Casper Ruud Reflects on Big Three’s Legacy

Casper Ruud recently expressed his disbelief at the sheer domination and longevity of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer. In an episode of the Nothing Major podcast, the three-time Grand Slam finalist shared his admiration for these legendary players, particularly Nadal’s calm demeanor on the court.

“Rafa’s always like — doesn’t swear on court,” said Ruud. “He never threw a racket. He never let the emotions get to him for like 20 years which for me is just like… how is it possible?”

Unmatched Grand Slam Success

Together, Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer have won an astounding 66 Grand Slam titles, with Djokovic holding 24, Nadal with 22, and Federer at 20. They make up the top three players for most men’s major titles in tennis history.

Since Federer’s first Grand Slam win at the 2003 Wimbledon Championships, the trio has won all but 15 of the 81 Grand Slam events held. Federer retired in 2022, Nadal plans to retire after the Davis Cup Finals next month, leaving Djokovic as the last active member of the Big Three.

Consistency and Motivation: A Source of Wonder

Ruud expressed his amazement at how these players have maintained their performance over nearly two decades.

“I’ve understood how crazy it is from Rafa, Roger, and Novak, that they performed every single year for like 17, 18 years. They’ve been so good,” he said. “How have they been able to keep the motivation up? How they’ve been able to be strict with themselves? How have they been able to win like 70 matches every year? Year in, year out.”

Ruud went on to note that such sustained success is “one thing to do… for three, four, or five years,” but for them, it’s been “almost 20 years of pure domination.”

Ruud’s Record Against the Big Three

Ruud, who has faced each member of the Big Three, holds a mixed record. His career encounters include:

• Federer: Lost their only meeting
• Nadal: Holds an 0-2 record against him
• Djokovic: 1-5 record, having won their last match at the 2023 Monte Carlo Masters

Two of Ruud’s three losses in Grand Slam finals were against Nadal and Djokovic, both at the French Open in 2022 and 2023.

Ruud is set to face Jordan Thompson in his opening match at the Paris Masters this week.