved, becoming faster and more physically demanding, and in his view, that means it's actually gotten better.
Zverev broke onto the scene when Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic were at the absolute zenith of their powers, a period where they collectively clinched a staggering 66 Grand Slam titles. During that era, breaking into the winner's circle at a major was an incredibly rare feat, with only a select few like Juan Martin del Potro, Andy Murray, Stan Wawrinka, and Marin Cilic managing to disrupt the dominance. However, the landscape began to shift noticeably from 2022 onwards. Federer retired that year, and Nadal claimed his final major in 2022 before also stepping away from the sport in 2024.
But here's where it gets interesting: just as it seemed like a new era of open competition was dawning, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have quickly established themselves as the new titans. In the past two years alone, they've each claimed four Grand Slam titles, suggesting the door might not be as wide open as some initially thought.
World No. 3 Zverev, who was the last player not named Alcaraz or Sinner to reach a major final (losing to Sinner at the 2025 Australian Open), was recently asked about the difference in difficulty between reaching a Grand Slam final during the Big Three's reign and today. He explained that while the Big Three era had a certain predictability – with Novak Djokovic dominating in Australia, Rafael Nadal being the king of Roland Garros, and Wimbledon often being a battle between Federer and Djokovic – it doesn't mean the sport has declined.
"I think tennis got better, tennis got quicker, tennis got faster, tennis got more physical," Zverev stated. He also touched upon how, in the past, players might have viewed the first three Slams of the year as largely predetermined, with the US Open perhaps offering a slightly better chance for others. And this is the part most people miss: Zverev highlighted that while the Big Three era had its established order, the current period sees Alcaraz and Sinner dominating all four majors, which he sees as a sign of the sport's evolution.
He further elaborated that the surfaces have become more similar, allowing for greater unpredictability and the potential for upsets on any given court. "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," he noted. While the last two years have clearly belonged to Jannik and Carlos, Zverev is hopeful that this year might bring a change, and he's certainly aiming to be a part of that.
What do you think? Do you agree with Zverev that tennis is faster and more physical now, making it a better sport? Or do you miss the specific rivalries and the unique dominance of the Big Three? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
