"I do think that 10 years ago or so, we had more challengers to those guys": Big Three had more threats than Alcaraz and Sinner

Coach Jamie Delgado – currently working with Jack Draper – has offered a detailed comparison between the current men’s tennis landscape led by Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz and the era dominated by Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Speaking on the Off Court with Greg podcast, Delgado argued that while today’s overall level is higher, the competitive threats at the top were stronger in the past.

Sinner and Alcaraz have effectively controlled the men’s game over the past two seasons, with one of the two winning every Grand Slam title since Djokovic’s triumph at the 2023 US Open. Their dominance has led to frequent comparisons with the so-called “Big Three” era, during which Federer, Nadal and Djokovic combined to win 66 Grand Slam titles across two decades.

Delgado, who was Andy Murray’s coach for five years, acknowledged that the level produced by the current leading pair places them within that historical conversation. However, he stressed that the competitive ecosystem around them differs significantly from what existed during the peak years of the Big Four.

From his perspective, the key distinction lies not in the quality of the very top players, but in the structure of competition beneath them. The British coach recalled names such as Stan Wawrinka, Juan Martin del Potro, Tomas Berdych and Andy Murray himself as part of a group of highly consistent players who were able to regularly put the Big Three under pressure.

Delgado pointed to the depth of contenders during the previous two decades, in which several names managed to remain consistently inside the top 10 and pose constant challenges in Grand Slam tournaments. In his view, that layer of competition created a more dangerous environment in the latter stages of events, where multiple players had both the experience and the level to compete for titles.

“Jannik and Carlos are incredible players and I think they could mix it with Federer, Nadal and Djokovic, for sure,” the coach said when comparing the current dominance of Sinner and Alcaraz with that of a decade ago. “I do think that 10 years ago or so, we had more challengers to those guys. I think the level was a bit higher in the time when Roger, Novak, Rafa and Andy Murray were at the top.”

He expanded on that comparison by stressing that the top 10 to 15 players during that period presented a more consistent threat than the current field, particularly when it came to disrupting the dominance of the leading names. “Just behind them, you had the likes of Juan Martin del Potro, Stan Wawrinka and Tomas Berdych. I think these guys were more of a threat to those top four than some of the guys now. So in my opinion, I think the top 10, 15 were stronger before with better players.”

At the same time, Delgado identified a contrasting trend in today’s game: a higher overall level across the rankings, particularly outside the very top tier. From a coaching perspective, he described a landscape where even early-round matches present significant challenges.

This shift, he suggested, reflects the increasing physical and technical standards across the tour, where players ranked outside the top 30 are capable of competing at a consistently high level. “I think the general level on the tour, a guy ranked 30 in the world, 40 in the world, 50 in the world, is better now. I can say that from a coach’s perspective, every match is really difficult. My player has to be on it from the first match. Every match is super tough.”

That dynamic has altered how top players approach tournaments, with less margin for error in the opening rounds compared to previous eras. “Whereas 10 or 15 years ago, sometimes the first round for the top guys was a bit more of a stroll in the park. Now, in the earlier rounds, you’ve got to be on it. There’s no question about it.”

Despite those structural differences, Delgado was clear in his assessment of the current hierarchy, describing Sinner and Alcaraz as operating at a distinct level above the rest of the field. Their consistency in the biggest events has reinforced that separation.

At the same time, he cautioned against viewing the gap as insurmountable, maintaining that opportunities remain for other players to challenge, even within a landscape defined by two dominant figures. “I understand Sinner and Alcaraz are playing on a different level right now from everybody else. That’s a fact,” Delgado stated. “But that doesn’t mean nobody else has a chance. I like my chances always.”

Draper appears precisely as one of the names with the best chances of becoming a contender against Sinner and Alcaraz, although injuries have limited him. After winning the Indian Wells 2025 title and reaching World No. 4, his highest career ranking, the Brit missed the entire second half of 2025. His last two tournaments of the season were Wimbledon and the US Open, both played with physical issues and ending in early exits.

With the aim of achieving a strong return in 2026, Delgado joined Draper’s team at the end of last season. For now, Draper holds a 5–2 record this year and recently dropped 14 positions to No. 26 after reaching the quarter-finals at Indian Wells and being eliminated in the second round of the Miami Open.