"You watch him play and it fills your eyes": Latin American No. 1 explains why Federer was his Big-3 favourite

World No. 21 Francisco Cerundolo entered the Big-3 debate and chose 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer as his favorite among them – at least regarding the style of play he displayed.

The Argentine, established inside the top-30 for several seasons, happened to coincide in his first years on Tour with the presence of the Big-3, although he only faced Nadal once and Djokovic once—being defeated on both occasions.

Against Nole, he had a great battle in the Roland Garros 2024 Round of 16, in which Cerundolo was two sets to one up, but ended up succumbing in a five-set battle (1-6, 7-5, 6-3, 5-7, 3-6), while against Nadal, he was defeated in four sets in the Wimbledon first round back in 2022 – in Nadal's last participation at SW19.

The 27-year-old South American chose the Swiss Maestro anyway as his favorite player when he was growing up. "For pleasure, I liked Federer more. Because of his style of play. You watch him play and it fills your eyes. The three are the best in history, but Federer's was the one I enjoyed watching the most," he commented in an interview with Infobae.

Cerundolo has become a force to be reckoned with on the Tour, taking the leadership of Argentine tennis after the retirement of Diego Schwartzman. He has four seasons established in the top-30, and several appearances up to the quarterfinals of Masters 1000 tournaments, including his campaigns to the semifinals of the Miami Open 2022 and Madrid Open 2025. With three titles—all on clay courts. Including appearances in the Laver Cup during the last three years, contributing with victories to Team World in the 2023 and 2025 titles.

Cerundolo was questioned regarding different hypothetical situations in which he would choose between the members of the Big-3. In the first instance, the Latin American chose Rafa Nadal as a companion for a road trip. "In a 12-hour trip, I choose Nadal for several reasons. One, he speaks Spanish and for 12 hours straight it is easier. Two, because of musical tastes, which can be quite similar. And three, the culture is more or less similar."

Regarding who he would choose to be his coach, Cerundolo opted for the Serbian Djokovic, mentioning his longevity and capacity to maintain a great physical state up to the present—where at 38 years old he sits as World No. 4. "I think he is the best physically of all, the one who had the fewest injuries, he is stretching his tennis life almost like Federer," commented Cerundolo. "At 38, almost 39, he is playing against the best in the world as if it were nothing and battling fully."

"So, something, physically and tennis-wise, he must have done. And from what is rumored, he was always the most professional in all that and the most obsessed with food, the training, the rest, more than the others. Like that took him to another level."

Finally, Cerundolo had to choose who of them he would have nationalized Argentine to join his Davis Cup team. The 27-year-old player has been the leader of the South Americans in recent years, being the main singles player in the appearances up to the Davis Cup Finals quarterfinals in 2024 and 2025.

"I played with Djokovic, I played with Nadal, I never played with Federer. I was left with that on the list," explained the former world No. 18. "I could never catch him because when I started I crossed him in a couple of tournaments, but then he retired. So, I would love to be able to play, even if it's a double with him, a rally, a training session. Something. I know him, I have chatted many times and he is the best. I knew him a lot, but I didn't get to play with him. I have played with the others, I would like to have that chance."