Tennis legend Andre Agassi, an eight-time Grand Slam champion and Olympic gold medalist, has praised Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz, describing him as a player with the best qualities of the iconic “Big 3” – Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic. However, Agassi also pointed out that Alcaraz still has challenges to overcome before he can match their legendary status.
Andre Agassi says Carlos Alcaraz has the power of Nadal, the defense of Djokovic, & the finesse of Federer, but that doesn’t mean he’ll be able to accomplish what they accomplished:
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) December 12, 2024
“Alcaraz defends like Novak [Djokovic], has power and spin like [Rafael] Nadal, and has hands and… pic.twitter.com/Wj7gto5j5B
Speaking at the TiE World Summit, Agassi compared Alcaraz’s skills to the greatest players in tennis history. “Alcaraz has the best of the Big 3. He defends like Novak Djokovic, has power and spin like Rafael Nadal, and the finesse and touch of Roger Federer,” Agassi said. But he also stressed that having these traits doesn’t guarantee the same level of success. “There are many other aspects of the game—decision-making, injuries, luck. These factors play a big role,” he explained.
Alcaraz, 20, has already made his mark in tennis, winning Wimbledon this year and sharing the Grand Slam titles with Italian star Jannik Sinner. As Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer fade into the background of the sport, Alcaraz and Sinner are seen as the future of tennis.
Andre Agassi about Carlos Alcaraz :
— We Are Tennis (@WeAreTennis) December 13, 2024
"Alcaraz defends like Djokovic, has power and spin like Nadal, and has hands and finesse like Federer.
But just because he has the best of all three doesn’t mean he can do what they did."
👉 Is Andre right?
(via @TiEGlobal) pic.twitter.com/S6xMOGoNrQ
Agassi also spoke about Novak Djokovic, who will work with Andy Murray as a coach in 2025. He believes Djokovic faces an emotional challenge after the retirements of Federer and Nadal, his long-time rivals. “Djokovic lost the guys with whom he made history, so it might become emotionally harder for him,” Agassi said.
Despite this, the American legend warned against doubting Djokovic’s ability to keep winning. “I would never bet against him,” Agassi added, praising the Serbian’s resilience and determination while also urging fans and players to remain grounded about Alcaraz’s potential.
For now, Carlos Alcaraz stands as one of the brightest talents in tennis, but only time will tell if he can truly take the throne left by the Big 3.