Andy Murray has urged caution against the wave of enthusiasm following Carlos Alcaraz's thrilling five-set victory over Jannik Sinner in the French Open final.
The Scotsman has disagreed with claims from tennis legends John McEnroe and Andre Agassi that Alcaraz and Sinner would beat Rafael Nadal in his prime.
Speaking at Queen's Club, the former world number one reminded tennis enthusiasts of the extraordinary achievements of the sport's previous generation.
"It's important not to forget what the guys have done before them, what Roger [Federer], Rafa [Nadal] and Novak [Djokovic] have done," Murray told BBC Sport.
Andy Murray has urged pundits and fan not to forget the achievements of the 'Big Three'
PA
"Winning 20-plus majors is something exceptional and it's easy in today's age to forget a little bit about that."
The Big Three's dominance saw them accumulate 66 Grand Slam singles titles between them over more than a decade.
Murray's comments came in response to suggestions from pundits that the current duo could defeat Nadal at his peak on the Parisian clay.
"I saw some pundits saying if [Alcaraz and Sinner] went on court against Rafa at the French Open, they would be favourites going into that match with Rafa in his prime," Murray noted.
JUST IN: Thomas Frank to become next Tottenham manager with Spurs set to pay huge fee for new boss
Jannik Sinnner and Carlos Alcaraz played out one of the greatest Grand Slam finals of all time on Sunday
Reuters
Whilst acknowledging their potential, the Scot remained measured in his assessment.
"Alcaraz and Sinner are on the path to being two of the best, no doubt about that, but it takes time to build what Roger, Rafa, and Novak had," he continued.
"We'll see whether they get that."
Despite his measured stance on comparisons with the past, Murray expressed considerable optimism about British tennis's future prospects.
READ MORE: Premier League hero turns down chance to manage Italy at age of 73
The three-time Grand Slam champion specifically highlighted Jack Draper's potential to compete at the highest level.
"Jack's right in the mix just now and doing extremely well. He's going to give himself opportunities to win majors over the next five, 10 years," Murray said.
The assessment carries significant weight given Draper's recent rise to world No 4 and his run to the US Open semi-finals.
His new ranking ensures he will be seeded to avoid both Alcaraz and Sinner until the semi-finals at Wimbledon.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
Jack Draper lost in the fourth round of the French Open to Alexander Bublik
Murray's broader perspective on tennis's evolution remained notably optimistic despite the changing guard.
"They're both brilliant athletes and very different personalities, which I think for fans is really exciting," he said of Alcaraz and Sinner.
The double Wimbledon champion dismissed concerns about the sport's future following the retirement of its greatest and most illustrious champions.
"Moving forward, men's tennis is in a great place," he stressed.
"People always worry at the end of a generation of players what's going to happen with the sport next, but generally sports continue to evolve and, in most cases, improve."
Murray concluded by agreeing with the masses that the French Open final was "one of the best finals for a long time" after Alcaraz defeated his rival Sinner in astonishing fashion.
Most Read
