Top 10 Rivalries in a Post Big 3 Era

The grand slam calendar concluded in August, with Carlos Alcaraz capturing the U.S. Open title, his first grand slam victory at 19 years outdated. The generational tides have been slowly handing over males’s tennis for a while now – Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Casper Ruud, and plenty of others of their early twenties have all been gaining traction throughout 2021 and 2022.

Contemplating Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic received 3 out of 4 majors this 12 months, to say we’ve formally left the Massive 3 period is inaccurate. However the writing is on the wall: Roger Federer just lately retired, Nadal appears to be like utterly worn down (he’s misplaced 4 of his final 5 matches), and Djokovic wasn’t allowed to play half of the slams this 12 months.

Of the 8 Masters 1000 tournaments performed this 12 months, seven had been received by a non-Massive three participant, and 6 out of these seven had been received by a participant aged 25 or youthful. The newest instance is Holger Rune’s 3-set victory over Djokovic on the Paris Masters in early November. A brand new age is dawning in males’s tennis. With it’s going to come new champions and new storylines.

The rivalries in males’s tennis through the Massive 3 period lacked range. Choose any permutation between Nadal, Djokovic, Federer, and Andy Murray. Federer-Hewitt, Federer-Del Potro, Djokovic-Wawrinka, or Nadal-Soderling may additionally come to thoughts, however these rivalries had been overshadowed primarily.

As males’s tennis evolves, what new rivalries are poised to change into the following nice head-to-head? Moreover, what present matchups can be extra drastically appreciated with the Massive 3 shifting off-stage?

Scroll beneath to discover what I think about to be the highest 10 non-Massive three rivalries on the ATP tour. I used 3-part standards to decide on the contenders. First, we’re speaking about non-Massive three rivalries, so nothing involving Federer (clearly, he’s retired), Nadal, or Djokovic is taken into account. Secondly, the 2 gamers will need to have already performed at the very least twice. And lastly, the gamers should be aged 29 or youthful.

Together with a rating, I’ll embrace the present head-to-head (H2H) file between the gamers and the results of their final match. (Solely counting ATP and Davis Cup matches right here, not qualifying rounds or Challengers.) Lastly, I devised a “Spice Meter,” which can be my judgment of how testy, cantankerous, or typically ill-tempered the on-court vibe has been between the 2 gamers. In spite of everything, spice is a serious ingredient in any simmering rivalry.

I’d love to listen to your ideas within the feedback beneath. Do you agree with this listing? Disagree? What rivalries did I miss?

10) Nick Kyrgios & Casper Ruud

Anybody who performs Kyrgios sufficient can rapidly change into one in every of his rivals. Not solely has Ruud overwhelmed Kyrgios, however the two gamers even have a very particular off-court beef.

This pair confronted down for the primary time on the 2019 Rome event, with Kyrgios getting disqualified at 2-1 within the third set for an on-court eruption that included throwing a chair Bobby Knight type. After the match, Kyrgios threatened Ruud via Twitter.

Extra just lately, Ruud and Kyrgios met throughout an early spherical at this 12 months’s Indian Wells. Kyrgios received in straight units, and after the match ended, he seemed straight into the digital camera and stated, “I hear no talking now. None.”

Maybe probably the most thrilling factor about this rivalry is that each Kyrgios and Ruud celebrated the very best 12 months of their profession in 2022. Ruud made two grand slam finals – he misplaced on the French Open to Nadal and the U.S. Open to Alcaraz – and he’s now #3 on the planet. Kyrgios made his first grand slam last at Wimbledon and received 1 singles title (Washington, D.C.) and three doubles titles. I anticipate these two to satisfy in deeper rounds of massive phases within the subsequent couple of years.

9) Carlos Alcaraz & Stefanos Tsitsipas

That is nearly as good as a 3-0 rivalry can get, proper? Regardless of Alcaraz actually proudly owning Tsitsipas, there’s nonetheless magic surrounding this matchup that may’t be denied.

All of it originates from the 2021 U.S. Open, the place an on the spot basic match between these two marked Alcaraz’s first signature win on an enormous stage, introducing him to the broader tennis world.

Every match since has been charged with an analogous depth. In Miami this 12 months, Tsitsipas seemed decided, however Alcaraz prevailed in 2 robust units.

As he does for a lot of, Alcaraz poses a matchup downside for Tsitsipas. The chip and minimize backhand slices from Tsitsipas are too susceptible for the punishing Alcaraz forehand, permitting Carlos to dictate factors.

The longer this undefeated file goes on, the spicier (and extra awkward) it will get. Carlos is a thorn in Stefanos’ aspect.

8) Taylor Fritz & Cam Norrie

The rivalry between Fritz & Cam Norrie may fly below the radar in comparison with others on this listing, however what I like about them is how a lot the pendulum has swung backwards and forwards.

When you have a look at their head-to-head history, you may see how blows are traded backwards and forwards; no participant has received 3 consecutive matches within the 12 they’ve performed.

Fritz & Norrie have met in an enormous vary of contexts, battling in 7 totally different nations and taking part in on each huge and small phases. They’ve performed at a serious, 2 Masters 1000s, 250-level tournaments, Laver Cup, and even Davis Cup.

Fritz and Norrie’s careers have ascended collectively during the last 12 months and a half. As their video games proceed to raise, search for them to proceed to have high-quality matches on the most important phases.

7) Denis Shapovalov & Felix Auger-Aliassime

Far and away, Canada’s high two gamers, Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-Aliassime, share a burgeoning rivalry. These two are Canada’s lone males within the high 100, and each sit inside the high 20 on the time of this put up.

This one began with a bang, as these gamers met rapidly on the most important phases: they oddly performed in back-to-back R1s of the U.S. Open (Denis received each), and so they additionally met within the R64 of Madrid and R32 on the Australian Open (Felix received these matches).

At somewhat over a 12 months aside in age, Denis and Felix’s careers look comparable on paper. Each have made one main semifinal and three main quarterfinals. It’s solely a matter of time till one in every of these males makes a last main debut.

At 3-3, that is one of some rivalries on the listing that’s locked in a tie. The principle factor holding our #7 rivals again is the sheer friendliness between the 2 gamers – we want extra spice!

6) Dominic Thiem & Alexander Zverev

This pair is likely to be probably the most established rivalry on our listing albeit its lopsided nature. Thiem and Zverev have confronted off 11 occasions, 4 occasions in a grand slam, twice in Madrid Masters, and as soon as within the Nitto ATP Finals.

Thiem not solely leads strongly within the head-to-head, however he’s 4-0 in opposition to Zverev in grand slam matches, two on the onerous court docket and two on clay. However, Zverev’s declare right here is that he’s overwhelmed Thiem twice on his strategy to profitable the Madrid Masters, as soon as in 2021 and as soon as in 2018.

Their rivalry up to now peaked within the 2020 U.S. Open last (the identical event that was all of a sudden up for grabs when Djokovic was defaulted for hitting a line decide with a ball). Thiem received in a gruelling 5-set victory by which Zverev led two units to none. By the tip, each gamers had been bodily drained, with Zverev hitting first serves round 85 miles per hour and second serves within the 70s.

As Thiem continues to return again from his wrist harm – he’s at present ranked outdoors the highest 150 – and Zverev recovers from his rolled ankle in opposition to Nadal on this 12 months’s French Open, we’ll see if these two can rekindle the hearth.

5) Andrey Rublev & Stefanos Tsitsipas

Going into 2022, these two had been tied 4-4, and I’m unsure many would name it out as one of many high rivalries on tour. Oh, how the tides can change with one signature match…and one post-match convention gone awry.

Regardless of having met two grand slams and a pair of Masters 1000s, this 12 months’s ATP Finals match in Turin between Tsitsipas and Rublev stands amongst their highest-quality matches. It additionally takes the throne for many bitter post-match feedback, with Tsitsipas reluctantly stating Rublev “prevailed with what few tools he has.”

Though Tsitsipas is barely 24 and Rublev solely 25, each should be chomping on the bit to seize their first main title. With the gradual however sure dissolution of the Massive 3, 2023 and 2024 can be prime alternatives for them to run deep within the majors and inevitably meet once more head-to-head.

4) Nick Kyrgios & Stefanos Tsitsipas

Extra so than any pairing on this listing, Tsitsipas and Kyrgios have the 2 most pronounced but diverging personalities. Tsitsipas is spacey and peculiar, a tennis participant who moonlights as an aspiring Gen Z YouTuber. Kyrgios, traditionally the aggro insurgent of the tour, skilled a renaissance this 12 months and maybe a slight behavioural maturation. Emphasis on “slight.”

The match between Kyrgios and Tsitsipas at this 12 months’s Wimbledon has to go down as one of many wildest and most unusual grand slam matches – when it comes to on-court behaviour – within the final decade. Not solely did Tsitsipas deliberately blast two line drives within the course of and into the group, however he additionally made a number of makes an attempt to peg Kyrgios through the center of a degree. An odd pressure was left between the 2, particularly with the feedback made on the post-match press conferences.

In line with the bizarreness of this relationship, Kyrgios and Tsitsipas played doubles together on the Diriyah Tennis Cup in Saudi Arabia. Their subsequent showdown could reveal the true present state of their on-court relationship.

3) Carlos Alcaraz & Holger Rune

Each Alcaraz and Rune made appreciable strides in 2022 to advance their younger careers. Alcaraz received the ultimate slam of the 12 months, and Rune received the final Masters of the 12 months, a primary for each. Rune’s star appears to rise a few half 12 months behind Alcaraz’s. 

Each gamers are related of their bodily construct and share a psychological tenacity and focus that’s spectacular for his or her age. Nonetheless, Rune appears far more susceptible to emotional breakdowns on the court docket in comparison with the extra mentally regular Alcaraz.

By way of their rivalry, they’ve but to satisfy in a grand slam setting, with their greatest match being this 12 months’s Paris Masters, which ended with Alcaraz defaulting to harm late within the second set. Because the stakes rise – and they’ll – how will that have an effect on the depth and the aura surrounding this matchup?

2) Daniil Medvedev & Stefanos Tsitsipas

Of all of the rivalries on this listing, Medvedev-Tsitsipas carries probably the most baggage. For 2 different testy opponents, we would say one thing like, “Someplace alongside the road, their relationship turned bitter.” However concerning this matchup, we all know precisely the place it turned bitter: the primary spherical of the 2018 Miami Open.

Tempers flared that day when Medvedev and Tsitsipas had a contentious post-handshake encounter. With the chair umpire standing between him and Tsitsipas, Medvedev berated Tsitsipas, accusing Stefanos of calling him a “Bulls**t Russian.” When you haven’t seen the clip, it’s prime material.

Newer conferences reveal that the stress persists. Medvedev erupted on the umpire at this 12 months’s Australian Open, claiming Tsitsipas acquired frequent teaching through the match. It’s a complete tantrum.

Medvedev and Tsitsipas stay two of the very best gamers on the planet and needs to be mainstays of the highest 10 for the following 5 years ought to they keep wholesome. If Djokovic and Federer met 50 occasions throughout their profession (which they did), maybe the Medvedev-Tsitsipas saga isn’t even midway finished.

1) Carlos Alcaraz & Jannik Sinner

No rivalry is hotter proper now than Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. And no rivalry has extra potential to blossom throughout the following decade. The 2 gamers are separated by roughly two years in age, and, at a 2-2 file, they’ve already confirmed that this may be a good battle.

Their final match got here through the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open. Alcaraz prevailed in an electrical 5-set match that went deep into the evening. The win propelled Alcaraz on to his first grand slam last victory days later.

Though the U.S. Open last marked the fourth ATP tour assembly between Alcaraz and Sinner, will probably be remembered because the match that introduced their rivalry into the highlight and was the impetus for me penning this high 10 rating.

Alcaraz and Sinner have already succeeded on all surfaces. Two of Alcaraz’s greatest event wins got here on hardcourts: his first 1000-level Masters (Miami) and his first slam. 5 of Sinner’s 6 ATP titles have been on onerous.

Alcaraz could have a slight edge on clay, contemplating he’s received their solely match on the floor (2022 Umag), however Jannik has additionally confirmed to be a drive on clay together with his quarterfinal run at Roland Garros in 2020. The benefit factors to Sinner on grass, contemplating he not solely beat Alcaraz at this 12 months’s Wimbledon but in addition held a 2-0 set lead on Djokovic within the quarterfinals.

But when something is definite concerning the subsequent 3-5 years in tennis, it’s that we are able to’t make certain about something. When Federer started his reign, little did we all know that Nadal can be behind him shortly and that Djokovic’s rise can be across the nook. Nonetheless, whereas we await the following nice expertise, we are able to anticipate Sinner and Alcaraz to battle for titles within the meantime, all whereas retaining it spicy.

Honourable Mentions

Kyrgios & Medvedev (Kyrgios leads 4-1)

An incredible instance of a high-profile matchup the place Kyrgios surprisingly dominates the H2H. They performed 3 times in 2022, with Kyrgios profitable the final 2 (Toronto, U.S. Open). I anticipate this file to stage out over the following few years.

Auger-Aliassime & Alcaraz (Auger-Aliassime leads 3-0) 

They’ve solely met in 1 grand slam, and Alcaraz was extremely run down from his basic match with Tsitsipas. Felix received’t have an undefeated file for much longer. This pairing has severe potential to become probably the greatest rivalries on tour.

Medvedev & Rublev (Medvedev leads 4-2)

This rivalry has an enormous brother-little-brother really feel, paying homage to the Andy Roddick-Mardy Fish relationship. However Rublev has captured the final two matches, profitable in 3 units earlier this month. Is the tide altering?

Brooksby & Tiafoe (Brooksby leads 2-0)

I believe that is at present the spiciest rivalry between 2 Individuals. Look no additional than their last match – Atlanta of this 12 months – the place Tiafoe gave Brooksby an ice-cold handshake on the finish of the sport.

Schwarztman & Ruud (Schwartzman leads 5-3)

Whereas Schwartzman leads the H2H, Ruud has received 3 of the final 4. It is a enjoyable matchup, particularly once they meet on clay, the place their H2H file stands at 2-2. One other file I anticipate to stage out as Ruud ascends to his prime.