The Big Three is considered by many to be the best generation of tennis players in history. Djokovic, Nadal and Federer have won a multitude of titles throughout their sporting careers. After Djokovic’s defeat at the 2024 US Open, this season will be the first in which none of the three tennis players have managed to win a Grand Slam since 2002.

Djokovic, Federer and Nadal.

Djokovic, Nadal and Federer are the tennis players with the most Grand Slam titles won. Nole has won 24 so far, Rafa has won 22 and Roger, after his retirement, will be left with 20. In total they have won 66 ‘majors’ between the three of them, which is a very exorbitant number of trophies.

Roger Federer won his first Grand Slam in 2003 (Wimbledon) and since then began an era in tennis that was mainly dominated by the players mentioned above. The Swiss managed to win eight Wimbledon titles (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 and 2017), one Roland Garros (2009), five US Opens (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008) and six Australian Opens (2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2017 and 2018) for a total of twenty. He will not be able to lift any more, as he retired in 2022.

Rafa Nadal was a very precocious player, as he won his first ‘major’ at a very young age and his rivalry with Federer over the years is one of the great tricks not only in tennis but in sport in general. The Spanish tennis player has so far won; two Wimbledon (2008 and 2010), fourteen Roland Garros (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022), four US Opens (2010, 2013, 2017 and 2019) and two Australian Opens (2009 and 2022) adding up to 22 Grand Slam titles. Nadal can continue winning more majors while still being active and will always be a danger on clay.

Novak Djokovic is the tennis player with the most Grand Slam trophies won, with a total of 24 : seven Wimbledon (2011, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022), three Roland Garros (2016, 2021 and 2023), four US Opens (2011, 2015, 2018 and 2023) and ten Australian Opens (2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2023). Nole is still active and could increase his lead at the top of the rankings.

The three tennis players who are part of the Big 3 have marked an era in tennis and in sport and it will be very difficult for anyone to surpass them in terms of numbers, but after Djokovic’s defeat at the 2024 US Open. It will be the first time since 2002 that none of the three tennis players will lift a Grand Slam and that may mean that the generation of these players is ending and that Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and other tennis players will have to take over.