For over two decades, the Big Three: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic, ruled men’s tennis like immortal kings, rewriting every chapter of the sport’s history. Before them, no man had conquered more than 14 Grand Slams; they soared to 20, 22, and 24. Yet, amid their towering shadows, a storm named Carlos Alcaraz rose. After seizing the 2022 US Open crown, the youngest in 32 years to do so, and climbing to world No.1 at just 19 years and four months, he kept conquering, Slam after Slam after Slam. And now, as he claims his sixth, one question lingers: can he surpass the Big 3’s feats?

Alcaraz, the brightest star in men’s tennis and arguably the best player on the planet, sat down with MARCA in Riyadh before stepping into the spotlight at the second edition of the ‘Six Kings Slam’. Calm yet fierce in his demeanor, the Spaniard reflected on his journey, one already glittering with milestones that legends once dreamed of. When reminded that he owns six Grand Slam titles at just 22, more than Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer had at his age, his response was grounded yet ambitious. 

“If we look at it in 10 years’ time, the truth is that it is. I don’t take anything for granted because every year is different. Players advance, new players come out and it’s more complicated. I hope to continues at this pace, but in tennis every season you have to give your best and that’s the most complicated thing,” he said.

By defeating rival Jannik Sinner in the US Open final, Alcaraz not only claimed another Slam but also extended his Big Titles lead over his Italian counterpart. The win pushed his total to 14 Big Titles, a blend of Grand Slams, ATP Masters 1000s, ATP Finals crowns, and Olympic silvers. Among active players, only Novak Djokovic stands ahead with 24 majors, yet Alcaraz’s hunger feels limitless.

Even recently, former British pro Tim Henman, speaking to Tennis365, captured that essence perfectly. Having observed Alcaraz closely during the Laver Cup, Henman couldn’t hide his admiration. “His attitude, his energy, his values on and off the court were absolutely first class. He has really up his level,” Henman remarked. “You look at the way Alcaraz’s game has developed and it’s absolutely phenomenal.” 

Henman went further, daring to draw comparisons that few would. He aligned Alcaraz with Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic, the sacred Big Three who redefined tennis greatness with 20, 22, and 24 Grand Slams, respectively. “It’s almost made it disproportionate for these other players,” he admitted, pointing to the impossibly high bar set by the legends. “Then you have Alcaraz who is already at six (Slams) at such a young age and people are asking, will he go on to get 20. At this stage, it’s almost unfair.”

That “unfairness” is exactly what makes Alcaraz’s story so compelling. He isn’t just inheriting a legacy, he’s rewriting the rules. Each match, each point, feels like a declaration that the new age of tennis has truly arrived. And as he faced his bete noire Sinner once again in the final of the Six Kings Slam, a match he ultimately lost, Alcaraz spoke openly about the future, revealing a dream as tall as his talent.

“There are several records I would like to have, but obviously the one for most Grand Slam titles,” he confessed with a quiet fire in his eyes. “It’s the one everyone wants. And then the weeks at number one that belongs to Djokovic and that is crazy because it takes 400 weeks and peak at the top.” The words were simple, but the intent was thunderous, Alcaraz doesn’t just want to be among the greats; he wants to eclipse them.

Now, with the ATP Finals looming, the Spaniard’s focus remains unshaken. His drive, his demeanor, and the praise pouring in from legends and analysts alike all point toward one truth: Carlos Alcaraz isn’t a promise anymore, he’s a phenomenon. 

CoCo Vandeweghe predicts Alcaraz can match Big 3

A couple of months back, Carlos Alcaraz stood tall on the red clay of Roland Garros, lifting the title with fire in his eyes. Later, the Spanish sensation hasn’t dropped his momentum, not even a bit. At the HSBC Championships, the young titan took down Jiri Lehecka in a commanding final to clinch his 21st career title, his fifth this season back then. That victory also marked his 18th consecutive match win, a run that’s turning heads and silencing doubters across the tennis world. 

It’s no small feat. Grass is a surface that has historically humbled even the greatest. But Alcaraz? He glides over it like he was born to like it’s just another chapter in his evolving legend. From the grit of clay to the slickness of grass, his transition has been nothing short of jaw-dropping. And it hasn’t gone unnoticed.

On the TC Live Podcast, American tennis star CoCo Vandeweghe put it bluntly: “It’s always going to be a tough matchup for anybody out there to play Carlos Alcaraz. And what amazes me each and every time I watch him transition from hard to clay to grass is how well his game just seamlessly just moves onto the next surface.”

But then came a bolder claim. One that turned heads. “I don’t think we’ve seen any player really do that. I mean, we can think of the greats of Roger Federer and Rafa (Rafael Nadal) and even Novak (Djokovic) and they all struggled for a little bit, especially in their years to get that transition from the different surfaces and make their game work. They had to implement other tactics and try and work it out. Sometimes they could, but sometimes they couldn’t. But Carlos Alcaraz… he does it within the first game, first point in the match in his first tournament on grass.”

That’s the kind of praise that shakes the sport. That’s the kind of impact that defines a new era. Carlos isn’t just winning, he’s rewriting the rules of greatness.

With trophies piling and legends’ shadows shrinking, one thing’s certain: Alcaraz is built for glory. Whether he can outrun the giants of the game: time, that ruthless judge, will decide. 

But right now, he’s writing a saga worthy of kings.