5 players with the best record against the Big 3
Men's tennis over the last two decades has largely revolved around the Big 3 of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Records made before their time have been rewritten and Grand Slams have become almost exclusively the property of the Big 3.
Over the years there have been players who have raised their game to challenge their authority. Some of them have even managed to sneak a Grand Slam or two from under their noses.
Here is a list of the five players who have the best record against the Big 3:
#5 Lleyton Hewitt
Unlike the other players on the list, Lleyton Hewitt was an established force on the circuit by the time the Big 3 began their domination. In November 2001, Hewitt became the youngest player to hold the World No. 1 spot at 20 years and eight months.
Hewitt had the upper hand on Roger Federer early on in their careers and even led their head-to-head 7-2. However, the Swiss soon took charge of their rivalry and ended up winning 16 of their next 18 meetings, including 15 in a row between 2003 and 2008.
Hewitt, a former US Open and Wimbledon champion, has faced Novak Djokovic seven times, winning only once. The Australian bested Nadal four times in 11 meetings.
Overall, Hewitt's winning percentage is 31.1% against the Big 3. In Grand Slams, Hewitt beat Nadal twice (six matches) and Djokovic once (five matches). He never tasted victory against in Federer in eight attempts.
#4 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga beat each of the Big 3 when they were ranked No. 1 in the world.
Tsonga shocked the world when he beat Rafael Nadal in straight sets in the semifinals of the 2008 Australian Open. He went on to lose the final to Novak Djokovic. While his career has not prospered as much as the Serb's, Tsonga has been a thorn in the side of the top players when in form.
The former World No. 5 has faced Djokovic 24 times, winning on six occasions. He has won six out of 19 matches against Federer and four out of 14 against Nadal.
Overall, he has a winning percentage of 28% against the Big 3. Tsonga is also one of only three players (along with Murray and Del Potro) to beat each of the Big 3 when they were ranked No. 1 in the world.
Since 2018, however, injuries have taken their toll on Tsonga and he has fallen down the rankings.
#3 Dominic Thiem
Dominic Thiem is one of only two players to have won five matches against each of the Big-3 and has the highest winning percentage collectively among players who have played at least five matches each against all of them.
Again, a former World No.3, Thiem has faced Novak Djokovic 12 times, winning on five occasions. Against Roger Federer, he has a positive head-to-head record of 5-2, and the Austrian has won six out of his 15 matches against Nadal.
Dominic Thiem dominates the Big 3 since 2019!
Austrian player has won 9 times on 12 matches against the 3 legends in 2 years:
🤜 Djokovic 3-2
🤜 Nadal 3-1
🤜 Federer 3-0 https://t.co/CS5ac7lmOn
Overall, his winning percentage is an unbelievable 47% against the Big-3. In Grand Slams, he is yet to face Federer but has beaten Nadal once (out of six matches) and Djokovic twice (out of four matches).
During his 2020 US Open triumph, he managed to avoid all of them, as Federer and Nadal pulled out and Djokovic was disqualified in the fourth round for accidentally hitting a lineswoman. Incidentally, Thiem also became the first male player born after the 1980s to win a Grand Slam, hinting at the arrival of the Next-Gen.
#2 Juan Martin del Potro
Juan Martin Del Potro was the first man to defeat both Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in a Grand Slam. He achieved the feat at the 2009 US Open when he beat Nadal in the semifinal and Federer in the final to lift his only Major title.
The former World No.3 has faced Novak Djokovic 20 times, winning on four occasions. Against Federer, he has won seven out of 25 matches. And the Argentinian has bested Nadal six times out of 17.
Overall, he has a winning percentage of 26.9% against the Big-3. In Grand Slams, however, he has never managed to beat Djokovic in five attempts. Injuries have constantly plagued his career, with every return to the sport soon followed by a new injury.
#1 Andy Murray
No one has a better record against the Big 3 than Andy Murray, who is the only player apart from Thiem to win at least five matches against each of the legendary trio.
The former World No.1 has faced Novak Djokovic 36 times, winning on 11 occasions. Against Federer, he has won 11 out of 25 matches and the Scot has bested Nadal seven times out of 24.
2004-2020. What a time to be alive❗️Big4:
- 313 tittles 🏆
- 15 @AustralianOpen 🏆
- 14 @rolandgarros 🏆
- 17 @Wimbledon 🏆
- 13 @usopen 🏆
- 111 @atptour Masters1000
- 12 ATP Finals 🏆
- 8 @OlympicsTennis 🥇🥈🥉
- 8 @DavisCup 🏆
- Held the world No.1 ranking since February 2004 https://t.co/r1HICkwwcx
Overall, his winning percentage is 33.7%, but Andy Murray won two of his three Grand Slams beating Djokovic (2012 US Open and 2013 Wimbledon) in the finals. Similar to Wawrinka, Murray won three of the seven Grand Slams the Big-3 missed between 2010 and 2016.
The Brit also reached the World No.1 spot, became the only player to win two men's singles tennis Olympic Gold medals and won the ATP Tour Finals, making him the most successful active player outside of the Big-3.