…next year, I won’t be comparing seasons 1994 and 2024. Instead, I plan to post short biographies that I’ve written for my e-book “…from Phil Dent to Jannik Sinner…” (published in March 2021) focusing on the best singles players of the Open Era. I’ve included 340 short biographies in the e-book and intend to share over 100 on my website. These will be slightly modified versions, adjusted to suit my website and hyperlinked. This project will be titled
“…from John McEnroe (b. 1959) to Kei Nishikori (b. 1989)”
aiming to showcase the best players of the past forty years, spanning the most successful individuals from the 1980s, 90s, 00s, and 10s. This year in December, I’ve already posted fifteen biographies. Next two years, I aim to post between 4 to 7 biographies each month. Whether it’ll be completed within those two years remains uncertain; it largely depends on potential retirements. Notably, ten very good/great players born in the 80s are still active as of the end of 2023. You can find the links to the biographies here. Additionally, I’ll continue to post picture-stats of the most significant matches from the Open Era. Furthermore, I’ll keep posting pic-stats of Federer’s finals. As of the end of 2023, there are 138 out of his 157 finals available on my website; I guess the remaining 19 finals will be posted by the end of 2025. This means 87% of his finals are wrapped up, it’s 84% in Đoković’s case, 83% in Nadal’s.
Rivalry at the Top
In 1993, the entire season was captivated by the rivalry between two US players: Pete Sampras and Jim Courier. One year older Courier continued his astounding form on clay and hardcourts, which had begun at Indian Wells ’91, while Sampras finally lived up to the expectations set by his US Open ’90 title. However, the latter part of the season saw an abrupt end to this rivalry. Courier lost his form, and concurrently, Michael Stich, who had been relatively successful earlier in the season, surged, dominating the autumn of ’93. Looking back, Stich may be regarded as the most successful player in the final quarter of the season, clinching three indoor titles, two of which were highly prestigious (especially Frankfurt), and leading Germany to victories over Sweden and Australia in the Davis Cup, triumphing over almost all the top-ranked players of that time.
Thirty years later, the first half of the season was marked by a rivalry among three players: Novak Đoković, Carlos Alcaraz, and Daniil Medvedev. Jannik Sinner joined in the latter part of the season, initially in a more cautious mode as his Wimbledon semifinal and victory in Toronto were partially due to very favorable draws. In the autumn, he ascended to a higher level, defeating all three higher-ranked players multiple times, including Medvedev thrice and Đoković twice.
The Fall
Guy Forget, one of the leading players of the early ’90s, suffered a severe injury at Hamburg ’93, sidelining him for nearly a year and causing a significant drop in rankings from no. 17 to 623. That year was critical for Ivan Lendl, the most dominant player of the ’80s, as it was the first time since his teenage years that he was unable to be competitive in the “best of five” format. He also lost his edge in crucial moments of tighter sets, a trend that continued in 1994, leading to his retirement at the age of 34. Andre Agassi, a Top 10 player from 1988 to 1992, experienced the first of his two major crises in his long career (the second would occur in 1997), resulting in a plummet to no. 24 by the end of the season.
Three decades later, more elite players had a disastrous season, especially Rafael Nadal, one of the greatest players of all time, who participated in only two events at the beginning of the year and dropped from no. 2 to 670 (two places below him is Marin Čilić, the former US Open champion, who also played just two events this year, beginning it as no. 17). Nadal’s compatriot Pablo Carreño Busta falls down from no. 13 to 606 having played three ATP events (two Challengers). Nine years younger than Nadal, Nick Kyrgios played just one event, resulting in his disappearance from the ATP ranking after being ranked no. 22. Matteo Berrettini, another significant name in the past few years, faced physical problems throughout the ’23 year, plummeting from no. 14 to 92. The 27-year-old Berrettini began and ended the year positively, first aiding Italy in reaching the final of the United Cup, and then concluding the year on the bench, motivating his younger Italian compatriots during the Davis Cup triumph.
The Rise
Nineteen-year-old Andrei Medvedev was a rising star in 1993. The Ukrainian, with a somewhat wooden yet efficient style, proved to be successful on all surfaces. Many pundits viewed him as a potential main rival for Pete Sampras in the second half of the ’90s. However, Medvedev’s peak was actually reached the following year, before he turned 20. Although four of Medvedev’s peers finished their careers with more accomplishments, in 1993, none of them was frequently mentioned in the same breath as Medvedev. Here’s a ranking comparison of the best players born in 1974 at the end of 1993:
6 – Andrei Medvedev
76 – Àlex Corretja
88 – Thomas Enqvist
102 – Yevgeny Kafelnikov
372 – Tim Henman (before his ATP debut)
Two prodigies born in 2003, Carlos Alcaraz and Holger Rune, confirmed their tremendous potential displayed a year before. As I write this, it seems they along with two years older Jannik Sinner – could create a new “Big 3” in the ’20s. However, it’s a shallow assumption that doesn’t account for super-talented players born in the mid-2000s who might emerge in a few years. The current best teenager, Arthur Fils, is ranked 36. My early estimation suggests he may have a more successful career than a fellowFrenchman, Gaël Monfils.
Veterans
The age of veterans shifted from the age of 30 to 35 over thirty years. In 1993, there were few players who could turn 30 and still pose a threat. One of them was Ivan Lendl, mentioned earlier, but at 33, he reached his physical limits. Other famous players in their thirties who were approaching the twilight of their careers included Brad Gilbert (32), Anders Järryd (32), as well as Mikael Pernfors and Henri Leconte, both at 30. The former French Open champion Andrés Gómez decided to retire at 33 in 1993 while four years older Björn Borg, the icon of the 70s, finally played the last match in his professional career, ultimately completing his retirement which had been initiated… ten years earlier. Thirty years later the most significant name to finish career is John Isner (38), a man who brought serving and playing tie-breaks to another level.
In 2023, Novak Đoković defied the age paradigm by securing three major titles and enjoying one of the best seasons of his illustrious career at the age of 36. Other players from his generation still achieved notable results: Andy Murray, only seven days older than Đoković, reached the final in Doha; 37-year-old Gaël Monfils triumphed in Stockholm; his contemporary Richard Gasquet commenced the season with a title in Auckland, and 38-year-old Stan Wawrinka was a runner-up in Umag. Feliciano López, aged 42, reached the quarterfinals in his farewell event this year (Mallorca). Thirty years ago the oldest player to win an ATP match was Jimmy Connors (41). Below is the ranking of players aged 35 and above in the Top 100:
1 – Novak Đoković
42 – Andy Murray
49 – Stan Wawrinka
74 – Gaël Monfils
76 – Richard Gasquet
Game-styles
In 1993, the trend initiated in the late ’80s/early ’90s continued, transitioning from aluminium racquets to graphite ones (Cédric Pioline was a significant exception), which led to increased serve-and-volleyers garnering points directly behind their serves, primarily focusing on tie-breaks. Notably, Pete Sampras, Michael Stich, Goran Ivanišević, and Richard Krajicek epitomized this style, contrasting with players like John McEnroe (finished his career at the end of 1992, but took part in two exhibition events of ’93), Stefan Edberg or Pat Cash (due to injury he missed the entire ’93 season), who were faithful to the chip-and-charge strategy as returners. Boris Becker stood somewhat in between; in the mid-’80s, he was a prototype for players who emerged in the early ’90s. Canadian Greg Rusedski entered the scene in 1993, known later for breaking his own records in serve-speed as well as being super dependent on tie-breaks. At that time, the magical velocity touched 200 kph (125 mph) – rarely crossed by servers. Other young player, who gathered some attention in 1993 it was Australian Patrick Rafter, a follower of the McEnroe/Edberg tradition. These two “R” native English speakers would face each other in an unexpected US Open ’97 final, and Rafter’s finesse triumphed over a show of brute force in a duel of two different S/V mindsets. Rusedski finished the year 1993 ranked 50th, Rafter 16 places below. More than four years later they’ll enter an event trying to become world’s no. 1 (Key Biscayne ’98).
At the end of 1993 in the Top 20, there were eight serve-and-volleyers, nine offensive baseliners, and three defensive baseliners (noting that Michael Chang was improving his serve, transforming into an offensive baseliner in the mid-’90s). The landscape is somewhat simplistic as players often adjusted their styles based on the surface (carpet was still popular, encouraging players to more offensive attitude indoors). The ratio of one-handed and double-handed players inside the Top 20 was pretty balanced.
In contrast, today, only two players among the Top 20 use one-handed backhands (Stefanos Tsitsipas & Grigor Dimitrov), and there’s a single style prevailing across players – offensive baselining – regardless of the surface. Among the current top twenty, only Alex de Minaur and Cameron Norrie adopt a more defensive approach during baseline exchanges. Termed “defensive baseliners,” their gameplay differs significantly from the excellent clay-courters of the mid-’90s, such as Sergi Bruguera and Thomas Muster, who operated deeper behind the baseline, with higher net clearance.
Statistical summary of these two seasons here
Born: February 2, 1966 in Moscow (Moskva Oblast in Soviet Union)
Height: 1.87 m
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Андрей Эдуардович Чесноков… In the Soviet era, the name ‘Андрей’ was transcribed as ‘Andrei’ in line with rigid state conventions, but post-USSR, the more phonetic ‘Andrey’ became standard – a subtle marker of changing times. On my website, you’ll find both forms for him and Andrey Cherkasov – the second-best Russian player in the early 90s – reflecting this linguistic shift.
Chesnokov was a specialist of saving his best tennis for the biggest stages. This most accomplished Russian born in the 60s, contested fifteen main-level finals, with five (Monte Carlo and Rome ’90, Montreal ’91, Indian Wells ’92, Hamburg ’93) of his last seven occurring at Masters Series events (then called Mercedes Super 9). The explanation for this clutch performance might lie in financial motivation – having begun his career under the Soviet Union’s communist regime, he seemed galvanized by higher stakes.
Chesnokov’s 1980s statements often revealed the surreal pressures of his era. During the 1988 Antwerp exhibition final against John McEnroe, he sprained his ankle in the second set of a ‘best-of-five’ match. Despite the hopeless odds on fast carpet against a superior opponent, he soldiered on, limping through five more games. “I said I cannot play anymore,” Chesnokov admitted, “but He said, <You must!>” He refused to identify who pressured him: “It is my secret.” The year 1988 may be considered as his best, the most consistent. He won 73% of his matches (47-17 record with Antwerp); admittedly he captured just one title (Orlando), but played four more finals on three surfaces (including Antwerp, deprived of ranking points), and two Grand Slam quarterfinals.
The following year, he reached his career pinnacle at Roland Garros, ousting defending champion Mats Wilander in straight sets (he had done the same in 1986) en route to the semifinals. Even then, he shrouded his earnings in mystery: “I want to keep my secret about prize money. I will take some, maybe not $73,000. Maybe a little less. Maybe $72,000. Maybe I’ll buy a ticket to the United States before going back to Moscow,” he joked, referring to communistic collectivism.
In 2019, a former Soviet player (also born in the 1960s) told me at Lago di Garda that Chesnokov – despite neither he nor Alexander Volkov (second best Russian born in the 60s) cracking the USSR’s top five – had somehow slipped the Iron Curtain first, competing globally even before Mikhail Gorbachev’s perestroika loosened the regime’s grip.
In 1985, being completely unknown, Chesnokov made a trip to Paris, went through the qualifying rounds and stunned the Top 10 player, Eliot Teltscher in the second round before losing to Heintz Günthardt in the third round after one of the longest matches of the 80s at Roland Garros (it lasted 4 hours 40 minutes). “Before this tournament I thought they (the international touring pros) were so strong. But now I realize they can be beaten.” said Chesnokov, a physical education student at a special Moscow sports institute, ranked 307th in the world on the ATP computer.
Trivia: Before Isner-Mahut’s legendary marathon, Chesnokov had already etched his name into tennis history with one of the longest sets in the Open Era. In a freakish coincidence, I met him just as Isner and Mahut – near their court – were beginning the third set. When I asked him about the duration of his 1987 Davis Cup epic 1st set against Michiel Schapers (Chesnokov won 24-22, 1-6, 6-2, 6-2), he replied without hesitation: “Two hours, fifty-seven minutes.” Likely the longest non-deciding set ever played.
Chesnokov’s Davis Cup heroics didn’t stop there. In the 1995 Moscow semifinal, he saved nine match points in a single game on return (!) to topple Michael Stich in a decisive rubber. Later that year, in the Moscow final, he pushed Pete Sampras to the brink on the same, exceptionally slow clay – a surface that left the world No. 1 so exhausted after match point that he collapsed, unable to walk. Had Chesnokov saved one more match point, who knows? Another miracle might have been born. From a technical standpoint, Chesnokov’s backhand was the weapon he could most rely on, the type of shot that gives you the impression he can’t miss if the ball is close to the left side of his body at the torso level.
Career record: 344–259 [ 244 events ]
Career titles: 7
Highest ranking: No. 9
Best GS results:
Australian Open (quarterfinal 1988)
Roland Garros (semifinal 1989; quarterfinal 1986, 1988)
Born: March 4, 1974 in Bratislava (Západoslovenský kraj in Czechoslovakia)
Height: 1.87 m
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
As a junior, he represented Czechoslovakia and was a member of the Galea Cup team in 1991-92. In those years he played his first ATP matches, in Praha. A protégé of Miloslav Mečíř, the gold medalist from Seoul ’88, he followed in the footsteps of his mentor, the “Big Cat,” with his own intelligent style of play – a style perfectly aligned with the technological advancements of the 1990s, which emphasized power, contrasting with the finesse and improvisation that defined Mečíř’s game a decade before. Nicknamed the “Little Cat,” Kučera became, alongside Dominik Hrbatý, the co-leader of the Slovakian squad for over a decade in various team competitions after Czechoslovakia’s dissolution in 1993 (he’s one of a few players born in the 70s to participate three times at the Olympics).
Kučera, like ten years older Mečíř, often seemed to play tennis in slow motion, yet with surgical precision. Despite not being one of the fastest 
players on tour, he was extremely difficult to outmaneuver from the baseline, as his anticipation allowed him to be well-prepared for his flat, well-placed strokes off both wings. Much like his tutor Mečíř, Kučera had no trouble adapting to faster surfaces (grass, carpet), frequently employing serve-and-volley tactics behind his first serve.
Early in his professional career, he was known for having a negative aces-to-double-faults ratio. This changed after he began working with Mečíř in 1997. Before that collaboration, Kučera had already claimed his first title, on grass at Rosmalen ’95, although never having won a professional match on the surface before. A year later, he pushed three-time defending champion Pete Sampras to four sets at Wimbledon, signaling his potential (just weeks after another tight four-set battle at Roland Garros against Jim Courier, during which he sprained his right ankle – a lingering injury that plagued him for the rest of his career, often forcing him to play with ankle protection).
The pinnacle of Kučera’s career came in 1998. In January, he was the hottest player on tour: first, he triumphed at the Hopman Cup (partnering with Karina Habšudová), then won the title in Sydney, and reached his only Grand Slam semifinal at the Australian Open, stunning (6-4, 6-2, 6-7, 6-3) Sampras in the quarterfinals. In the first two sets, he was passing the world’s best player with an ease that was unparalleled on hard courts in the mid-’90s. Later that year, at the US Open, he defeated the second-best player of the decade, Andre Agassi, in the fourth round (6-3, 6-3, 6-7, 1-6, 6-3). With those two victories, Kučera briefly stood atop the tennis world in a metaphorical sense. These wins gave him a legitimate belief that he could capture at least one big title. However, his best opportunity slipped away at the 1998 Grand Slam Cup in München. He lost a semifinal match he should have won against Agassi, while Marcelo Ríos awaited in the final. At the time, Kucera led their Head-to-Head 3:2, making it a golden opportunity. His most significant title ultimately came in Basel ’99, where he survived one of the tightest ATP finals of the decade, defeating his most frequent (6-5 H2H including a dead DC rubber) opponent Tim Henman 6-4, 7-6, 4-6, 4-6, 7-6 in a four-hour battle – despite winning three points fewer than the Brit.
By 2005, at the age of 31, he played his farewell season, actually only the second half of it. His previous year had been the least successful since 1993, and for years he had struggled with wrist and arm injuries. That final season was largely unremarkable, but in an unexpected twist, he nearly concluded his career in a dream scenario. Slovakia reached the Davis Cup final, primarily thanks to Hrbatý and Karol Beck (b. 1982). However, Beck was suspended for using illegal substances, forcing Kučera into the opening rubber against Ivan Ljubičić, which he lost quickly. On the deciding Sunday, with a chance to play his final match in a career-defining moment, his former coach Mečíř instead appointed Michal Mertiňák – a player with no experience at the highest level, who lost in straight sets to Mario Ančić. It marked the third time that a widely recognized player, in the twilight of his career, was not ready to compete in a crucial rubber that could have secured a Davis Cup title for his country (following Stefan Edberg 1996 and Patrick Rafter 2001).
Career record: 293–244 [ 237 events ]
Career titles: 6
Highest ranking: No. 6
Best GS results:
Australian Open (semifinal 1998; quarterfinal 1999)
US Open (quarterfinal 1998)
Hopman Cup champion 1998
World Team Cup champion 2000
Born: March 30, 1984 in Split (Dalmacija in Yugoslavia)
Height: 1.95 m
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
It’s a pity that Ančić retired prematurely (due to mononucleosis, which struck him at just 23), but I don’t consider him an underachiever. Given his potential, I believe he had a short, but nice career and etched his name into the history books by clinching the decisive fifth rubber in the Davis Cup 2005 final (against an obscure Slovak Michal Mertiňák, born in 1979 – it’d be hard for Ančić to imagine a weaker opponent for 
the most important match of his career). This is a feat most tennis players could only dream of. “I played very aggressively, I felt everything was under my control,” Ančić said after the biggest victory of his life. “It’s an unforgettable match and an unforgettable day. This has been a spectacular year for me.” While Ivan Ljubičić contributed considerably more to Croatia’s success that year, Ančić had the honor of delivering the final blow. It’s worth mentioning that Ančić, alongside Ljubičić, won all four Davis Cup doubles rubbers in 2005 (including a stunning victory over the Bryan brothers). A year earlier, the pair had already claimed the bronze medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics after an epic third-place match.
Personally, Ančić was a slight disappointment for me. He began his career around the time Richard Krajicek (my favorite player for over a decade) retired, and I hoped Ančić would, in some ways, fill the Dutchman’s shoes. There were similarities: roughly the same height and weight, the same racquet (Yonex), similar offensive attitude, and even the same coach – Australian Rohan Goetzke. However, before their split in 2005, it became clear that Ančić wasn’t cut out to be a Grand Slam or even Masters Series champion (ultimately just one semifinal at this level).
Ančić tried to adopt a serve-and-volley style on faster surfaces, but his serve wasn’t as dominant as Krajicek’s, especially during the era of slowing court speeds in the early/mid 2000s. He also lacked the effortless ground-strokes of his mentor, Goran Ivanišević, and didn’t possess Ivanišević’s audacity to play risky shots in crucial moments which reflected in a very poor record of deciding tie-breaks. While he was dubbed “Baby Goran,” the nickname only held true in terms of being Ivanišević’s protégé. “Super Mario” – referring to the main player character of a Nintendo game – was a slight exaggeration too. None of his shots could be called “super”, everything was just very solid.
Despite winning barely three titles (all equivalents of “ATP 250”), Ančić boasts a quite impressive Grand Slam résumé: a Wimbledon semifinal (2004) and three quarterfinals (Wimbledon 2006 and 2008, Roland Garros 2006). Notably, he lost all those three quarterfinals to Roger Federer, the same player he famously defeated in his Grand Slam debut at Wimbledon 2002. Another peculiar aspect of Ančić’s career is that he lost three ATP finals (Milan ’04, Scottsdale ’05, and Tokyo ’05) to veterans who claimed their only titles by defeating him.
One unique trait of Ančić’s game was his tendency to make fist-pumps after losing points – a form of perverse positive thinking, as if to say: <<You lost the point, but don’t worry. You’re playing aggressively and the right way. Keep it up.>> The penultimate match of Ančić’s professional career turned into a disaster of unprecedented proportions. In the first round of the Ostrava ’10 Challenger, he lost to Ivo Minář 6-4, 4-6, 5-7 despite leading 3:1 in the 2nd, and 5:0* (40/0) in the deciding set!
Career record: 208–135 [ 128 events ]
Career titles: 3
Highest ranking: No. 7
Best GS results:
Roland Garros (quarterfinal 2006)
Wimbledon (semifinal 2004; quarterfinal 2006 & 08)
Davis Cup champion 2005
World Team Cup champion 2006
Born: January 23, 1968 in Praha
Height: 1.91 m
Plays: Left-handed
“I was waiting for this a long, long time. What we went through was unbelievable. I didn’t believe it could happen. It’s a dream come true,” said Korda after winning the Australian Open ’98 at the age of 30, echoing Andrés Gómez’s story (French Open ’90) of claiming a maiden major title after nearly a decade of competing at the highest level. Unlike Gómez, who had failed to reach even a semifinal in 26 major attempts before his French Open triumph, Korda had already played one final in his 33 previous Grand Slam appearances. Born in Prague (a rarity among top Czech players), Korda began his tennis journey under the guidance of his father: “Because of him, I’ve got a golden touch!” From an early age, he idolized Ivan Lendl, even serving as a ball boy during one of Lendl’s matches in Prague. Defeating his childhood hero, the best Czechoslovak in history (5-7, 6-1, 6-4 in Stockholm ’91) became a 
career highlight in his early years on the tour. Korda ultimately won four of their five meetings. The summer of ’91 on American hardcourts marked a breakthrough period for Korda, who was representing Czechoslovakia at the time. The lanky Czech reached three ATP finals within a month. After falling short in the finals in Washington and Montreal, he clinched his first trophy in New Haven. During this remarkable run, he surged from No. 69 to No. 15 in the rankings.
As a child & teenager, Korda was exceptionally thin. Over the years, he gained some weight, but even as a professional, he never quite fit the typical athlete’s physique. His career was plagued by unorthodox injuries: groin issues, hernias, para-nasal sinus problems, and other minor ailments. At times, he was devastated, even considering premature retirement. “I was in constant pain, wondering if I’d ever live normally,” he admitted. After a series of operations and as he approached his 30th birthday, Korda finally stabilized his physical condition. Between July ’97 and January ’98, he soared from No. 27 to No. 2 in the world rankings, notching a sensational five-set victory over Pete Sampras at the US Open, and capturing the Stuttgart title above all. For a few weeks in February and March of 1998, he was within striking distance of the top spot, but always fell short by two or three matches.
Korda’s enormous potential is defined by his extraordinary triumph in Germany under challenging circumstances. At the 1993 Compaq Grand Slam in München, he staged a remarkable comeback against the reigning French Open champion Sergi Bruguera in the quarterfinals (4-6, 6-0, 6-4), rallying from 4:2* down in the third set. This was nothing compared to what was to come: in the semifinal, he outlasted world’s best Sampras in a spectacular 4.5-hour battle saving match points in two successive sets… exhausted and barely standing in the fourth and fifth sets, Korda defied expectations by not only reaching the final but also defeating Michael Stich, the second-best player of the season, in another five-set thriller. Astonishingly, Korda survived both matches despite winning fewer points than his opponents (10 fewer against Sampras and 13 fewer against Stich). These victories over Sampras and Stich are unprecedented, no one before or after has won the semi-final and final in so long five-set duels (given the number of games in the deciding sets). If we add that Korda did it against the two best players in the world, on a surface where they were very efficient, it’s really mind-blowing.
Unfortunately, Korda’s career ended in controversy. At the end of 1998, the ITF announced that he had tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone during Wimbledon ’98. While he was not banned from the sport, Korda was stripped of his ranking points and prize money ($94,500) from Wimbledon. The decision sparked outrage among his peers. Richard Krajicek questioned: “If he used nandrolone, why hasn’t he been disqualified? If he was found not guilty, why did they take away his money?” Jonas Björkman, who lost to Korda the Aussie Open quarterfinal being in the form of his life, added: “Before Wimbledon, he was playing the best tennis of his life. Afterward, he was much worse. If someone takes illegal substances, they should be banned for a few years.”
Shortly after the nandrolone scandal, Korda was banned from competing in his native Czechia for two years. Despite the criticism, Korda returned to the Australian Open ’99 to defend his title but suffered humiliating moments; he defeated Galo Blanco in five sets despite the adversary crowd, and the Spaniard refused to shake his hand. Because of his beautiful, classical ground-strokes and amusing behaviour (a tendency to juggle the ball, celebrating victories with scissor kicks) he was a rather beloved figure all over the world, but in 1999 he became the public enemy wherever he went. His ranking plummeted, and within a year of nearly reaching the pinnacle of tennis, he found himself outside the Top 100. A six-match losing streak, including a defeat to Rodolphe Cadart (who had only three main-level wins), marked the beginning of the end. After losing to Danny Sapsford in the Wimbledon ’99 qualifiers, Korda announced his sudden retirement.
A year and a half later, when the Czech ban expired, Korda made a brief comeback at a Prague Challenger event. He lost 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 to little-known Martin Hromec of Slovakia, who had never played a main-level match. The almost 33-year-old Korda described the tournament as a gift to his father, who had turned 60 that week.
Korda was primarily an offensive baseliner, characterized by unparalleled ease in spreading the ball to all corners of the court with very low net clearance, but on grass, he adopted the traditional serve-and-volley tactics, which he occasionally used as a surprise element on other surfaces making himself an all-round player.
His son Sebastian Korda (born in 2000) emerged as a promising talent a few years ago. After starting with a 0:3 main-level record and a ranking outside the Top 200, Sebastian reached the fourth round of Roland Garros ’20, where he was outclassed by Rafael Nadal. Standing taller than Petr, being right-hander, and wielding a two-handed backhand, but also prone to play flat, Sebastian represents the next generation of the Korda sport legacy, under the US flag. It’s highly unlikely that he’ll achieve better results than his father, the next few seasons will reveal his true capabilities.
Career record: 410-248 [ 246 events ]
Career titles: 10
Highest ranking: 2
Best GS results:
Australian Open (champion 1998; quarterfinal 1993)
Roland Garros (runner-up 1992)
Wimbledon (quarterfinal 1998)
US Open (quarterfinal 1995 & 97)
Grand Slam Cup champion 1993
Born: November 22, 1967 in Leimen (Baden-Württemberg)
Height: 1.90 m
Plays: Right-handed
As a young child, Becker played football and tennis with equal passion. He decided to devote himself to the racquet sport at the age of 12, training in his hometown near München. Between 1982 and 1984, he won West German titles in the junior category. When he claimed his first German junior championship, defeating boys three years older, he was only 15 but didn’t look it. He was often mistaken for an adult! Becker matured at a dizzying pace – both physically and mentally. By 1984, the 16-year-old 
was ready to compete with professionals. He quickly signed a lucrative contract with Adidas, guided by experts Günther Bosch and manager, former player from Romania – Ion Țiriac. It was almost Polish Wojtek Fibak who became Becker’s mentor, but fate had other plans.
The results came swiftly. On May 14, 1984, the 16-year-old Becker won his first Grand Prix tournament. Teaming up with the 15-years-older Fibak, he triumphed in the doubles event in München. A few months later, the teenager reached the quarter-finals of the Australian Open. Becker trained intensively, dedicating four to five hours daily to squats, push-ups, running, and serving. He spent less time honing other shots, as they appeared to be a natural endowment.
In 1985, Becker claimed his first major singles victory at the Queens Club, a tournament that preceded Wimbledon. Few bet on the young German at Wimbledon, but the 17-year-old, playing athletic and uncompromising tennis, diving for “unwinnable” points, became the youngest champion in the tournament’s history. He showcased not only exceptional skills, but also remarkable mental resilience. In the third round against Joakim Nyström, he trailed 4:5* (30-all) in the fifth set, only to win it 9-7. The teenager impressed with his powerful serve, precise forehand, excellent net coverage, and ability to clinch crucial points. When he faced the big-serving Kevin Curren in the final, Becker was already the favourite to win. True to expectations, he triumphed in spectacular fashion, etching his name into history as the youngest Wimbledon champion at just 17 years, 7 months, and 15 days. While it’s true that he didn’t face a single Top 5 player en route to the title, Becker silenced any doubters the following year. He defended his crown with authority, dismantling the world’s best player, Ivan Lendl, in a commanding final performance.
Despite numerous injuries, Becker remained at the forefront of tennis for the next decade. He won the sport’s biggest events and was instrumental in West Germany’s Davis Cup successes (1988 and 1989). Reflecting on tennis, he once said in the second half of the 80s: “Five to ten years ago, it was played differently. Vilas, Wilander – it was a different game, from the baseline. I think a good tennis player proposing constant volleys will beat an opponent who plays from the back of the court.” This aggressive style defined Becker’s game, especially on fast surfaces like grass and carpet, where his powerful serve, net coverage, and flat strokes paid dividends. Becker demonstrated his mastery of indoor tennis while still a teenager. In the autumn of 1986, he achieved a remarkable feat under the roof, capturing three titles in three consecutive weeks across three continents – Sydney (hard), Tokyo (carpet), and Paris (carpet) not being close to lose any of 15 matches! The year 1989 marked the pinnacle of Becker’s career. After conquering Wimbledon for the third time, he triumphed at the US Open, and spearheaded Germany to its World Team Cup and Davis Cup victories. In the eyes of fans, he was undoubtedly the best player in the world that year. However, with no ranking points awarded for WTC and Davis Cup rubbers (11 wins in total), Becker ended the season ranked second; what had seemed inevitable since his stunning Wimbledon breakthrough as a teenager, finally came to fruition nearly six years later, when he claimed the Australian Open ’91.
However, clay courts proved to be Becker’s Achilles’ heel. Despite reaching three semi-finals at Roland Garros (1987, 1989, 1991) and six finals in smaller clay events (thrice in a big Monte Carlo event nonetheless), he never won a singles title on the red surface. His weight and natural playing style made movement on clay challenging, moreover his serve lost some of its effectiveness. Even in matches where he seemed poised for victory – like the 1995 Monte Carlo final against Thomas Muster, which he lost 4-6, 5-7, 6-1, 7-6, 6-0 – clay remained his curse.
Becker’s legacy, however, is undeniable. He is remembered as one of the greatest tennis champions of the 20th Century – a spectacular player admired worldwide. For twelve years (1985-1996), he successfully competed at the highest level, co-creating countless thrilling matches at the sport’s grandest stages against legends such as Lendl (Masters ’88 it’s their most memorable battle), John McEnroe, Stefan Edberg, Andre Agassi (four major semifinals), and Pete Sampras (also the Masters clash, in 1996, it was something special). His “serve-and-volley” rivalry with Edberg, in particular, electrified audiences. They played 35 matches (Becker won it 25-10) with three Wimbledon finals included (the last one in 1990), battling for supremacy during 1989-1991, as Lendl, the most dominant force of the 1980s, began to fade.
Becker’s game had its quirks. He was a slow starter, often losing the opening set, but his will to win was tremendous, leading to many comeback victories in best-of-five matches (in February of 1992 he notched two astonishing comebacks in different conditions: Rio and Brussels). Surprisingly, he was also a slow-paced server, despite his preference for quick points. “Boris had no technique in his youth, but he had an amazing fighting spirit. He tried by all means to get the ball to the other side,” said Boris Breskvar, his first coach. Despite his ability to thrive under pressure and the absence of any glaring weaknesses in his game, Becker often struggled in decisive tie-breaks – a puzzling anomaly in his otherwise stellar career.
Throughout his career, the German worked with numerous coaches, including earlier mentioned Bosch, Bob Brett, Günter Bresnik, Nick Bollettieri, as well as former players Tomáš Šmíd, Eric Jelen and finally Mike DePalmer Jr., who guided him from August 1995 until his retirement. Almost two decades after retiring from professional tennis, Becker transitioned into coaching, taking on a pivotal role as Novak Đoković’s mentor. During their partnership in years 2014-16, Đoković improved his serve and backhand slice, capturing six Grand Slam titles and further solidifying Becker’s legacy as a key figure in the sport, both on and off the court.
Career record: 713–214 [ 264 events ]
Career titles: 49
Highest ranking: No. 1
Best GS results:
Australian Open (champion 1991 & 96; quarterfinal 1984 & 90)
Roland Garros (semifinal 1987, 89 & 91; quarterfinal 1986)
Wimbledon (champion 1985-86 & 89; runner-up 1988, 90-91 & 95; semifinal 93-94; quarterfinal 92 & 97)
US Open (champion 1989; semifinal 1986, 90 & 95)
Davis Cup champion 1988-89
World Team Cup champion 1989
Hopman Cup champion 1995
Masters champion 1988, 92 & 95
Grand Slam Cup champion 1996
Year-end rankings 1983-99: 563 – 66 – 6 – 2 – 5 – 4 – 2 – 2 – 3 – 5 – 11 – 3 – 4 – 6 – 62 – 69 – 131
Born: December 26, 1975 in Santiago
Height: 1.75 m
Plays: Left-handed (two-handed backhand)
Few players in the Open Era were as naturally gifted as Marcelo “El Chino” Ríos. Left-handers are a minority in tennis, making their unique skills stand out more – John McEnroe’s sublime volleys in the first half of the ‘80s, Henri Leconte‘s extraordinary shot-making in the second half of the 80s, often emphasised by hitting winner after winner with graceful flair all over the court, Goran Ivanišević’s unmatched serve in the first half of the ‘90s; Ríos dazzled with his exceptional baseline game in the second half of the ‘90s (it wasn’t until the mid-00s that we witnessed another left-hander redefine the game – Rafael Nadal, whose extraordinary movement set new standards for defensive play). Ríos’ uncanny anticipation and ability to create incredibly sharp angles made him a nightmare for grinders and big servers whose mobility during longer rallies was 
limited. Once he improved his serve, he could dictate rallies with ease, forcing his rivals to scramble from corner to corner while he remained anchored near the baseline’s centre mark. Andre Agassi had a similar ability, but while Agassi relied on power, Ríos made it look effortless.
At the peak of his brilliance in March 1998, Ríos won back-to-back hardcourt US titles at Indian Wells and Key Biscayne, becoming the first South American man to reach World No. 1. Tennis had already become highly physical by then, making his rise all the more improbable given his smaller titles in previous years (his breakthrough season came in 1995, with triumphs in Bologna, Amsterdam, and Kuala Lumpur, but a skill set to beat the best players in the world on clay he showed triumphing at Monte Carlo ’97). The landscape of men’s tennis in 1998 also played a role – Pete Sampras was finally showing signs of fatigue after years of dominance, while Agassi was still rebuilding after his problematic 1997 season.
“Winning this, and beating Agassi in the final, the former No. 1, I can’t ask for more,” Ríos said after claiming the title in Florida, arguably the biggest in his career because six wins (five over top opponents) were required. “Being the best player in the world for Chile is something like not normal; I feel really proud.” Shortly after reaching the No. 1 ranking, Ríos made the surprising decision to part ways with his coach Larry Stefanki, whose expertise had been instrumental in refining the Chilean’s game – raising speculation that financial disputes may have played a role. A few months later in Rome, Ríos added another big title to his collection in lucky circumstances.
Later that year, Ríos won two indoor titles on different continents (Grand Slam Cup & Singapore), keeping hopes alive that he could finish as the year-end No. 1. However, injuries soon plagued his career – hamstring strains, a stress fracture in his back, thigh and hip issues, tendinitis in his knee and groin. He never regained his 1998 form, and by the early 2000s, his time at the top had passed. He remains the only World No. 1 in history to have never won a Grand Slam title.
Ríos’ last major impact came in 1999, when he won his fifth Masters 1000 title, in Hamburg after an amazing “South American” final. He was second year running among the top favorites for the French Open but suffered another four-set quarterfinal upset. In 2015, he controversially claimed he should be recognized as an Australian Open champion, arguing that his 1998 final loss to Petr Korda should be overturned due to Korda’s later doping suspension. It was the only time he managed to go beyond the Slam quarterfinals, having lost at this stage twice to Michael Chang before (Aussie Open and US Open in 1997).
Despite his reputation for being difficult both on and off the court, Ríos was an inspiration for a new generation of Latin American players. He paved the way for Chilean stars Fernando González and Nicolás Massú, who found success in the 2000s. However, even among his compatriots, he remained a distant figure. “I don’t have a relationship with Chino,” González once admitted. “I’ve never had it. Never. There was no good vibe, not bad either.”
Career record: 391–192 [ 198 events ]
Career titles: 18
Highest ranking: No. 1
Best GS results:
Australian Open (runner-up 1998; quarterfinal 1997 & 2002)
Roland Garros (quarterfinal 1998-99)
US Open (quarterfinal 1997)
Grand Slam Cup champion 1998
World Team Cup champion 2003
Born: February 20, 1963 in Skellefteå (Västerbotten)
Height: 1.86 m
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
As a coach, he helped Jürgen Melzer reach the 2010 French Open semifinal. As a player, however, he had a better career than his Austrian pupil overall but fell short in all three of his Grand Slam quarterfinal attempts.
Hailing from the northernmost European city to have produced an ATP player, Nyström had his best shot at a major semifinal in his first attempt. At Roland Garros ’85, he led John McEnroe 3:1* in the deciding set, on his favored clay surface, against an opponent who was not known for making comebacks in fifth sets. However, McEnroe’s supreme confidence at the time carried him through, 
and after 3 hours and 42 minutes, he emerged victorious, never being closer than six points from defeat. “I felt that when I got the break to go up 3:1 in the last set, I had a good chance to win the match,” Nyström later reflected. “But then he came to the net and put a lot of pressure on me.” Ironically, just a month earlier in Dallas (very prestigious 12-player event), Nyström had stunned McEnroe 6-4, 7-6, 6-3 in BigMac’s opening round on carpet, saving four set points in the second set and snapping McEnroe’s 23-match winning streak. When they met in the US Open ’85 quarterfinal, McEnroe astonishingly almost humiliated the Swede.
Only weeks after his heartbreak in Paris, Nyström suffered another gut-wrenching five-set loss. Facing a teenage Boris Becker in the third round at Wimbledon, he served twice for the match in the fifth set but ultimately lost 7-9. The young German went on to complete one of the sport’s most shocking triumphs, becoming the youngest Grand Slam champion in history. One can only wonder how Becker’s career trajectory might have changed had Nyström closed him out that day…
Throughout the mid-80s, Nyström was firmly entrenched in the tennis elite, nearly three years being inside the Top 10 or slightly outside it, ending the seasons ranked 11th-11th-7th in the years 1984-1986, respectively. During this consistent period – when he collected 11 of his 13 career titles – he showed versatility reminiscent of his doubles partner, Mats Wilander. He was an accomplished baseliner on clay but also attacked the net quite frequently behind his first serve on faster surfaces. Among the stars of Sweden’s golden generation, Nyström was perhaps the one who most resembled the great Björn Borg, both in playing style and demeanour. Emotionless on court, he never displayed reactions – whether under scoreboard pressure or when confronted with an opponent’s antics.
His biggest career title came at Monte Carlo ’86, where he outlasted back-to-back Top 10ers in Stefan Edberg and Yannick Noah, enduring rain delays throughout the event. “I knew he was tired,” Nyström said of Noah after the final. “I didn’t have to go so close to the lines with my passing shots.” Unfortunately, knee injuries forced Nyström to retire in 1989 at just 26 (more or less at the same time knee problems caused Kent Carlsson’s retirement too; five years younger Swede seemed to be even a stronger candidate to conquer the French Open at least once as he became a Hamburg ’88 champion). He had been battling those injuries for two years after winning his final title in Båstad ’87 – featured by the strongest draw in the event’s history, where he defeated the three top Swedish players in succession, making himself like an unofficial Scandinavian champion outdoors.
His backhand meant his trademark shot, he was among the rare few who could strike it standing close to the center mark instead of trying to dictate the pace with his forehand. Nyström remains somewhat underrated in the history books. He had the potential to be remembered as the third-greatest Swede of the 1980s, but his tennis destiny had other plans.
Him and countrymen: Nyström was never beaten by Sweden’s best player born in the 1960s – Edberg. They played three times (once indoors, twice on clay), each match going the distance, with Nyström winning twice by the same scoreline (4-6, 6-0, 6-3). His Head-to-Head record against Wilander, however, was a different story – ‘Jocke’ lost their first 12 encounters (six times in deciding sets) before finally breaking through on the 13th attempt. The two shared a close friendship on tour and initially trained under the same coach, Jon-Anders Sjögren, alongside Anders Järryd and a forgotten Hans Simonsson.
Nyström’s crowning achievement in doubles came at Wimbledon in 1986 when he and Wilander pulled off an incredible title run. In the quarterfinals, they survived one of the most dramatic matches in Grand Slam doubles history, rallying from a *2:5 deficit in the third set, saving three match points in the 10th game, another in the tie-break, and two more on return at 4:5 in the decider to edge Ken Flach and Robert Seguso 3-6, 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-4, 11-9! ‘Jocke’ is a double Davis Cup champion thanks to partnering Wilander. The Davis Cup captain Hans Olsson twice (1985 and 1987) decided to appoint the Nyström/Wilander combo in the finals instead of Edberg/Järryd, and in both cases, it worked out perfectly.
After retiring, Nyström transitioned into coaching, serving as Sweden’s Fed Cup captain and later assisting Wilander with the Swedish Davis Cup team. In recent years, he worked with Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak, though he was unable to help him break into the ATP’s upper echelon.
Trivia: Nyström is a co-author of the longest game played in the Open Era (Roland Garros ’87, fourth round). In the third set against Ivan Lendl (6-2, 1-6, 7-5, 0-6, 2-6), he survived a 15-deuce game (at 3:5*) that lasted 30 minutes. The Swede fended off nine set points as a receiver in that game and another two in the following game (the last one after a 48-stroke rally!), setting a record for the most set points saved in a set – a record that stood until 2013.
Career record: 265–142 [ 148 events ]
Career titles: 13
Highest ranking: No. 7
Best GS results:
Roland Garros (quarterfinal 1985)
US Open (quarterfinal 1985-86)
Davis Cup champion 1985 and 1987
Born: April 3, 1976 in Chartres (Centre-Val de Loire)
Height: 1.85 m
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
The lowest-ranked player among those I decided to include in the list of the best players born between 1959 and 1989, yet despite never breaking into the Top 15, I have no doubt that, given his technical and mental skills, he had the potential to be a Top 10 player. A man for special occasions, a big talent – ultimately unfulfilled. From the very beginning of his career, he struggled with injuries.
The tennis world first took notice of him at just 17 years old when he received a wild card for the 1993 French Open and the honor of facing Boris Becker on Centre Court. Escudé was given a brutal lesson, managing to win only three games, and nearly disappeared from the main tour for the next four years. It wasn’t until 1997 that he made a breakthrough, reaching the third 
round twice in Paris as a “wild card” – first at Roland Garros, then in Bercy – results that allowed him to finish the year inside the Top 100 (a year before finished 413th).
The 1998 Australian Open was only the 11th main-draw event of his career, yet he made a stunning run to the semifinals, winning three matches from two sets down (Magnus Larsson in 1R, Richey Reneberg in 3R, and Nicolas Kiefer in the quarterfinal). No player had ever accomplished such a feat in the Open Era before him. Even more remarkable was the fact that he came within a few points of losing each of those five-setters. Instead of capitalizing on that momentum and breaking into the Top 20 within a year, injuries once again held him back, keeping him around the Top 100. Then came another shocker – at the 1999 US Open, he had to go through qualifying and barely survived his opening match, saving a match point in a near 0-3 defeat to Magnus Gustafsson. He went on to reach the quarterfinals, where he lost to eventual champion Andre Agassi in a competitive straight-set match.
His next Grand Slam quarterfinal came at Wimbledon 2001, once again ending at the hands of Agassi. That tournament was a turning point in Escudé’s career. Until then, he had been known as an offensive baseliner, comfortable approaching the net off either wing but using serve-and-volley mainly as an element of surprise. The early 2000s marked the decline of serve-and-volley dominance at Wimbledon, yet in 2001, the strategy was still effective. Despite modest grass-court results in previous seasons (his best being a runner-up finish in the Netherlands in 2000, benefiting from a favorable draw), Escudé decided to continue the classical grass-court strategy, and everything clicked at Wimbledon that year thus he kept this style for another few years of his career also on hardcourts. His victory over a young Lleyton Hewitt was particularly impressive – by then, the Australian had already made a name for himself as a specialist in dismantling ageing serve-and-volleyers. However, when faced with a different rhythm on his own service games, his passing shots weren’t as sharp. Not only did Escudé defeat Hewitt – the best player in the world at the time – at Wimbledon ’01, but he repeated the feat in the Davis Cup final that same year – both matches ending with strikingly similar scorelines (4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 and 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4) as well as the duration (3:26h and 3:23h).
France’s 2001 Davis Cup triumph was Escudé’s masterpiece abroad: in the quarterfinal against Switzerland (Neuchâtel), he saved a match point in the deciding fifth rubber against George Bastl; in the semifinal (Rotterdam), he endured an almost five-hour battle against Sjeng Schalken, coming within a few points of losing in both the fourth and fifth sets; when the final in Melbourne arrived, he didn’t blink. Facing Wayne Arthurs instead of Patrick Rafter in a clincher, Escudé was the slight favorite, and with his superb serving and a handful of crucial backhand passing shots, he secured victory in four sets.
Though he won only four ATP titles, two of them came in Rotterdam (overcoming Roger Federer on both occasions), one of the premier indoor events in the first half of the season. His second triumph there in 2002 was particularly extraordinary because he survived – as a defending champion – three consecutive matches where he was either one or two points away from a straight-sets defeat (!) – all against high-caliber opponents.
A persistent shoulder injury forced him into early retirement at just 28 years old.
Career record: 172-129 [ 129 events ]
Career titles: 4
Highest ranking: No. 17
Best GS results:
Australian Open (semifinal 1998)
Wimbledon (quarterfinal 2001)
US Open (quarterfinal 1999)
Davis Cup champion 2001
Born: May 1, 1982 in Hostalric (Cataluña)
Height: 1.82 m
Plays: Right-handed
All Spanish players who advanced to the Top 10 in the Open Era have had one thing in common – good mentality, understood as the ability to sustain long matches, and deliver their best tennis in critical moments; I can indicate only one case with more dramatic defeats than wins, but even Fernando Verdasco, who was questioned so many times, has won five-setters against five-set specialists (Đoković, Ferrer, Nadal, Murray)… Robredo was distinctive in terms of mentality; I’d say that he 
maximized his potential thanks to dealing well with difficult situations. Not a fan favorite, he was often called “Boredo” due to his rather conservative style, indicating that his strokes/behaviour had a vibe of boredom. Indeed, he didn’t possess any big weapon, but also no weaknesses in his arsenal. Apart from excellent physical preparation, the second important aspect of his tennis which helped him survive many tight matches was his ability to play more aggressively with his forehand when it mattered the most.
He showcased versatility in his best 2006: captured a Masters 1K title on clay (Hamburg), reached semifinals on hard (Cincinnati) and carpet (Paris-Bercy), becoming a Top 10 player, and keeping that position more than a year. Before it happened he’d been a member of the Spanish team that triumphed in the Davis Cup (2004), helping with a vital win against Czechia in singles and against France in doubles, and raised the trophy in the most prestigious event for all Catalan players – Barcelona, in 2004. Moreover, he finished his career as a multiple major quarter-finalist at three different venues. Could he have asked for more? Yes – one Grand Slam semifinal seemed definitely within his grasp. The problem was that, usually in his seven quarterfinal appearances (once in Melbourne, five times in Paris, once in New York), he turned to be a heavy underdog. In the mid-2010s, he became an infamous leader of the most defeats at this stage in the Open Era without advancing to the semifinal.
The lack of one leading shot caused him big problems against the best players born in the 80s, especially against Roger Federer (1-11 H2H… the only victory came at the US Open ’13) and Andy Roddick (0-11 H2H, losing twice even on clay). Even though Robredo was a pretty equal player off both wings, the only weakness was more connected to his position on the court than to his technique – i.e., to feel his shots well he needed to stay far behind the baseline as a receiver, 2-4 meters. This caused him plenty of problems against big servers. He simply couldn’t find his normal rhythm in return games when facing big servers. This way, I explain his very poor records against Federer (a really big server at times) and Roddick – they could easily dictate the pace during rallies with their big forehands after Robredo’s slow returns. I think it’s not accidental that the Spaniard had bad records against one-dimensional guys like Ivo Karlović (0-4), John Isner (1-3), Milos Raonic (0-6) and Wayne Arthurs (0-3), all known for the most lethal serves in their times.
Trivia: Robredo has the second-longest streak of successive tie-breaks won (17 in a row in the years 2008-09). He also has one of the best five-set records of the Open Era (17-5) – the most memorable five-set victory at Roland Garros ’05: his mental toughness and physical endurance were epitomised at the 2013 French Open, where he became the first man since Wimbledon 1927 (Henri Cochet) to win three consecutive matches from two sets down. His unique speciality of winning tight matches with high frequency was brutally verified in Autumn 2014 as he lost two finals to Andy Murray (Shenzhen, Valencia), squandering ten (!) championship points in total. He simply faced an opponent with similar perseverance, yet more skilful and possessing a better serve, so crucial in tight tie-breaks. Those two finals ended Robredo’s good times when he was 32, but he remained competitive at the Challenger level until he turned 40, reflecting his unwavering dedication and commitment to the sport despite stepping away from the main tour.
Career record: 533-358 [ 364 events ]
Career titles: 12
Highest ranking: No. 5
Best GS results:
Australian Open (quarterfinal 2007)
Roland Garros (quarterfinal 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2013)
US Open (quarterfinal 2013)
Davis Cup champion 2004 (played only doubles in the final)
Hopman Cup champion 2002 and 2010
Born: December 9, 1981 in Edina (Minnesota)
Height: 1.87 m
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
The third-best player (fourth was Robby Ginepri, fifth Taylor Dent) of a generation of Americans who began their professional careers when Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras were nearing retirement (as well as Jim Courier, Michael Chang & Todd Martin), so at the beginning of the 21st Century. Andy Roddick was undoubtedly the leader, yet at the level of the fourth best US player of the previous generation in terms of achievements, followed by James Blake and Fish, who had remarkably similar careers. Fish reached five big finals, while Blake made three; both advanced to three Grand Slam 
quarterfinals. In the hierarchy of American tennis, I rank Blake slightly higher due to his significant contribution to the U.S. Davis Cup victory in 2007. Additionally, Blake secured a few more titles and won 64 more matches, though both share the same career win/loss percentage of 58%.
During their time on tour, the greatest challenge was facing Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Both Americans had comparable Head-to-Head records against these tennis legends: Fish was 1-8 against Federer (the only – stunning – win comes from Indian Wells ’08), and the same against Nadal, while Blake had a 3-4 record against Nadal and 1-10 against Federer.
Early in his career, Fish, much like his contemporary Federer, showed a natural inclination for serve-and-volley tactics. However, tennis was transitioning to a more defensive style in the mid-00s, and over time, Fish’s game became increasingly reliant on ground-strokes – an approach that didn’t suit him well, given his forehand’s inconsistency, especially under pressure (Blake faced a similar issue with his backhand). Initially, Fish was a serve-and-volleyer with a powerful first serve, resembling a less refined version of Sampras. His serve was considered one of the best in this regard in the mid-2000s. A testament to this was his run to the 2003 Cincinnati final (where he held a match point before losing), during which numerous strong players, including Roddick in the final, struggled to break him. Between his first-round match in Cincinnati and the second round of the 2003 US Open, Fish held serve 92 consecutive times.
The year 2004 was pivotal from a patriotic standpoint. Fish reached the Olympic final in Athens as the favorite for the gold medal and later played a crucial role in helping the U.S. Davis Cup team reach the final by winning a key match against Max Mirnyi in the semifinals vs Belarus. However, Fish’s trajectory changed in 2005 due to a left wrist injury that required two surgeries. Though it wasn’t his dominant hand, it significantly affected his game, particularly his stronger backhand side.
After two difficult years (2005-06), Fish reemerged as a more complete player. He used serve-and-volley as an occasional surprise tactic, and his serve became more versatile while remaining a formidable weapon – evident in Lyon 2007, where he hit 43 aces in a three-set match against Olivier Rochus.
The years 2010-11 marked the peak of Fish’s career. As he approached 30, he lost 13 kilograms by adopting a healthier diet -cutting out cheese, sugar, pizza, cheeseburgers, and French fries – and intensifying his physical training. “A lot of it is maturity and getting older,” he said. “Getting married and realizing you’re not out there for yourself anymore. You can be pretty selfish as a tennis player, being in an individual sport.” Fish’s fitness in the latter stages of his career was emphasized by back-to-back titles in Atlanta after dramatics finals, held in extreme heat, against John Isner.
In 2011, Fish finally broke into the Top 10 mainly thanks to reaching two hardcourt Masters 1K finals (Cincinnati ’10 and Montreal ’11) – something that had seemed within reach as early as 2003. However, his decline began after a semifinal loss to Nadal in Tokyo ’11. From that point on, he struggled to string together consecutive wins, going eight tournaments in a row without back-to-back victories.
In 2012, health issues forced him to miss part of the season, and the 2012 US Open – where he reached the fourth round but withdrew before his match against Federer – marked his last strong showing. Though he officially retired in 2015, his competitive career effectively ended three years earlier in New York. He played sporadically in 2013, skipped the entire 2014 season due to an anxiety disorder, and underwent a cardiac catheter ablation procedure in June of that year to correct misfiring electric pulses in his heart. Given his overall skills, he deserved to have won at least one big final or reached the semi-finals of a Grand Slam. As opposed to competitive Masters 1K finals, he had little to say in his three Grand Slam quarter-finals (Aussie Open ’07, US Open ’08 and Wimbledon ’11). Unfortunately for him, apart from the Olympic final, in the most important matches of his life he always faced better players than himself.
Career record: 302–219 [ 216 events ]
Career titles: 6
Highest ranking: No. 7
Best GS results:
Australian Open (quarterfinal 2007)
Wimbledon (quarterfinal 2011)
US Open (quarterfinal 2008)
Silver medallist of the Olympics ’04
Hopman Cup champion 2008
