What’s your pick for the 'BIG3 ERA' and why?

[Neptune]

2004-2023: Their first and last YE#1s & multiple slams
2007-2021: Nole's first & Fed's last top 5 ranking
2011-2018: Nole's first & Fed's last #1 ranking
2008-2018: Nole’s first & Fed’s last slam
Or something else?

I think 2004-2023 is the most fitting 'BIG3 ERA' concept. During this period, one, two, or all three of them were consistently at the top and dominated the big titles, with significant overlap throughout most of that time.

Moreover, 2004-09 was Fed’s era, and 2011-23 was Nole’s era (or two eras: 2011-16 and 2018-23), making 2004-2023 feel very natural.

Other narrower concepts feel too limited. Imagine if Nole had broken out later or Fed retired earlier, we would hardly have any 'BIG3 ERA.' Meanwhile, broader concepts feel stretched—2003 wasn’t part of Fed’s era (similarly, if there were a SinRaz era, it would start from 2024).

 

[tennis_pro]

I would say the true big 3 era when nobody really stood out for an extended period of time was 2008-2012. Same period for the big 4. Fed won 5 majors, Nadal 8 and Djoko 5.

But Id say 2007-2019 when they were all occupying the top 3 spots in the rankings and all 3 were competing at the same time for majors.

 

[Genie Of the Bank]

2010-2019 for me is the BIG 3 era , they were so dominant at slams and fired up against each other.

 

[Lleytonstation]

Big 3 era is 04-23.

Yes there are spans where it was more prevelant, but the big 3 is lumped together. Always will be. Those big3 ran tennis from 04-23.

 

[JMR]

There are reasonable arguments to be made on this subject, but I think history is going to define the "Big 3 Era" as 2003-2023. First slam-winning year by any them up until the first year that none of them won a slam. This has already happened, in fact. There were many stories that went like this after Sinner won the USO:

"The four Grand Slam events this year were split by Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, making 2024 the first year since 2002 that no member of the fabled 'Big 3' won a major."

Hence, 2003-2023.

 

[Sport]

2003-2023: uninterrupted period with at least one Big 3 member winning one Major.

 

[Racquet_smash]

It's 2007-2014.
Years prior to 2007 don't qualify as Nadal was not a multi surface player and Djokovic was too young.

After 2014 Nadal's prime ended. 2017 is obviously over as all of the Big 3 were out of their prime.

 

[RaulRamirez]

Good thread.
I also go with the most expansive definition, which could also start with 2003, the year of Fed's first slam win.
But starting in 2004 (thru 2023), Big 3 players won at least 2 slams every year -- often three, sometimes all four.

 

[helterskelter]

It started in 1998, when Federer played his first match on tour.

It will end whenever Nadal and Djokovic have both retired, so probably some time around 2028/2029.

 

[AleYeah]

Big 3 era is 04-23.

Yes there are spans where it was more prevelant, but the big 3 is lumped together. Always will be. Those big3 ran tennis from 04-23.

Clicked into the thread to post more or less this thought.

 

[Sport]

It started in 1998, when Federer played his first match on tour.

It will end whenever Nadal and Djokovic have both retired, so probably some time around 2028/2029.

1998? In 1998 Novak was 11, a mere kid from Serbia.

 

[Hitman]

The big 3 era for me is when the first of them stepped onto the big stage with a historically big win.

That was Wimbledon 2003.

Now, I don't think it is over until we are sure that no big historical wins will take place from this point on. Even in 2024, Djokovic's Olympic win was indeed historical, because he became the first player, man or woman, ever to complete the full set of big trophies.

I don't really see it as just their outright dominance, but how they continue to make historical impact. I mean if Djokovic wins slam 25, would 2025 be included as part of big 3 then, since he had standalone record for both men and women?

So, it started at W 2003, but it is still going, until we know for sure no further historical achievements will be made.

 

[Sport]

The big 3 era for me is when the first of them stepped onto the big stage with a historically big win.

That was Wimbledon 2003.

Now, I don't think it is over until we are sure that no big historical wins will take place from this point on. Even in 2024, Djokovic's Olympic win was indeed historical, because he became the first player, man or woman, ever to complete the full set of big trophies.

I don't really see it as just their outright dominance, but how they continue to make historical impact. I mean if Djokovic wins slam 25, would 2025 be included as part of big 3 then, since he had standalone record for both men and women?

So, it started at W 2003, but it is still going, until we know for sure no further historical achievements will be made.

Agree, Novak may awake his inner lion and win more Slams in 2025, thus expanding the Big 3 era.

 

[TMF]

Era for tennis doesn't last 20 years, not even close. LOL

Federer's era was in 2000s, the decade that he dominated the sport like Jordan did in the 90s decade

 

[MichaelNadal]

2005-2022. Starts with the Fedal rivalry kicking into gear and Rafa winning his first slam and ends when Nadal and Federer are out of the picture and it’s just Novak.

 

[Hitman]

Agree, Novak may awake his inner lion and win more Slams in 2025, thus expanding the Big 3 era.

Yep. Djokovic still might have something to say for the Big 3 era. If he wins one more slam, then IMO that year has to count as part of big 3 era.

Even this year, go ask Novak if he feels his year was a failure, and he will likely tell you that he won the one title he wanted the most in 2024.

Big 3 era is still going, W 2003 to ??????

We shall see how it ends, but this group is not dead yet, the last gunslinger is still ready for one last dance.

 

[Razer]

Big 3 Era Specifically was from 2005 - 2022

2005 is the year when previous era ATG Agassi and next gen ATG Nadal were both together in the Top 10 for the first and last time together. Djokovic made his Slams debut in 2005.
2022 is the year when previous era ATG Nadal and next gen ATG Alcaraz were both together in the Top 10 for the first and last time together. Federer retired from Slams in 2022.

Thus 2005-2022 is the actual Big 3 era.

1973, 1988, 2005 and 2022 are significant years because you could say that these were intersection of eras, Rosewall and Connors were together in Top 10 for the first time in 1973, then Connors and Agassi were together in Top 10 for the first time in 1988, Agassi and Nadal were together in Top 10 for the first time in 2005, Nadal and Alcaraz were together in Top 10 for the first time in 2022.

 

[helterskelter]

1998? In 1998 Novak was 11, a mere kid from Serbia.

And in 2029, Feddy will turn 48, a middle-aged man from Switzerland.

Nonetheless, I was putting the case that the big three era consists of all that time between the oldest of them turning pro and the youngest retiring; that is, any time at which one of them was active on tour.

You could also argue it is all the time between the last of them starting to play on the tour (Djokovic in 2003/04) and the first of them retiring (Federer in 2021/22); that is, any time at which all of them are active on tour.

But I think it should be linked to them playing, not to them winning.

 

[Pheasant]

I vote 2007-2019. By 2020, Fed's knee was wrecked and he was done being competitive. By 2023, Nadal was seriously injured and done being competitive.

I.e, The Big 3 era to me is when each member of the Big 3 was likely to be in the top-3 in the rankings. 2007 was the first year that The Big 3 occupied the 1st 3 spots in the rankings and 2019 is the last year when each member of The Big 3 occupied the last 3 spots in the ranking.

 

[Pheasant]

The years The Big 3 ended the year owning the top 3 spots in the rankings:
2007-2011, 2014, 2018, 2019.

That's a ridiculous 8 times in that 13 year span that they owned the top 3 spots. That is truly insane.

The trio of McEnroe, Lendl, and Connors occupied the top 3 spots in the rankings 4 consecutive years(1981-84). Connors dropped to 4th in 1985 to break up that run for good.

 

[Razer]

I vote 2007-2019. By 2020, Fed's knee was wrecked and he was done being competitive. By 2023, Nadal was seriously injured and done being competitive.

I.e, The Big 3 era to me is when each member of the Big 3 was likely to be in the top-3 in the rankings. 2007 was the first year that The Big 3 occupied the 1st 3 spots in the rankings and 2019 is the last year when each member of The Big 3 occupied the last 3 spots in the ranking.

Era for tennis doesn't last 20 years, not even close. LOL

Federer's era was in 2000s, the decade that he dominated the sport like Jordan did in the 90s decade

Historically speaking .... The Big 3 era is 2018-2024.

From 2011-2012 until 2017 we had the Big 4 term in the market.

Before 2011 it was Federer the Big 1 with Nadal chasing him in the ranking with Murray, Djokovic leading the rest of the pack.

Today we are trying hard to retconn the way eras were look at in the past with threads like these.

 

[SneederFeeder]

I don't think a definition of the Big 3 Era by titles won makes sense as then you have to contend with the fact that Federer and Djokovic have very little overlap in Slams

Fed was at 16 when Nole was still at 1 and all

So the most sensical definition is when all 3 were competitive at once, maybe 07-19

However, the convention is now and will always be that it's 03/04-23, so even if it makes little historical sense, when I use the Big 3 Era, I use it as that

 

[FlyingSaucer]

Either 2003 or 2004 to 2023 provided Djo wins no more slams.

 

[Tano]

Either 2003 or 2004 to 2023 provided Djo wins no more slams.

The era of the Big 3 is over.

 

[inflation_era]

Probably 2004-2007 when all three were at their best.

 

[FlyingSaucer]

The era of the Big 3 is over.

Looks that way.

 

[messiahrobins]

Big 3 era started 2005 and ended 2022 when Federer retired obviously.

 

[nolefam_2024]

Last time big 3 were all in semis and first time they were all in semis

I would say wimby 2007 to wimby 2019

They faced each other in semis and finals.

 

[TheGoldenEra1990’s]

2004-2013. Strongest field. Anything after pales in coMparison

 

[nolefam_2024]

Big 3 era ended at wimby 2019

Fed career is finished by wimby 2019. Whatever he did afterwards was just a footnote , Micky mouse

Nole career did not start till wimby 2007. Whatever he won before was Micky mouse , a footnote

 

[jackson vile]

You have to look at the statistics and see when all three were closest to peak simultaneously

 

[nolefam_2024]

You have to look at the statistics and see when all three were closest to peak simultaneously

2007 to 2019 obviously

 

[Holmes]

2004-2023: Their first and last YE#1s & multiple slams
2007-2021: Nole's first & Fed's last top 5 ranking
2011-2018: Nole's first & Fed's last #1 ranking
2008-2018: Nole’s first & Fed’s last slam
Or something else?

I think 2004-2023 is the most fitting 'BIG3 ERA' concept. During this period, one, two, or all three of them were consistently at the top and dominated the big titles, with significant overlap throughout most of that time.

Moreover, 2004-09 was Fed’s era, and 2011-23 was Nole’s era (or two eras: 2011-16 and 2018-23), making 2004-2023 feel very natural.

Other narrower concepts feel too limited. Imagine if Nole had broken out later or Fed retired earlier, we would hardly have any 'BIG3 ERA.' Meanwhile, broader concepts feel stretched—2003 wasn’t part of Fed’s era (similarly, if there were a SinRaz era, it would start from 2024).

There is only one era, 2004-23. Federer's peer aged generation (champions like Roddick, Hewitt, Safin, Baghdatis etc.) was different from Nadal and Djokovic but given the great overlap in their careers it's hard to separate them even on the basis of age. No, for the rigorous historian, the 2004-23 period of tennis was a single, unified era of tennis with hilariously weak and historically strong periods woven together into a beautiful tapestry of tennis.

 

[nolefam_2024]

There is only one era, 2004-23. Federer's peer aged generation (champions like Roddick, Hewitt, Safin, Baghdatis etc.) was different from Nadal and Djokovic but given the great overlap in their careers it's hard to separate them even on the basis of age. No, for the rigorous historian, the 2004-23 period of tennis was a single, unified era of tennis with hilariously weak and historically strong periods woven together into a beautiful tapestry of tennis.

Federer literally retired before COVID and you people are giving him 4 more years in big 3 era.

 

[Holmes]

Federer literally retired before COVID and you people are giving him 4 more years in big 3 era.

Federer retired in September of 2022, which was "literally" more than two years after the start of the Covid Pandemic.

 

[nolefam_2024]

Federer retired in September of 2022, which was "literally" more than two years after the start of the Covid Pandemic.

What the f did he do post wimby ?

He retired that day when he lost in the final.

 

[metsman]

03-06, the triumvirate of Federer, Kokutitas, and Gravinboginagis brought to mind Caeser's original first triumvirate.

 

[FlyingSaucer]

What the f did he do post wimby ?

He retired that day when he lost in the final.

 

[nolefam_2024]

Irrelevant

Ttw makes fun of basel like 5th slam just like Cincinnati


It's Federer fans coping mechanism. He couldn't hack it post Wimbledon.

Game over.

So how can it be big 3 era.

 

[FlyingSaucer]

Irrelevant

Ttw makes fun of basel like 5th slam just like Cincinnati


It's Federer fans coping mechanism. He couldn't hack it post Wimbledon.

Game over.

So how can it be big 3 era.

Actually Halle is the 5th slam.

It's a title, not a cope.

He made the WTF SFs and AO 2020 SFs. It was over (for him) after the AO, effectively.

 

[nolefam_2024]

Actually Halle is the 5th slam.

It's a title, not a cope.

He made the WTF SFs and AO 2020 SFs. It was over (for him) after the AO, effectively.

Right

Halle basel

Whatever mediocre title fed focused is 5th slam

100% cope

I would say 8 Halle are not equivalent to 1 Wimbledon. It's poor man's tournament.

 

[FlyingSaucer]

Right

Halle basel

Whatever mediocre title fed focused is 5th slam

100% cope

I would say 8 Halle are not equivalent to 1 Wimbledon. It's poor man's tournament.

You'll see the light one day. Until then...

 

[nolefam_2024]

You'll see the light one day. Until then...

I will never see false light

Coming back to thread fed retired de facto by 2019 wimby

Nothing he does post that amounts to even little bit so big 3 era is dead post wimby 19

 

[FlyingSaucer]

I will never see false light

Coming back to thread fed retired de facto by 2019 wimby

Nothing he does post that amounts to even little bit so big 3 era is dead post wimby 19

Holding the line and all that.

Anyway, no.

Carry on.

 

[nolefam_2024]

Holding the line and all that.

Anyway, no.

Carry on.

Yes

Nolefams did have to hold line because basel is worthless just like Halle

Cold hard facts I can't believe I am even writing this because it's troll fun but still

 

[FlyingSaucer]

Yes

Nolefams did have to hold line because basel is worthless just like Halle

Cold hard facts I can't believe I am even writing this because it's troll fun but still

By "cold hard facts," do you mean "in my opinion"?

 

[nolefam_2024]

By "cold hard facts," do you mean "in my opinion"?

Nope facts

 

[FlyingSaucer]

Nope facts

OKAY

 

[MichaelNadal]

Big 3 era ended at wimby 2019

Fed career is finished by wimby 2019. Whatever he did afterwards was just a footnote , Micky mouse

Nole career did not start till wimby 2007. Whatever he won before was Micky mouse , a footnote

2007-2019 works but I would end it at the ATP finals.

 

[Lleytonstation]

Yes

Nolefams did have to hold line because basel is worthless just like Halle

Cold hard facts I can't believe I am even writing this because it's trdjoker oll fun but still

Djoker just couldn't win there or queens. Not good enough on grass. Good on WC grass but that's it.