The landscape of men's professional tennis has been dominated by the 'Big Three' for a decade and a half. Together, they've claimed 58 out of the last 70 Grand Slam trophies and held the top ATP spot every single year between 2004 and 2020. They've established records that seem almost impossible to beat. However, the data shows Federer's influence in this trio has waned recently; in the last ten years, he has won just 5 of the 39 Grand Slam tournaments he played in.
While fans continue to champion Roger Federer, his statistical decline is hard to ignore, especially when placed side-by-side with Djokovic and Nadal. Now nearing 40, the reality is that his prime years are over, even for those expecting a late-career miracle. Since returning to the court in 2021, his form has been disappointing, making a return to the world's top five seem unlikely. It's very possible that Wimbledon 2021 will be his final professional appearance.
When Federer eventually steps away from the game, he'll leave behind an incredible legacy: 20 Grand Slam titles, 6 ATP Tour Finals, and 28 Masters 1000 trophies. In any other era, these numbers would be untouchable, but Djokovic and Nadal have either surpassed him or are closing in. Nadal has already matched his 20 Slams and continues to dominate on clay. Meanwhile, both Djokovic and Nadal have moved well ahead of Federer in Masters 1000 titles, with 36 apiece. Even Federer's long-standing record of 310 weeks at world number one was overtaken by Djokovic this year—though the pandemic played a role in that shift. Ultimately, the numbers suggest Federer won't retire as the statistical GOAT.
Nadal is currently tied with Djokovic at 36 Masters titles. His next big goal is to close the gap in major championships by hunting for his 58th title at the French Open, which would bring him closer to Djokovic's current tally of 59.