The three current tennis players Rafael Nadal is a big fan of and is backing to carry the sport after his retirement

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Rafael Nadal won 22 Major titles as a professional, cementing his legacy as one of the sport’s greatest ever players.

The Spanish star dominated the ATP Tour alongside his two greatest rivals, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic for decades as they collected tennis’ biggest prizes.

Nadal won 22 Grand Slams, including a record-breaking 14 French Open titles, eight more than any other player achieved in the Open Era.

His performances helped tennis develop into the sport it is today, as fans around the world tuned in to see Nadal compete throughout his career.

When Nadal retired from tennis in 2024 many questioned who would help drive the sport forward in his absence.

Speaking after his retirement, the 38-year-old has now named the three players he thinks will help continue to grow the sport.

Rafael Nadal picks Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Swiatek, and Jannik Sinner as players who can help ‘grow’ tennis

Appearing as a guest on the Served with Andy Roddick podcast, Nadal was full of praise for his fellow Spaniard, who he thinks will do great things in the sport.

“I think Carlos [Alcaraz] is a great kid, a great guy, with a very good family behind him with positive values,” he said.

“They’re humble, good persons, that’s why I think Carlos is how he is, because at the end the values you receive at home, the way you are educated is the way you show up.”

Nadal and Alcaraz played doubles together at the 2024 Olympic Games, reaching the quarter-finals of the tournament before falling to defeat against the American pair of Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek.

Nadal then named two other players he thinks will help push the sport in the right direction.

“I see the same with Iga [Swiatek], I think Jannik [Sinner] is another good guy, not much of a show-off, focuses on what he is doing,” said Nadal.

“Of course, he went through a very tough process in the last year, and it was amazing the way that he was able to keep focused on what he’s doing.

“I think it’s a new generation of great tennis players there that are going to keep helping this beautiful sport grow and to engage fans.”

Swiatek has spoken freely about her admiration for Nadal, fulfilling a lifelong dream when she played alongside him in a charity match in 2022.

Nadal said he was impressed by Sinner’s ‘focus’, having endured a tough time in 2025, recently receiving a three-month suspension from the sport.

The Italian world number one is set to return to action at the Italian Open in May in front of his home fans.

Are Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Swiatek, and Jannik Sinner the most successful ‘active’ players in tennis?

In short, the answer is of course no, as Nadal’s rival Djokovic continues to compete on the ATP Tour, having won a record 24 Major titles to date.

After the Serb, however, there are few ‘active’ tennis players that can match the career achievements of the trio Nadal spoke so fondly of.

WTA star Swiatek is leading the charge with five, as she looks to chase down Djokovic’s record of 24 Slams.

The Pole will head to the French Open in May as the heavy favorite to pick up the title, having dominated at the event over recent years.

• 2019 French Open – Lost in 4R to Simona Halep
• 2020 French Open – Won, beat Sofia Kenin in F
• 2021 French Open – Lost in QF to Maria Sakkari
• 2022 French Open – Won, beat Coco Gauff in F
• 2023 French Open – Won, beat Karolina Muchova in F
• 2024 French Open – Won, beat Jasmine Paolini in F

Swiatek beat Paolini in the 2024 French Open final to take home her fourth title at Roland Garros and her fifth Major in total.

A sixth title for Swiatek could be on the horizon, as could a fifth for Alcaraz, who won his maiden French Open crown in 2024.

The Spaniard will look to bounce back from a tough Australian Open tournament, where he lost in the quarter-finals to Djokovic.

Only time will tell how the stars of the ATP and WTA Tour perform at the French Open, but it will certainly be worth a watch when tennis heads to Paris on Sunday, May 25.