Roger Federer makes massive Carlos Alcaraz-Jannik Sinner statement

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner made history this year by becoming the first pair of men's players to meet in three consecutive major finals — at Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. 

While their personal rivalry has kicked into high gear this year, the duo has had a stranglehold over men's tennis for two full seasons, splitting the four majors in 2024 and achieving the same feat this season. 

Start of the Carlos Alcaraz-Jannik Sinner era

Yet, Roger Federer believes that the Alcaraz-Sinner era officially began during this year's French Open final when the Spaniard saved three match points in the fourth set before pulling off the most unlikely comeback victory. In an interview with CNBC, the Swiss legend identified the Roland Garros final as the turning point of a new era.   

“I think the French Open, for me, was the match the game needed to really move on from the post-Roger, Rafa [Nadal] and Serena [Williams] time," he said. "To truly embrace this rivalry and this incredible shotmaking that Carlos and Jannik have right now. And Novak's [Djokovic] right there as well, which is incredible."

Roger Federer, Big 3 era is finally over

To Federer's point, the tennis world was stuck in a loop at the turn of the decade when many of the youngsters who were earmarked to succeed the Big 3 — Alexander Zverev, Casper Ruud, Dominic Thiem and others — failed to live up to the hype. As a result, Federer remained competitive, Djokovic continued to dominate and Nadal miraculously won two majors in 2022 at the age of 36. 

All that changed when Sinner and Alcaraz secured their first major wins, opening the floodgates and ushering in a new era. If one of them wins the 2026 Australian Open, they'll equal Djokovic and Nadal's feat of nine consecutive majors split between two players. Federer and Nadal own the longest-ever streak when they split 11 majors between the 2005 French Open and 2007 U.S. Open.