"Only one of us has won Grand Slams and that's Carlos": Rune dispels notion of new Big Three with Alcaraz and Sinner

Monday, 07 August 2023 at 21:30

Holger Rune stated that it's not yet time to talk about a new Big 3 alongside Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, as only the latter has won a Grand Slam title.

The World No. 6 is currently in Toronto to compete in the Masters 1000 Canadian Open this week, where he shares the draw with Carlos Alcaraz and Holger Rune, all in the top half.

This means they could potentially face each other in quarterfinals and, in Rune's case, possibly meet the World No. 1 in such a scenario and Sinner in a potential semifinal.

Although Alcaraz, Rune, and Sinner are all 20 years old, with Sinner being 21, they have already made a significant impact on the ATP tour.

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Many have considered their young age and rapid rise as indicative of a potential long-lasting rivalry, akin to the Big 3's dominance in the last two decades, with Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic virtually sharing all the major titles.

In a press conference prior to the start of the Canadian Open, Rune emphasized that it is still too early to compare their achievements to those of the Big 3, given that only Alcaraz has secured a Grand Slam title so far.

“I know and I heard people talk about it and things too early to say and you know, only one of us has won has won grand slams and that’s Carlos but yeah I mean we’re young of course, we have time on our side,” Rune said about Alcaraz

“But still we got to make the results so umm you know I you know have to focus on myself and I’m sure Jannik, I’m sure Alcaraz does that and go with our own journey and then it’s a good debate for tennis,” he added.

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Holger Rune says it’s too early for new Big 3 talk with Sinner & Alcaraz: “It’s too early to say. Only 1 of us has won Grand Slams & that’s Carlos. But we’re young of course, we have time on our side. I have to focus on myself. I’m sure Jannik & Carlos do that as well.”

2:32 PM · Aug 7, 2023

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Holger Rune has only played two matches against Jannik Sinner, with both victories going to the Danish player. They met in the semifinals of the 2022 Sofia Open and the semifinals of the 2023 Monte-Carlo tournament.

Regarding his matches against Carlos Alcaraz, they have faced each other three times, with two wins for the Spanish player and one for Rune. The victory for Rune came in the quarterfinals of the 2023 Paris Masters, where he eventually became the champion.

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The most repeated matchup on the ATP tour is between Alcaraz and Sinner, with six encounters and an even 3-3 head-to-head record. One of these matches took place in the final of the 2022 Umag Open, which concluded with Sinner as the champion.

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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