Their journeys have barely begun, yet Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner already share that rare bond only historic rivals know. The stage feels set for years of duels that could shape tennis history, much like Borg–McEnroe, Sampras–Aggasi, and Roger Federer–Rafael Nadal once did. However, Novak Djokovic, who burst onto the scene in 2003 and shattered the Federer–Nadal duopoly, carved his name among the game’s greatest. Now, as the ‘Sincaraz’ rivalry grips the sport, a new question burns: who will break their reign? Patrick Mouratoglou, Serena Williams’ former coach, tips his hat to Djokovic’s precedent and expresses bold optimism that a new force will soon shatter this thrilling dominance.

In a recent interview, Patrick Mouratoglou was asked if Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz seem untouchable compared to the rest of the men’s tour. If he were coaching someone from the tier below them, how would he convince them they could beat either man in a Slam final? The Frenchman smiled and replied, “It’s funny that you’re saying that. When Rafa and Roger were at the top of the game, it was exactly the same situation – the [next] eight players all saying it’s impossible to win a grand slam with those two guys.”

Mouratoglou then turned back the clock to a generation that knows this struggle all too well. “When you speak about the generation of French players who were top 10 – Gaël Monfils, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Richard Gasquet – they were all saying it. But then a young Novak Djokovic came in and said: ‘I’m going to beat those guys and be No 1.’ And everyone laughed and said: ‘Who’s this cocky guy?’ But he ended up doing it and becoming the greatest of all time.” Those words now ring like prophecy as Djokovic’s story continues to inspire anyone trying to topple tennis’ current rulers.

And Mouratoglou’s words are no mere commentary: they are grounded in truth. Djokovic began his journey in 2003 at a Futures event in Oberschleißheim, Germany. By 2006, at 19, he had claimed his first two tour-level titles and finished inside the Top 20 of the PIF ATP Rankings for the first time. 

In 2007, he stormed onto the elite scene, winning his first two ATP Masters 1000 titles in Miami and Montreal, reaching his first Grand Slam final at the US Open, and making semi-finals at Roland Garros and Wimbledon.

Djokovic’s rise was relentless. From 2007 to 2009, he captured 14 titles and claimed his maiden Slam at the 2008 Australian Open. Still, he found himself stuck behind Federer and Nadal, finishing four consecutive seasons ranked No. 3 while the two giants held a stranglehold on the top spots. By his own admission, Djokovic was living in the shadow of legends, grinding in the second tier while Federer and Nadal were already icons.

Everything shifted after Djokovic transformed his fitness and durability, turning his body from a weakness into a weapon. Yet before his breakthrough, he hit what he later called rock bottom. At the 2010 Australian Open, against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarter-finals, his body betrayed him. In his 2013 book Serve to Win, Djokovic recalled the defining moment: “I hit the lowest point of my career. It was break point, in more ways than one.”

What followed was nothing short of tennis history. Together, Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic won 66 Grand Slam titles and spent 947 weeks, over 18 years, dominating the top of the rankings. Yet, Djokovic still holds winning records against both Federer and Nadal, with a combined 58-52 edge and an impressive 59.6% win rate in their finals meetings (28-19). Even with Federer retiring in 2022 and Nadal stepping away in 2024, Djokovic remains the last titan standing.

Yet time spares no champion. At 38, Djokovic still reached four Slam semi-finals this season, proving his fire hasn’t faded. But the sport is shifting. The “Big 3” era feels like it’s entering its epilogue, and the future now belongs to what fans are calling the “New 2”, a generation led by Alcaraz and Sinner. 

The question is no longer about Djokovic’s supremacy, but about who will rise to claim the throne. Tennis, it seems, is ready for more epic “Sincaraz” battles to define the next great chapter.

Novak Djoković’s US Open defeat signals golden era’s end

In the end, it wasn’t meant to be for Novak Djokovic, despite all the grit, grind, and heart he poured into this season. The 24-time Grand Slam champion fell to Carlos Alcaraz in the US Open semifinal, ending his dream run toward a record-extending 25th major title. This result marked a historic moment: the first time in 23 years that neither Djokovic, Roger Federer, nor Rafael Nadal reached a single Grand Slam final in an entire season. For fans, it truly feels like the closing chapter of an era that defined modern tennis.

Federer hung up his racquet three years ago, Nadal followed last year, yet Djokovic kept the Big Three flame alive. For seven straight seasons, he reached at least one Slam final, reminding the world that greatness doesn’t fade easily. But this year was different: he couldn’t break through beyond the semifinals. For the first time since 2002, the men’s finals across all four majors were free of ‘Big Three’ presence. The torch may finally be passing.

Even Djokovic seems to recognize the shift. After his first-round win over Learner Tien, he offered a rare moment of reflection. “To be quite honest with you, I mean, I wish I had Learner Tien’s age. But that’s not possible. Actually, he’s double less my age. That’s incredible. But I guess when you come to the late 30s, it’s really about learning how to preserve the energy for what matters…”

He spoke openly about balancing recovery, motivation, and mental sharpness just to keep up with the young guns charging the tour. The words were not of resignation, but of wisdom earned through decades of battle.

Djokovic still carries the fire, even as his body asks harder questions with each passing year. “So, hopefully, I can keep it going. You know, I still wanna compete. And hopefully, you guys are enjoying my tennis,” he said with trademark humility and determination.

Now, as Djokovic stands as the last warrior of the Big Three, the sport waits for its next disruptor. The “Sincaraz” era has gripped tennis with ferocity, but history tells us someone always rises to break the cycle.

The question lingers: who will be next to shatter the shackles, just as Novak once did against Federer and Nadal?