Andre Agassi shared his thoughts on Carlos Alcaraz at the TiE Global Summit in Bangalore, India. The former champion praised the young Spaniard’s game but acknowledged that he still has a way to go to match the legacy of the ‘Big 3’.
The trio of Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer, known as the Big 3, dominated tennis for years, winning a total of 66 Major titles. With the Big 3 era coming to an end, young players like Carlos Alcaraz are now in focus.
Agassi highlighted Alcaraz’s strengths resembling those of Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer but pointed out areas for improvement in decision-making and physical conditioning to reach their level.
“Alcaraz defends like Novak, has power and spin like Nadal, and has hands and finesse like Federer,” said Agassi at the TiE Global Summit 2024. “But having the best of all three doesn’t guarantee the same success. Decision-making, injuries, and luck play crucial roles.”
Despite finishing the season ranked No. 3 with two Major wins, Alcaraz faced consistency issues in 2024, especially during the North American hardcourt swing.
“Let’s not compare Carlos Alcaraz to the Big 3”: Roger Federer’s former coach Paul Annacone
Paul Annacone, Roger Federer’s former coach, cautioned against comparing Alcaraz and his rival Jannik Sinner to the Big 3, emphasizing their current phase in their careers.
“It’s going to be fun when we see talents like Alcaraz and Sinner emerge, but let’s not rush to compare them to the Big Three,” Annacone said on Tennis Channel Inside-In podcast.
Alcaraz and Sinner had successful seasons in 2024, each winning two Grand Slam titles and engaging in high-quality matches that favored Alcaraz.
Curious about Rafael Nadal’s foot injury history? Find out more here.
Edited by Shirsh
