The nickname grouping Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic is the “Big Three.”
The label emerged as the three players dominated men’s singles tennis across the 2000s and 2010s. Federer’s all-court technique, Nadal’s clay-court excellence and physical intensity, and Djokovic’s return game and defensive skill made them the defining rivals of their era.
The nickname refers specifically to Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic—not to every champion who competed during that period. Andy Murray is sometimes mentioned alongside them because he was a leading rival and spent time ranked No. 1, but he is not part of the standard “Big Three” grouping. The phrase should also not be confused with “Big Four,” an earlier label that included Murray.
Together, the trio won 66 men’s singles Grand Slam titles: Djokovic 24, Nadal 22, and Federer 20. They also repeatedly occupied the top positions in the ATP rankings, helping turn their rivalry into one of tennis’s central historical narratives.