Djokovic, Nadal and Federer are considered by many to be the three greatest players in the history of men’s tennis. They make up the top three for the most men’s Grand Slams ever won, with Djokovic on a record 24, Nadal on 22 and Federer on 20.
From Federer’s first major triumph at the 2003 Wimbledon Championships to Djokovic’s most recent at the 2023 US Open, the Big Three won an astonishing 66 of the 81 majors held.
Alcaraz and Sinner are the two leading stars of their generation and they split the four Grand Slam titles between them this year.
Sinner won his maiden major at the 2024 Australian Open before adding the US Open title, while Alcaraz collected the French Open and Wimbledon crowns to take his Grand Slam tally to four.
The duo are the only ATP players born after 1996 to win a Grand Slam title, with 2021 US Open winner Daniil Medvedev, who is 28, the next-youngest men’s major champion.
Speaking at the ongoing ATP 250 event in Belgrade, Cilic identified mental preparation as the quality that he thinks sets the Big Three apart from Sinner and Alcaraz.
“Novak and Rafa, they are similar mentally. If you are not with them from the first ball of the match, you can immediately go home and say goodbye to everyone,” the 2014 US Open champion said.
“You have to be mentally ready to play from the first shot because once they get into the rhythm, there is no going back.
“With Roger, on the other hand, it was very different. He always served fantastically, played offensively, was able to change the rhythm, the game.
“If I compare them to the younger ones, Sinner and Alcaraz, it is clear that Jannik and Carlos are not yet at the same level of mental preparation as Novak, Roger and Rafa were.”
Cilic made history in September at the ATP 250 event in Hangzhou when — as the world No 777 — he became the lowest-ranked player to win an ATP title. The 36-year-old Croatian, who returned from an injury layoff in August, is currently ranked 196th.
The former world No 3 has earned two wins against both Djokovic and Nadal, while he beat Federer for the only time en route to his only major title at the 2014 US Open.
