Carlos Alcaraz names the four players who changed the history of tennis and belong on Mount Rushmore for the sport

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Carlos Alcaraz has already enjoyed a legendary tennis career, reaching world number one and winning five Grand Slams.

In 2022, Alcaraz picked up his first major title, defeating Casper Ruud 6-4, 2-6, 7-6, 6-3 in the final of the US Open.

One year later, Alcaraz won Wimbledon for the first time, taking down seven-time champion Novak Djokovic in the final.

He defended that title in 2024, having won his maiden French Open title one month earlier, taking his major tally to four.

A fifth Grand Slam followed in 2025, as Alcaraz became a two-time champion at Roland Garros, outlasting Jannik Sinner in a classic final.

There’s a good chance that when Alcaraz hangs up his racket for good, he will do so as one of the greatest players in the history of the ATP Tour.

Where he would rank is another question, as Alcaraz now names the four players he would place on his tennis ‘Mount Rushmore’.

Carlos Alcaraz picks his tennis ‘Mount Rushmore’

On TikTok, Alcaraz was asked to pick his ‘Mount Rushmore’ of tennis players.

“My Mount Rushmore of tennis players is obviously Rafa [Nadal], Roger [Federer], Novak [Djokovic], it’s not in order,” he said.

“And the fourth one, I haven’t seen him play, but I think I’m going to pick Pete Sampras.

“I think they changed tennis, they deserve, with the titles, to be in that spot and Sampras with the titles and the Grand Slams he has won.”

Alcaraz isn’t the first tennis player to have been asked this question, as several other big names made their picks recently.

It’s widely agreed that the first three spots are occupied by Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic, but the fourth spot is largely up for grabs.

The likes of Rod Laver, Pete Sampras, and Bjorn Borg are all in with a shout, but who is the fourth greatest player of all time according to the numbers?

Who should be the fourth player on the tennis ‘Mount Rushmore’?

There are several key metrics used in the G.O.A.T. conversation, the biggest of which is, of course, the Grand Slam count.

Djokovic (24), Nadal (22), and Federer (20) lead the way, but who’s trailing them in fourth?

Alcaraz’s pick for the fourth spot, Sampras, is the closest challenger, winning 14 Slams between 1990 and 2002.

It’s also important to note the number of weeks players spent ranked number one in the world, an important metric in highlighting the dominance of players.

Sampras returns to the top of this list, although as the rankings were created in 1973, the likes of Roy Emerson, Laver, and Bill Tiden don’t appear.

The numbers certainly point towards Sampras being the obvious pick to join Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic on ‘Mount Rushmore’, although it’s still up for debate.

Perhaps Alcaraz himself will enjoy a legacy worth carving his name into the conversation, having already won five Grand Slam titles, spending 36 weeks at number one, at the age of 22.

He won’t do his chances any harm by winning Wimbledon in 2025, as he looks to pick up his third consecutive title at SW19.

Alcaraz beat Cameron Norrie in his quarterfinal match to set up an intriguing last four clash with American star Taylor Fritz.

The Spaniard will play Fritz for a place in the final later this week.