Jannik Sinner has shared his thoughts on the legacy of tennis’ Big Three—Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Roger Federer—following Nadal’s recent announcement of his upcoming retirement. The 17-time ATP titleholder reflected on the enormous impact these legends have had on the sport and how it is nearly impossible to compare the current generation of players to them.
Sinner, currently ranked world No. 1, has had the privilege of facing both Nadal and Djokovic on several occasions, though he never played Federer before the Swiss icon retired in 2022. Sinner has a 0-3 record against Nadal and a 3-4 record against Djokovic. Despite his personal experiences against two of the Big Three, the young Italian acknowledges the extraordinary achievements of these players and feels they set a standard that will be tough to match.
Nadal announced his retirement in an emotional video posted on social media, revealing that he would make his final professional appearance at the 2024 Davis Cup Finals in Malaga. In the video, Nadal said, “The reality is that it has been some difficult years, these last two years especially. I don’t think I have been able to play without limitations. It is obviously a difficult decision, one that has taken me some time to make. But in this life, everything has a beginning and an end. And I think it’s the appropriate time to put an end to a career that has been long and much more successful than I could have ever imagined.”
With Nadal’s retirement, Djokovic remains the last active member of the Big Three. Together, Nadal, Djokovic, and Federer have dominated tennis for over two decades, amassing a combined 66 Grand Slam titles and inspiring a generation of players, including Sinner.
Speaking after his quarter-final victory against Daniil Medvedev at the Shanghai Masters, Sinner expressed his admiration for the Big Three, saying, “What they have done in the last years has been amazing… They have been very consistent throughout the years. There’s not only been one season or two seasons, they made it for 15 years. So, it’s amazing what they have achieved.”
Sinner also emphasized that it’s “impossible” to compare today’s players with Nadal, Djokovic, and Federer, given the trio’s unprecedented dominance. He considers himself fortunate to have witnessed their greatness and learned from their example, both on and off the court.
Sinner is now set to face Tomas Machac in the semi-finals of the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Shanghai, hoping to continue his own rise in the sport.
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