“Today there may be more chances to achieve a big result at a Grand Slam”: Fabio Fognini discusses tennis after the Big-3 era

Former world No. 9 Fabio Fognini believes men’s tennis is entering a new phase led by Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. Speaking during an appearance at an Challenger event in Tenerife, the Italian offered his perspective on the evolving ATP landscape, arguing that the two young stars are beginning to define the sport’s next era.

Fognini, the 2019 Monte Carlo Masters champion and former top-10 player, spent nearly two decades competing against multiple generations on the ATP Tour. That experience, which included matches against players from the Big-3 era and the new wave of contenders, gives him a broad view of how the sport has changed.

While acknowledging the achievements of past champions, the Italian suggested the spotlight is gradually shifting toward younger players who are already collecting major titles and occupying the top positions in the ATP rankings. Sinner and Alcaraz, both multiple Grand Slam champions, have already established themselves as consistent contenders at the sport’s biggest events.

For Fognini, the combination of their contrasting styles and early success could produce one of the defining rivalries of the coming decade, with both players expected to remain at the top of the sport for years to come.

Fognini said he recognised the potential of both players early, having faced them during his own career. According to the Italian, their contrasting styles highlight the diversity of the modern ATP Tour, with Sinner’s baseline consistency and Alcaraz’s athletic, all-court approach offering different paths to success. "They are two destined players. They are completely different players, but they are starting to write the history of our sport," Fognini said during the Tenerife Challenger few weeks ago. "Most importantly, they still have many years ahead of them.”

The former Monte-Carlo champion believes the rivalry between the two could become one of the defining narratives in men’s tennis, particularly as the sport transitions from the long-dominant Big-3 era toward a new generation of contenders.

At the same time, Fognini expressed curiosity about who might emerge behind them. While Sinner and Alcaraz currently lead the conversation around the future of the ATP Tour, the Italian noted that tennis history often shows new challengers appearing unexpectedly. “We’ll see who comes after them and whether someone will be able to challenge them. I’m very curious.”

Fognini also addressed the frequent comparisons between the current generation and the period dominated by players such as Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Having competed directly against many of those players, the Italian suggested that generational comparisons rarely capture the full context of different periods in the sport.

During his career, Fognini played in an era that also included champions such as Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka, making breakthroughs at the biggest tournaments particularly difficult. As a result, he believes players from different generations faced distinct competitive environments. “Making comparisons is difficult. Those were different times. You had players like Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Murray, Wawrinka, Ferrero, Ferrer, Berdych and Raonic.”

Despite acknowledging the strength of previous eras, Fognini suggested that the current landscape may offer slightly different opportunities for emerging players to achieve deep runs at Grand Slam events, although he stressed that such comparisons rarely provide meaningful conclusions. “Today there may be more chances to achieve a big result at a Grand Slam, but comparisons don’t really serve a purpose.”

The Italian also spoke about fellow countryman Lorenzo Musetti, who has continued to develop his game on the ATP Tour. Fognini expressed support for Musetti’s decision to expand his coaching team, noting that the addition of experienced coach José Perlas alongside Simone Tartarini could help the young player reach another level. “He’s already doing it, but he still needs that final click to stabilise himself in the Top 5 and aim a little higher.”

While still connected to the sport, Fognini acknowledged that his own relationship with tennis has changed as he moves into a different stage of his career. After more than 20 years on tour, the Italian said he is approaching the sport with fewer expectations and a broader perspective on his future.

“From my tennis I don’t expect anything. I’m happy to come back and play. Tennis hasn’t really been missing from my life during this period, but it has been my job and my sport for 20 years. Most of all, I hope for happiness and to feel good in what I do.”