Gael Monfils has claimed that Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are extra than simply champions as he urged the tennis world to cease evaluating gamers to the Big Three. The former world No 6 claimed that folks forgot the three gamers had been “legends”, additionally throwing Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka into their league.

With time formally ticking on the Big Three period, one in all their previous rivals has defined why Federer, Nadal and Djokovic aren’t champions. The Swiss star ended his profession eventually yr’s Laver Cup whereas Nadal just lately admitted that 2024 would likely be his final year on the tour as he introduced an prolonged break for the following few months.

It leaves Djokovic as the one currently-active member of the group. And Monfils has given his tackle the legacy of the Big Three as he defined why they had been a degree above different tennis gamers. 

Discussing his technology of French tennis gamers - which incorporates Richard Gasquet, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gilles Simon - Monfils instructed Game, Set and Talk: “Finally, we were on fire but we were still in the second week. We were still top 10. Last year, I was weak but I was still 15th in the world.”

The 11-time title winner then went on to make clear why Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Murray and Wawrinka would stay above himself and his fellow French stars. “We always want to compare the incomparable. Nadal, Djokovic and Federer are not champions,” Monfils added.

“These guys are legends. People forget it. If we could achieve the same things as them, we would be legends too.” Monfils additionally appeared to Nadal’s document on the French Open as he demonstrated how the event had been dominated by a handful of gamers during the last twenty years - leaving the French gamers unable to make inroads at their residence occasion.

The 36-year-old continued: “I all the time take the instance of Roland‐Garros. Who has gained it 14 instances? Has this ever existed? Two different legends have solely gained it thrice, as soon as Roger and twice Novak. And we're slapped on the knuckles.