The world named them The Big Four and it was certainly right to do so. From the start, the quartet formed by Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray had shown signs of what was to come in one of the most brilliant eras in the history of tennis. For more than a decade, the Swiss, the Spaniard, the Serb and the Scot have shared between them the most important titles on tour, including Grand Slams, Masters 1000s and the coveted world number one spot. Still today, now either in their thirties or on the verge, they continue to dominate the game.
Of course, the Mutua Madrid Open has been no exception to their rule. Since 2008, when Murray took down Gilles Simon in the tournament’s final year at Casa de Campo, nobody outside the Big Four has managed to get their hands on the trophy. Federer beat Nadal in 2009, the Spaniard got his own back in 2010, Djokovic was crowned for the first time in 2011, Nadal then took two titles on the trot (2013 and 2014), Murray was triumphant once more in 2015 and Djokovic was the last year’s victor.
Previously, Nadal had beaten Ivan Ljubicic in a stunning final (2005) in which the Spaniard had to come back from two sets down to fend off the Croat and Federer first lifted the trophy the following year, defeating Fernando González in the decider. These two victories laid the foundations for what was to come.
The Big Four’s titles in Madrid
- Rafael Nadal beat Ivan Ljubicic 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6
- Roger Federer beat Fernando González 7-5, 6-1, 6-0
- Andy Murray beat Gilles Simon 6-4, 7-6
- Roger Federer beat Rafael Nadal 6-4, 6-4
- Rafael Nadal beat Roger Federer 6-4, 7-6
- Novak Djokovic beat Rafael Nadal 7-5, 6-4
- Roger Federer beat Tomas Berdych 3-6, 7-5, 7-5
- Rafael Nadal beat Stan Wawrinka 6-2, 6-4
- Rafael Nadal beat Kei Nishikori 2-6, 6-4, 3-0 WD
- Andy Murray beat Rafael Nadal 6-3, 6-2
- Novak Djokovic beat Andy Murray 6-2, 3-6, 6-3
The Big Four’s 47 Majors
- Wimbledon: Roger Federer
- Australian Open: Roger Federer
- Wimbledon: Roger Federer
- US Open: Roger Federer
- French Open: Rafael Nadal
- Wimbledon: Roger Federer
- US Open: Roger Federer
- Australian Open: Roger Federer
- French Open: Rafael Nadal
- Wimbledon: Roger Federer
- US Open: Roger Federer
- Australian Open: Roger Federer
- French Open: Rafael Nadal
- Wimbledon: Roger Federer
- US Open: Roger Federer
- Australian Open: Novak Djokovic
- French Open: Rafael Nadal
- Wimbledon: Rafael Nadal
- US Open: Roger Federer
- Australian Open: Rafael Nadal
- French Open: Roger Federer
- Wimbledon: Roger Federer
- Australian Open: Roger Federer
- French Open: Rafael Nadal
- Wimbledon: Rafael Nadal
- US Open: Rafael Nadal
- Australian Open: Novak Djokovic
- French Open: Rafael Nadal
- Wimbledon: Novak Djokovic
- US Open: Novak Djokovic
- Australian Open: Novak Djokovic
- French Open: Rafael Nadal
- Wimbledon: Roger Federer
- US Open: Andy Murray
- Australian Open: Novak Djokovic
- French Open: Rafael Nadal
- Wimbledon: Andy Murray
- US Open: Rafael Nadal
- French Open: Rafael Nadal
- Wimbledon: Novak Djokovic
- Australian Open: Novak Djokovic
- Wimbledon: Novak Djokovic
- US Open: Novak Djokovic
- Australian Open: Novak Djokovic
- French Open: Novak Djokovic
- Wimbledon: Andy Murray
- Australian Open: Roger Federer
How the four players have shared the world number one spot
Roger Federer – 2 February 2004
Rafael Nadal – 18 August 2008
Roger Federer – 6 July 2009
Rafael Nadal – 6 June 2010
Novak Djokovic – 4 July 2011
Roger Federer – 9 July 2012
Novak Djokovic – 5 November 2012
Rafael Nadal – 7 October 2013
Novak Djokovic – 7 July 2014
Andy Murray – 7 November 2016
