then we might as well add Hewitt (2 grand slams (still playing)), Wawrinka and Delpo to the Big Four and call it the Big Seven - or Magnificent Seven.
Hewitt is from a different era. His last Major win was at the 2002 Wimbledon (at this point Novak was a year from turning pro, Murray three years and Nadal had a 1-1 record in ATP matches) and his last Major final was at the 2005 AO (at that point neither Nadal, Novak or Murray had reached a Major QF).
Del Potro
Majors: 1 W, 0 RU, 2 SF
YEC: 1 RU, 1 SF
Masters: 0 W, 3 RU
Titles: 18
Highest Ranking: 4
Wawrinka
Majors: 1 W, 0 RU, 2 SF
YEC: 2 SF
Masters: 1 W, 2 RU
Titles: 9
Highest Ranking: 3
Murray
Majors: 2 W, 6 RU, 7 SF
YEC: 3 SF
Masters: 10 W, 4 RU
Olympic Gold
Titles: 33
Highest Ranking: 2
I love both of them but let's not act like Delpo and Stan are comparable to Murray. They played one phenomenal tournament each and got their Major. In regards to the ranking, the difference between weeks ranked in the top 3/4/5 will be massively in Murray's favour.
Yeah, but I think he got incredible lucky in those grand slams. Nadal was absent in 2012 US Open and Berdych happened to knock Federer who looked set to meet Murray in the SF. Similar situation in Wimbledon 2013, Nadal and Federer were on his side of the draw but they got knocked out early stages. Now, I'm not blaming Murray for those situations. I'm just saying Lady Luck was awfully kind to him in his GS wins in reply to your post. My point stands though, Big Three. Not Big Four.
If Federer couldn't beat Berdych at 2012 USO, why can we assume he would beat Murray? Same story at 2013 Wimbledon.
Murray really broke through as a top player by winning Cincy 2008.
Since, and including, Cincy 2008, the stats are:
Majors finals reached
13 Nadal, Djokovic
9 Federer
8 Murray
--------------
2 Soderling
1 Wawrinka, Cilic, Del Potro, Roddick, Berdych, Ferrer, Nishikori
Master finals reached
27 Djokovic
24 Nadal
16 Federer
14 Murray
---------------
7 Ferrer
3 Roddick, Del Potro, Berdych, Tsonga
2 Wawrinka, Monfils, Fish, Isner, Raonic, Simon
1 Nalbandian, Ljubicic, Davydenko, Soderling, Verdasco, Gasquet, Janowicz, Nishikori
Year-end Rankings
2008: 1. Nadal 2. Federer 3. Djokovic 4. Murray
2009: 1. Federer 2. Nadal 3. Djokovic 4. Murray
2010: 1. Nadal 2. Federer 3. Djokovic 4. Murray
2011: 1. Djokovic 2. Nadal 3. Federer 4. Murray
2012: 1. Djokovic 2. Federer 3. Murray 4. Nadal
2013: 1. Nadal 2. Djokovic 3. Ferrer 4. Murray (6. Federer - back issues)
2014: 1. Djokovic 2. Federer 3. Nadal 4. Wawrinka (6. Murray - back issues)
Add in that Murray is the only person to have beaten Federer, Nadal and Djokovic twice each over 5 sets.
I have no problems with calling it the Big Four era. Now of course there is the bigger 3 within the big 4, but Murray is so far above everyone else beneath him (Wawrinka, Del Potro, Ferrer, Berdych, etc.)
In many ways, Murray is the barometer for how good the bigger 3 are. This guy is so consistent, so good, easily better than all the guys from #5 down, yet he only managed 2 Majors.