Big Three (tennis)


The Big Three is a common tennis term for Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. From the 2003 Wimbledon Championships up to and including the 2020 Australian Open, the trio have dominated men's singles, winning 56 of the 67 Grand Slam titles, with Federer accounting for 20, Nadal 19 and Djokovic 17. They have also occupied the top three positions of the year-end singles ATP Rankings eight times, in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2018 and 2019.

Grand Slam singles combined best results

The Big Three are the top three players of all-time in terms of Grand Slam titles won, as well as the top three players in terms of Major finals reached. Federer has reached 31 finals, Nadal 27, and Djokovic 26.
They are the only three male players in history to win eight or more singles titles at the same Grand Slam: Nadal with 12 French Open titles, Federer with eight Wimbledon titles, and Djokovic with eight Australian Open titles.
Grand Slam200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020Success rate
Australian Open4RFW'FSFFW'FW'FW'DW'NW'FW'DW'DW'DFNW'DW'DW'FW'FW'DW'D83%
French Open1RF3RFW'NW'NW'NW'NW'FW'NW'NW'NW'NW'NFDW'DW'NW'NW'N82%
WimbledonW'FW'FW'FW'FW'FW'NW'FW'NW'DW'FFDW'DW'DSFFW'FW'DW'DNH88%
US Open4RFW'FW'FW'FW'FW'FFFW'NW'DFDW'NSFDFW'DFDW'NW'DW'N71%

Key:
The Big Three monopolized the top spot in the ATP men's singles rankings from 2 February 2004 to 6 November 2016 and again from 21 August 2017 to the present, for a total of 800 weeks as of 2020. Federer was ranked number 1 for a record 310 weeks, Djokovic, the current number 1, for 281 weeks, and Nadal for 209 weeks. Each player has occupied the top position at the end of the year five times.
Year-end rank20032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019
Roger Federer211112123262316233
Rafael Nadal4951222121241359121
Novak Djokovic679186781633331121121212

Head-to-head matchups

The Big Three have played each other in 145 matches, including 69 finals. Of all the matches, 46 have been played at Grand Slam tournaments, including 22 finals.
The first match between two players of the Big Three occurred in March 2004 at the Miami Masters, where Nadal defeated Federer. Federer and Djokovic first met in April 2006 at the Monte Carlo Masters. Nadal and Djokovic first faced each other a month later at the 2006 French Open.

Results by court surface

Nadal is dominant on clay, particularly at the French Open, where he has won all six matches against Federer and five of six against Djokovic.
Key:
Two walkovers are not included in the table.

Notable matches