The Big Three is in the quarter-finals of a Slam for the 23rd time
With World No. 1 Novak Djokovic’s fourth-round win on Monday at Roland Garros, the Big Three of Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer are into the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam together for the 23rd time. When that happens, history has been on their side.
On 19 of the previous 22 occasions when the Big Three has made the last eight at a major, one of those superstars has gone on to lift the trophy. Leading the way has been Nadal, who has triumphed 10 times — a rate of 52.6 per cent — under those circumstances.
Nadal has won seven of his 11 titles on the Parisian terre battue when Djokovic and Federer have also made the quarter-finals. This is the ninth time the trio has made the last eight together at the clay-court Grand Slam.
Djokovic is not far behind Nadal when the Big Three makes the quarter-finals, emerging with the trophy more than his rivals at the Australian Open (three titles) and Wimbledon (two titles). Federer has gone on to wear the crown on three of 19 occasions at all four majors combined.
Big Three Grand Slam Titles When All Reach The QFs
| Player | Australian Open | Roland Garros | Wimbledon | US Open | Total |
| Rafael Nadal | 1 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| Novak Djokovic | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| Roger Federer | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
When Djokovic, Nadal and Federer advanced to the quarter-finals at Wimbledon last year, it was the first time each of the legends reached the last eight at the same major since 2015 Roland Garros.
In 11 of the 19 Slams in which they’ve made the quarter-finals, the Big Three has battled to the last four. The only time one of them did not lift the trophy in that scenario was at the 2009 US Open, when Juan Martin del Potro emerged victorious. Del Potro beat Nadal in the semi-finals and Federer in the championship match.
Nadal and Federer could potentially play in the semi-finals, but they will need to get through tough matches in the last eight first. Nadal on Tuesday faces seventh seed Kei Nishikori, who has shown his toughness by winning back-to-back five-setters, while Federer plays fellow Swiss Stan Wawrinka, who defeated World No. 6 Stefanos Tsitsipas in five hours and nine minutes Sunday.
Djokovic will be the last of the trio to try to advance to the last four, as he battles reigning Nitto ATP Finals champion Alexander Zverev on Wednesday.
The Last Time The Big Three Made The QFs Together At The…
Australian Open: 2014
Roland Garros: 2019
Wimbledon: 2018
US Open: 2011
Did You Know?
The only other players to win a Grand Slam when the ‘Big Three’ all made the quarter-finals are Stan Wawrinka (2014 Australian Open, 2015 Roland Garros) and Del Potro (2009 US Open).
