Andrea Petkovic, former world No. 9 and respected tennis analyst, recently described Novak Djokovic’s current position in the sport as the “third wheel” alongside rising stars Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. Petkovic drew parallels to Djokovic’s earlier career when he was overshadowed by Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

Sinner and Alcaraz have dominated recent Grand Slams, sharing the last seven titles with Sinner winning four and Alcaraz three. Djokovic, now 38, was the last to break through before this era of dual dominance, earning his 24th Grand Slam at the 2023 US Open.

Since the start of 2024, Djokovic has been a strong contender, reaching the semifinals in five of seven Grand Slams and all three in 2025. Yet, four of his six losses at majors in this span have come at the hands of Sinner or Alcaraz.

On her podcast with Boris Becker, Petkovic stated, “He was with Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, and now he’s with Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. I’m glad we have him, but he’s no longer a favourite. It was his initial destiny in tennis to be number three, then there were years when he was number one. Now, towards the end of his career, it’s his destiny again to be the third wheel.” She acknowledged Djokovic’s continued excellence by noting, “He played three Grand Slam semi-finals in 2025. He’s clearly better than the rest of the field in big matches. But against those two (Alcaraz and Sinner), it’s not enough.”

Earlier in 2024, after Djokovic retired due to injury from the Australian Open semifinal, Petkovic shared her confidence in his tennis ability while expressing concern for his health. Regarding Djokovic’s quarterfinal victory over Alcaraz, she said, “I’m not worried about Novak, I thought he played so well at the Australian Open — that match against Carlos (Alcaraz). Some people wanted to put this one on Carlos, I just thought he was outplayed by Novak. I didn’t think he (Alcaraz) played so badly and so I’m not worried about Novak at all in terms of tennis, just worried about his health and if he’s healthy, he will be fine.”

Petkovic also wrote on her Substack blog during the Australian Open that Djokovic’s performance erased her doubts about his ability to compete with younger players. “Whoever doubts Novak’s tennis ever again, whether Novak’s 37 years old or 55 years old, should from this day forth be punished with perpetual silence,” she declared. She praised his adaptability and skill, noting, “Novak still has it and I would argue for three matches (Machac, Lehecka and Alcaraz), he played better than ever.” According to her, Djokovic remains a consistent and intelligent competitor, adjusting his game to retain unpredictability against opponents despite his age.

The Canadian Open, a prestigious Masters 1000 event on the ATP Tour, has seen many tennis legends perform at their best. Here, we spotlight the seven men who hold the highest win percentages at the Canadian Open in the Open Era, considering players with at least 10 matches played.

Boris Becker, a former world No 1, impressed with an 81.82% win rate based on a 9-2 record. Becker claimed the Canadian Open title on his debut in 1986, defeating Stefan Edberg in the final. He also reached the semifinals in 1987 and participated again in 1993.

Björn Borg was a dominant figure in the late 1970s. He secured the Canadian Open title in 1979 after defeating John McEnroe and reached the final in 1980 but retired injured against Ivan Lendl. Borg ended with an 82.61% win rate, holding a 19-4 match record at the tournament.

Rafael Nadal matches Borg’s 82.61% win percentage, the fifth highest in the Open Era. Nadal has claimed the Canadian Open five times: in 2005, 2008, 2013, 2018, and 2019. His 38-8 win-loss record highlights the event as his most successful hard-court tournament.

Novak Djokovic boasts a 84.09% win rate with a 37-7 record. The Serbian won the Canadian Open in 2007, 2011, 2012, and 2016 and finished runner-up to Andy Murray in 2015.

Ilie Năstase, a prominent player in the early Open Era, holds the third-highest win percentage at 84.62%. He won the title in 1972 and reached a second final in 1975, finishing with an 11-2 record.

Guillermo Vilas was a two-time Canadian Open champion in the 1970s, winning in 1974 and 1976. With a 17-3 match record, Vilas holds an 85% win rate.

Leading all others, Ivan Lendl owns the highest win percentage at the Canadian Open, winning six titles (1980, 1981, 1983, and 1987-89) and finishing runner-up in 1982 and 1985. His 57 wins in 66 matches give him an 86.36% winning percentage, underscoring his dominance at this event.

The dominance of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in recent Grand Slam tournaments has raised the question of who might emerge as their future rivals on the ATP Tour. These two multiple-time Grand Slam champions hold the top two spots in the world rankings and have split the last seven Grand Slam titles between them.

Holger Rune, despite a recent plateau, remains a noteworthy contender. At 22, Rune has previously achieved a ranking as high as world No. 4 and secured a Masters 1000 title at the 2022 Paris Indoors. He also claimed the Barcelona Open title in April with a win over Alcaraz and was an Indian Wells finalist this year. With tennis legend Andre Agassi now mentoring him, Rune may still have the potential to mount a serious challenge.

Lloyd Mensik, 19, continues his rapid ascent, highlighted by his March Miami Open victory—his first ATP and Masters 1000 title—which pushed him into the top 25, reaching a career-high of world No. 17. Despite solid performances, Mensik has yet to advance beyond the third round in a Grand Slam, an area he will need to improve to solidify his status among the elite.

Arthur Fils, at 21, has shown significant promise with two ATP 500 titles last year and made history by reaching the quarter-finals of the first three Masters 1000 events of the current season—the youngest to do so since 1990. While an injury at the French Open caused a drop from the top 20, his impressive forehand and confidence make him a player to watch once recovered.

Thiago Seyboth Wild Fonseca, an 18-year-old sensation from Brazil, has already secured an ATP Tour title at the Argentina Open and broke into the top 50 after a strong Wimbledon debut. Known for a powerful forehand and early maturity on the tour, Fonseca is expected to continue his rise in the coming years.

Learner Tien, ranked world No. 67, surprised many with four wins against top-10 players in 2025, including an impressive victory over Daniil Medvedev at the Australian Open. Known for his tactical intelligence rather than sheer power, the 19-year-old American is on the brink of competing with the sport’s best.

Each of these young players exhibits qualities that could eventually see them challenge the current hegemony of Alcaraz and Sinner, though consistency at Grand Slams remains the common milestone yet to be conquered.