Carlos Alcaraz has spent the better part of the last few seasons being measured against ghosts - Roger Federer’s elegance, Rafael Nadal’s grit, and Novak Djokovic’s machine-like dominance. But every now and then, a voice from tennis royalty cuts through the noise. This week, it came from someone who has shaped legends with his own hands.

Rick Macci - the man who helped sculpt the careers of Serena Williams, Venus Williams, and Maria Sharapova - sent the tennis world buzzing with a statement that felt less like praise and more like a prophecy. In a bold tweet, he declared, “When you look what he has done so far, the Spanish Magician is the best player by far at his age ever to hold a stick. But in life it is not how you start or where you start; it is where you finish. Barring injury, Carlos will be hanging out with the big three in numbers and maybe a guy from Italy.”

And just like that, the stakes around Alcaraz’s journey rose higher than ever. This year, the Spaniard won 8 titles (including two major triumphs) and had a win-loss record of 71-9. Alcaraz, still only in his early twenties, has already collected 6 Grand Slams, plenty of Masters titles, and a number one ranking. Macci’s words, though, change the lens through which everyone now views him. It’s no longer just about winning; it’s about chasing numbers etched in tennis mythology.

With his incredible performance this season, Carlos Alcaraz has now also overtaken Novak Djokovic’s record points haul for a single season. He recorded 12,050 points in 2025, and that’s 20 more than Nole’s sum in 2020.

But coming to the comparisons, The Big 3 didn’t just win - they endured. They reinvented themselves. They carried the sport through eras of injuries, rivalries, rule changes, and expectations. Can Alcaraz do the same? Rick Macci seems to think so.

Guess what? This wasn’t the first time that we’ve seen him heap praise on Carlos Alcaraz, though. For example, on November 2023, Macci joined the ‘Match Point Canada’ podcast and during the podcast, “Alcaraz, we’ve never seen anything like this… He is a combination of, I tell everybody, [Roger] Federer, [Rafael] Nadal, Djokovic, and [Andre] Agassi, all wrapped in one.” Having said that, he also claimed that he thinks Alcaraz is going to get a “bucket of Grand Slams” and also labeled him as “by far, the leader in the clubhouse.”

Even this year, Macci stated that Alcaraz has the most versatile game that he has seen in tennis history. According to him, the Spaniard could well finish his career with double-figure Slams. 

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have been the talk of the town in the tennis world in the past couple of seasons. How does the Spaniard look at his rivalry with Sinner and their comparison with the ‘Big 3’?

Carlos Alcaraz’s take on being compared with ‘Big 3’

When it comes to big matches, we’ve always seen Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner making deep runs and meeting each other in the finals. Their sheer dominance on the ATP Tour has made other players look pretty ordinary. But how important is it to have a rival like Sinner to chase for excellence consistently?

After winning the US Open this year, the Spaniard shared a few lines about his fierce rival. He said, “I think we push each other to the limit every time. My practices are just focused to see how I can be better just to beat Jannik. So I think the rivalry it is special, splitting Grand Slams, fighting for the great things.”

This year, they met each other in three Grand Slam finals. And seeing their incredible battle at the Roland Garros, German legend Boris Becker shared a very interesting opinion. He said, “It was the same with Federer, Djokovic, and Nadal. What epic duels they've had over 15 years, and that's exactly the level I see Carlos and Jannik at. The match was unbelievable; I feel for both players. These are the matches you train for, and why you love this sport.”

But it’s not just Becker. With tennis transitioning into a new era, every rising star faces the looming question: Who will fill the void? But Alcaraz seems to understand something deeper.

Once, when he was asked to share his thoughts about the comparisons with the Big 3, he said, “They have set the bar for tennis and what can be done at an astronomical level. There are many players capable of winning Grand Slams, of beating the best. Young players, including myself, who can really be fighting for great things. But getting to the point of that rivalry between Rafa, Federer, and Djokovic, the truth is that it will be practically impossible to repeat that. We will have our battles; I will have my battles with great players, but a rivalry like theirs will be practically impossible.”

Carlos Alcaraz doesn’t carry himself like a player burdened by history. He laughs easily, signs every autograph, and answers every question with sincerity. These comparisons won’t stop. But his calm and composed nature is sufficient to guide him through these distractions and focus fully on self-improvement. Talking about improvement, do you think he can win more major titles in 2026?

Written by

Sayantan Roy

Sayantan Roy is a seasoned tennis journalist at EssentiallyTennis. He brings a deep tactical understanding to his coverage, breaking down head-to-head records, match dynamics, and on-court strategies with precision. For more than two years, Sayantan has been a key member of the Live Events desk, delivering real-time insights and data-backed predictions for the platform’s Matchday Preview section. His analytical approach has sparked editorial debates and drawn recognition from respected tennis voices, including commentator and analyst Olly_Tennis. Combining his experience in writing with a passion for insightful sports journalism, Sayantan’s work serves as a trusted reference point for tennis fans around the world.

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