The possibility of a new Big 3 with Alcaraz, Sinner, and another rising star?

Diego Jiménez Rubio | 16 Jul 2025 | 22.45

Alcaraz, Sinner and the Birth of a Big 3. Photo: gettyimages

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The hegemony established by Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner is reminiscent of the early stages of the Federer and Nadal rivalry, with a huge gap compared to the rest of their rivals. The burning question on fans' minds is whether another genius will emerge to disrupt their duopoly and form a Big 3 like the one we have enjoyed for years.

They say life is cyclical, that everything returns when you least expect it, and tennis could be a prime example of this. Catastrophic forecasts loomed over all of us years ago, as the prevailing opinion was that after the Big 3, there would be nothing, that it would be barren, and we would enter a hiatus in history. However, two legends have emerged. Will we soon witness the rise of another and the formation of another Big 3? It's worth pondering about.

- The aim is not a sporadic winner of Masters 1000 or Grand Slam, but someone of the same caliber as Alcaraz and Sinner

An exciting rivalry that represents the best possible news for tennis, but for how long will we not yearn for another player who can match their level? Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz promise to offer a golden era to world tennis, although their superiority over the others has many voices already calling for the emergence of a new star. Those who lived through the years 2006, 2007, and 2008, with Federer and Nadal sharing the major titles, will feel certain echoes of that era today and naturally hope for a player to break the Italian-Spanish duo.

We are not talking about players capable of winning Masters 1000 tournaments or even a Grand Slam. No. In this article, we are not looking for a Tsonga, a Berdych, a Ljubicic, a Ferrer, a Cilic, or even a Del Potro or a Wawrinka. What we are genuinely wondering is if we will soon have a player who will shake up the circuit and be able to intrude into the private hunting ground that Alcaraz and Sinner threaten to establish.

- Who are the main candidates to form a solid Big 3 for a long time with Alcaraz and Sinner?

In various conversations with tennis enthusiasts, several names have been mentioned frequently: Ben Shelton, Jack Draper, and Jakub Mensik, with great recurrence, Arthur Fils, Lorenzo Musetti, and Holger Rune with much less intensity, and... another deserving a separate chapter. All agree that the latter three could be present and future competitive players, capable of winning some Masters 1000 titles, populating the top 10, and surprising favorites in Grand Slam events. Reasonable doubts about their aspirations are starting to emerge more prominently with the first three names, above all.

The progress of Shelton, Draper, and Mensik, along with their competitive spirit, tennis arguments, and work ethic, suggest that we might be looking at significant players. How will they evolve in the next two or three years? It all depends on where each of them sets their ceiling. More skepticism arises from Rune's mental inconsistency and tennis stagnation, Musetti's ineffective precision on hard courts, or Fils' lack of a special spark off the clay.

The prevailing feeling is that the American, British, and Czech players will be the main challengers to Alcaraz and Sinner, but they may not completely close the level gap and may never reach the same status as the Spanish and Italian players. My personal opinion aligns with this viewpoint: I believe the three could win some Grand Slam tournaments but lack the consistency and intangibles needed to firmly establish themselves among the top two in the world and form a genuine Big 3. However, I do consider that we will see a triumvirate. So, who am I thinking of?

- Joao Fonseca is making progress that could make him a strong candidate to be the third pillar of the Big 3

Yes, those who know me are aware: Joao Fonseca. I see in the Brazilian a budding generational talent, a potential legend in the making if he continues his progression and maintains the work ethic and ambition he exudes. The Brazilian has everything it takes to succeed; in terms of strokes, he is imposing, exudes charisma from every pore, has a team fully aware of what they have on their hands and how to manage his career, and the determination to do everything necessary to become that coveted third pillar among the candidates vying for glory.

Being in the top-50 at 18 years old is not common these days, just as rare as the confidence he shows in major events and how his tennis improves week by week. He has ample room for improvement in tactical intelligence and shot variety, but time ahead to do so. In 2 or 3 years, many believe he could compete with Alcaraz and Sinner, while others think he will be another player in the Shelton, Draper, and Mensik club. Perhaps this solely depends on what the Brazilian does in the near future.

Another scenario worth mentioning is that the third leg of the Big 3 may not yet be known to the general public. One never knows when a big star may emerge, as we saw with Alcaraz and Sinner, who arrived at the most unlikely moment, right after the best period in the sport's history.

However, should this happen, to reach the level of the Spanish and Italian players, it would take at least another four or five years, which means Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner could have already completed more than half of their careers without someone of their same stature. In conclusion, many uncertainties to solve in an exciting panorama for all fans of this sport, aware that they may be witnessing the dawn of a golden era.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, La posibilidad de un nuevo Big 3 con Alcaraz, Sinner y ¿otra estrella en ciernes?