The History of Men's Tennis (Open Era)

Born: September 23, 1988 in Tandil (Buenos Aires)
Height: 1.99 m
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)

Del Potro had one of the most unusual careers among players born in the 1980s. He missed almost the entire 2010 season (playing just three events that year), and then faced further interruptions in 2014 and 2015 (appearing in only six events across those two years). His third lengthy break stretched from June 2019, being ranked 12th, when he withdrew from the second round at Queen’s Club, until February 2022. When he returned for a farewell match, he was No. 737, retaining a ranking despite not competing for so long due to the COVID-related “frozen” rankings system. The first two absences resulted from a chronic left wrist injury, while the third break which actually ended his career, was due to a fractured kneecap. What’s quite intriguing about Del Potro’s successful results following his two comebacks after the wrist injury is his adaptation to a different playing style. Unable to hit his two-handed backhand with the same power as in his early years on tour, he compensated by developing a very effective slice, improving his net game, and making his forehand – already known as a powerful shot – even more lethal from 2011 onwards.
It’s a shame that injuries marred his career because when he took his first long break (January 2010), he had just won the US Open and reached the final of the first season-ending ATP Finals in London. He had already beaten Roger Federer (twice) and Rafael Nadal (three times) at their peak. At that time, it wasn’t certain that the “Big 4” would dominate for so long; instead, it could have been a “Big 5” or a different configuration altogether, as Del Potro had the potential to claim more victories in key matches against Novak Đoković and Andy Murray. His impressive ground-strokes and surprising agility for a player standing two meters tall made him a serious contender from the start of his career.
Interestingly, Del Potro wasn’t super tall as a young teenager; his height spiked as he began competing professionally, but initially he didn’t adjust his game to his stature, particularly his serve. Unlike other tall players who often rely on a powerful serve and forehand combination, Del Potro became known for his devastating forehand (paired with a solid, but not dominant, serve) which he employed effectively after patient rallies.
The year 2008 marked a breakthrough for him. Previously known for tight match losses, he matured, cut his ponytail, and adopted a more composed demeanour. This transformation led to a 23-match winning streak in the summer, earning four titles on two different surfaces (German-speaking cities: Stuttgart & Kitzbühel on clay, American ones: Los Angeles & Washington on hard) and reaching his first major quarterfinal. Despite this progress, he continued to lose to the world’s best. Another turning point came in Miami 2009 when he outlasted Nadal 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 in the quarterfinals, having trailed 0:3 with two breaks in the third set (he would later defeat Nadal in a similar manner at the 2016 Rio Olympics). This victory was significant not only because it marked his first win over a top player, but also due to the dramatic circumstances; it was the second in a series of ten straight matches he won with a deciding set tie-break, so it’s an obvious indicator the Miami victory over Nadal strengthened him mentally.
After claiming his first major title at the 2009 US Open, Del Potro stood on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court and told Federer: “I had two dreams this week. One was to win the US Open and the other one is to be like Roger. One is done, but I need to improve a lot to be like you. You fought until the final point. You are a great champion. I’m very happy to be here with this crown, with these people, on this court. This will be in my mind forever.” Indeed, nothing surpassed that moment for another, tormented ten years of his career, but he managed to play another US Open final in 2018 (the same year he finally won a Masters 1K title – Indian Wells). The 2009 victory in New York City was even more impressive considering that nine months earlier, Federer had defeated him 6-3, 6-0, 6-0 (!) at the Australian Open and beaten him again in the French Open semifinals.
DelPo always demonstrated a strong desire to represent Argentina. At the 2012 Olympics, he earned a bronze medal despite losing a heart-breaking semifinal to Federer – the longest three-set match in history. Four years later, he went one better, securing silver in Rio de Janeiro. He also endured defeats in two Davis Cup finals (2008 and 2011) as Argentina lost to Spain, with him narrowly losing crucial matches on both occasions. The third time was the charm in 2016, as he won two epic matches, the longest ones in his career, away from home – one against Murray in Scotland in the semifinals and another against Marin Čilić, his contemporary with a similar skill set but a healthier career, in the final in Croatia. De Potro and Čilić faced each the for the first time as 14-year-old boys at the Orange Bowl.

Career record: 439-174 [ 192 events ]
Career titles: 22
Highest ranking: No. 3
Best GS results:
Australian Open (quarterfinal 2009, 2012)
Roland Garros (semifinal 2009 & 2018; quarterfinal 2012)
Wimbledon (semifinal 2013; quarterfinal 2018)
US Open (champion 2009; runner-up 2018; quarterfinal 2008, 12 & 16)
Davis Cup champion 2016 (won two rubbers in the final)
Olympics: silver medal (Rio 2016), bronze medal (London 2012)

Born: May 22, 1981 in Vienna
Height: 1.82 m
Plays: Left-handed (two-handed backhand)

For typical Open Era players (by “typical,” I mean those born since the 50s), it was quite natural to play singles and doubles in the same events. This trend began to shift towards specialization for players born in the 70s; however, a few players from that generation (Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Jonas Björkman, Patrick Rafter) still managed to reach the Top 5 in both singles and doubles. Among players born in the 80s, barely Melzer achieved very good results in both disciplines for a longer period of time (other left-hander Michaël Llodra, four days older than Melzer, is the only player comparable) allowing him to reach the Top 10 in each, and he did so when approaching his 30th year.
Melzer was the best Austrian player between the eras of Thomas Muster and Dominic Thiem, though not at their level. Like them, he achieved his best result in Paris (Thiem improved his Parisian efforts in New York). It was Roland Garros 2010: Melzer hadn’t progressed beyond the third round in singles in any of his previous 31 major attempts, so he could be very happy just reaching the quarterfinal against Novak Đoković, who was already established as a member of the Big 3. For Melzer, reaching the major quarterfinal was two rounds better than his previous best at this level. The end of the road seemed inevitable as the Serb led 6-3, 6-2, 2:0, but Melzer staged one of the most impressive comebacks of the decade at Roland Garros, winning a thriller on Suzanne Lenglen after 4 hours and 15 minutes, being five points away from defeat in sets 4 and 5. That victory is even more impressive in retrospect, given Đoković’s incredible record in five-setters. It marked a turning point in the career of the 29-year-old Austrian even though he had no chance in the semifinal.
The same season, he advanced for the first time to the fourth round at Wimbledon and the US Open and also defended his title in hometown Vienna, having defeated Rafael Nadal in his previous event (Shanghai), from start to finish playing arguably the best match of his life. Melzer’s journey to the Top 10 continued in the following season – he reached the round of 16 in Melbourne for the first time, followed by his lone Masters 1K semifinal in Monte Carlo after defeating Roger Federer. That win over Federer (6-4, 6-4) marked the end of Melzer’s great form, which spanned a non-calendar year. Following in the footsteps of several gifted players, he experienced a period of about ten months of consistency at the highest level, but in his case, it was stretched over two seasons, which meant he didn’t play in the ‘Masters’ tournament. Paradoxically, he won his arguably biggest title (Memphis 2012) nearly a year after the Federer victory, at a time when he was struggling to win two consecutive matches.
Melzer was among the most offensive players who used a two-handed backhand (Wimbledon and US Open doubles champion along with Philipp Petzschner during his two best years). He often played backhand dropshots using both hands – a rarity, with Nikolay Davydenko being one of the few other players to do so, with the right hand as the leading one as opposed to Melzer. Unlike Davydenko’s two-handed backhand volley, Melzer’s backhand volley was a very classical stroke. I would consider his cross-court (inside-out included) forehand to be his best shot. Playing a lot of doubles helps players improve cross-court returns, so there were a few technical aspects of Melzer’s game that made him a tricky opponent at the turn of the 2000s and 2010s. Certainly, a lack of a win against Andy Murray in their seven meetings is a missing element in the Austrian’s legacy. In their second encounter (third round of the US Open 2008), Melzer was just two points away from a straight-sets victory.
Trivia: Melzer faced his peer Federer for the first time after spending eleven years on the tour together (Wimbledon 2010). Their rivalry ended at 4-1 in favor of the Swiss. Melzer also managed to avoid being a whipping boy when facing Nadal and Đoković, finishing his career with a 1-3 record against both of them. Melzer’s younger brother, Gerald Melzer, who is nine years his junior, never came close to matching Jürgen’s achievements. However, he has made his mark in tennis history by being part of the longest two-set match ever recorded, losing two tie-break sets in Kitzbühel 2016 after an intense 2 hours and 53 minutes.

Career record: 350-334 [ 312 events ]
Career titles: 5
Highest ranking: No. 8
Best GS result:
Roland Garros (semifinal 2010)

Born: December 27, 1984 in Nice (Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur)
Height: 1.83 m
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)

The most remarkable week of Simon’s career occurred during the 2008 Madrid Masters 1000 event (the last edition on hardcourts indoors). At 23 years old, Simon had already spent four seasons on the ATP tour, but his knack for winning tight matches hadn’t yet turned many heads. What made this week extraordinary was his ability to win four matches decided by final-set tie-breaks, in spite of winning only one match of this kind at the ATP level before. Even more astonishing, Simon navigated multiple super tough situations, repeatedly escaping near-defeat: he saved triple match point against Igor Andreev and double match point against Robby Ginepri. He also overcame deficits in the deciders against Ivo Karlović (down *0:3) and Rafael Nadal (down 2:4*), the latter being his most impressive career victory. That marathon semifinal against Nadal lasted 3 hours and 23 minutes, with Simon also on the verge of losing the second set. Even though he seemed to be totally spent, Simon created a double set point in the final against Andy Murray, pushing his limits in a gruelling encounter. [ The skinny Frenchman waited six years to play his another final at this level, in Shanghai. ] Simon’s tremendous fighting spirit was first noted in 2006, his first full ATP season, when he overcame strong players like Nicolás Massú (Aussie Open) and Tomáš Berdych (Monte Carlo) despite cramping in the deciding sets. This resilience became one of Simon’s trademarks throughout his career, allowing him to grind out tough matches even when physically compromised. A testament to his patience and tenacity was strongly evident for example at the Australian Open in 2013, where he engaged in one of the longest rallies in history, lasting 72 strokes nearly two minutes, against Gaël Monfils, and ultimately defeated his compatriot under five hours struggling with his right forearm.
From technical point of view, Simon’s hallmark was his backhand. Unlike most two-handed players who occasionally mix in a slice, Simon almost never used one, relying instead on fantastic anticipation and timing to thrive in long baseline exchanges. However, this style had its downside, as his backhand volley response to well-executed passing shots left something to be desired. In my view, Simon was a “poor man’s Murray.” Their approach to the game: endurance, flat ground-strokes, and strategic point construction – was similar, but Murray generally edged Simon in every facet of the game, particularly in serves and backhand volleys. This explains Simon’s 3-16 (ten straight defeats one-sided) Head-to-Head record against Murray, despite their stylistic similarities.
Simon’s last two years, coinciding with the post-COVID period, were marked by very poor performances, but in his final season, he found the inner spirit to win two dramatic first-round matches in Paris against much higher ranked opponents, pleasing the home crowd – first at Roland Garros against Pablo Carreño Busta (trailed *2:4 in the 5th set), and later against his nemesis Murray at Paris-Bercy (trailed 4-6, 3:5*).
With a wink: if Simon was a “poor man’s Murray,” then Andreas Seppi was a “poor man’s Simon.” The eleven months older Italian from South Tyrol met Simon six times and never managed to come away with a win. Both players rank in the Top 10 for most main-level events played in the Open Era. In my opinion, both Simon and Seppi could be considered among the best players born in the 1980s, if the underarm serve had been part of the rulebook as a necessity while dropshots and attacking the net forbidden.
Simon’s consistency over the years, his ability to perform well on all surfaces, and his frequent appearances in major tournaments between 2006 and 2020 make it surprising that he never reached a Grand Slam semifinal (he only played two quarterfinals: Aussie Open ’09 and Wimbledon ’15). Despite his modest Slam record (very good percentage-wise though: 60%), Simon won an impressive number of ATP titles throughout his career. In fact, he captured as many titles as two more famous French compatriots, Henri Leconte and Cédric Pioline combined. His title at Hamburg ’11 is arguably the biggest of his career, as it held ATP 500 status. Notably, he was undefeated in the Romanian capital, Bucharest, during three trips there within six years, with his last victory there coming in 2012 when he built a remarkable 10-2 record in the ATP finals.

Career record: 504-394 [ 398 events ]
Career titles: 14
Highest ranking: No. 6
Best GS results:
Australian Open (quarterfinal 2009)
Wimbledon (quarterfinal 2015)

Born: March 7, 1960 in Ostrava (MoravskoSlezský kraj in Czechoslovakia)
Height: 1.88 m
Plays: Right-handed

He was undoubtedly the best player of the 1980s and an icon of that decade, the prototype of the 21st century athlete who knows how important physical preparation is, though in the early ’80s, it wasn’t certain he would establish himself as the king of tennis. While he was branded a top player at the turn of the ’70s and ’80s, he struggled to confirm his tremendous potential at the majors. At the time, no one knew that the reigning king, Björn Borg, would soon quit the sport. By January 1982, Lendl had already secured two important titles – Davis Cup in 1980 (along with Tomáš Šmíd) and the Masters ’81, as well as captured a title defeating Borg in five sets (Basel ’80) which was very telling about his capabillities; nonetheless he still hadn’t won a major, something essential for cementing his legacy.
Lendl’s path was longer than that of Andre Agassi, who, a decade later, would achieve similar successes at a younger age. Lendl famously lost his first three major finals (French Open ’81, US Open ’82 and ’83) being defeated by the legends of the 70s after balanced matches, with the fourth defeat being particularly surprising: he succumbed the 1983 Australian Open final in straight sets to Mats Wilander, a clay-court specialist, in a match few expected him to lose. When he faced his biggest nemesis of the ’80s, John McEnroe, in the 1984 French Open final, Lendl seemed destined to suffer a fifth defeat in a major final. McEnroe, in incredible form, easily won the first two sets. However, the 24-year-old Lendl, now a seasoned competitor, made a remarkable comeback to win his first Grand Slam title.
That victory was the culmination of the ‘Ivan the Terrible’ form he’d shown at the turn of 1981/82, when he won 44 consecutive matches, most of them indoors, barely sweating with an impassive expression on his face. By 1985, Lendl had truly reached the top of the tennis world, beating McEnroe once again in the spotlight, this time in the US Open final. That victory signified the end of McEnroe’s dominance – shortly after, ‘BigMac’ shockingly withdrew from the tour for seven months, never returning to his peak form.
With McEnroe and Borg both out of the picture, Lendl faced new challengers in the mid 80s: the teenage serve-and-volleyers from Northern Europe, Stefan Edberg and Boris Becker, as well as a bit older than them, baseliner Wilander. These three would become Lendl’s toughest opponents in the late ’80s, replacing the Americans in matches of contrasting game-styles: serve-and-volleyer McEnroe (Edberg, Becker) and baseliner Jimmy Connors (Wilander), who had dominated the first half of the ’80s. Connors had initially won the first eight matches against Lendl, but by 1984, the tables turned. After their final encounter in Tokyo that year, where Connors led their Head-to-Head 13:5, Lendl never lost to him again, winning 17 consecutive matches! Remarkably, Connors came close to victory only once during this streak – at the 1984 Masters, bravely fighting also at Key Biscayne ’87.
Lendl was a pioneer in terms of the off-court preparation. Guided by Dr. Robert Haas, he revamped his diet in the early ’80s, cutting red meat in favor of pasta, soup, vegetables, and water. This change improved his stamina and footwork, allowing him to position himself better for shots. To combat his mental struggles, he worked with psychologist Alexis Castorri, even taking ballet and aerobics classes. With the help of Wojtek Fibak (the Pole at the twilight of his career), Lendl transformed his backhand from a defensive slice into a powerful topspin shot, and modified his service motion, landing on left foot instead of right. Later, he teamed up with former Aussie champion Tony Roche, whose insights, particularly as a left-hander, helped Lendl improve volleying, understand how to better compete against rivals like McEnroe and Connors.
Lendl finished four seasons as the world’s top player, though 1985-87 was the peak of his dominance. He ended 1989 ranked No. 1, though many felt that year belonged to Becker, who won two majors (beating Lendl at Wimbledon – semifinal, and the US Open – final) and led West Germany to a Davis Cup title defence. Had Davis Cup points counted towards rankings (it happened between 2009 and 2015), Becker would have finished the year as No. 1.
One of Lendl’s most impressive achievements came at the 1987 US Open, where he defeated his three toughest rivals of the early/mid ’80s – McEnroe, Connors, and Wilander – in consecutive matches to claim the title. The final against Wilander had an impact on tennis rules because it highlighted the excessive length of matches at the time; after playing four sets (one bagel!) through 4 hours and 47 minutes, officials decided to reduce the time allowed between points from 30 to 20 seconds at Slams starting in 1990…
Like Borg before him, Lendl built his game around powerful serves and forehands. However, unlike Borg, Lendl’s modern equipment allowed him to hit flatter, faster shots. His serve was exceptionally tactical, often varying its pace to keep opponents off balance. Notably, Lendl was notorious for starting matches slowly, often playing at 70-80% of commitment in the first few games before taking control later in the set. His running forehand down the line was a standout shot, arguably the best in tennis history. Opponents frequently attacked Lendl, as they couldn’t match him from the baseline, which gave him ample opportunities to showcase his curved passing shots on the run.
As a player who grew up in the ’70s, Lendl naturally attacked the net on faster surfaces. Indoors, he could dictate points on his own terms, but on grass, he had to adapt by serving and volleying regularly. This wasn’t his strongest area, and while his volleying skills were very good by today’s standards, they weren’t good enough to win him the most prestigious title – Wimbledon. Despite skipping the 1990 clay-court season to focus on grass, and astonishingly winning Queens Club by outplaying McEnroe and Becker, Lendl fell short at Wimbledon, losing in the semifinals to Edberg, a natural grass-court player in peak form.
Even as he aged, Lendl remained dangerous thanks to his obsession to keep the body in shape, but at the beginning of 1993, he was clearly slipping. His biggest rivals of the late ’80s – Becker and Edberg – were still in their primes, while a new generation of American players (Pete Sampras, Jim Courier and Agassi) began to take control; Courier never won a set against Lendl in four meetings though. At the 1990 US Open, Lendl lost to Sampras in the quarterfinals, marking a defining moment in the changing of the guard in tennis. This loss prevented Lendl from playing the US Open final for the ninth consecutive year. Lendl loved playing in New York City; he’d participated in nine consecutive ‘Masters’ finals before Edberg stopped him in the semifinals of 1989. Lendl became a U.S. citizen in 1992, reflecting his desire to distance himself from his Czechoslovak roots and embrace a new identity in a country where he felt he could truly belong. It was too late to play the Davis Cup, at least he briefly represented USA at the Hopman Cup ’94. By that year, Lendl’s major appearances were underwhelming. His last match came at the 1994 US Open, where he lost in the second round to Bernd Karbacher (4-6, 6-7, 0-1 ret.) leaving the court with a back injury after wasting a *5:0 lead in the 2nd set, and nine set points! It was a stark reminder that his body was no longer able to withstand the rigours of the technologically enhanced tour (improved graphite racquets increased the serve speed and also allowed to generate massive top-spins in the early 1990s).
Lendl retired quietly, choosing not to make an official announcement but simply stepping away from the sport. After nearly two decades in the background, he returned to tennis in 2011 as Andy Murray’s coach, helping Murray win two Wimbledon titles and fulfilling, in part, the dream Lendl never achieved as a player.
While Lendl’s lack of a Wimbledon title remains a gap in his otherwise stellar career, his reign in the ’80s was indisputable. Natural movers forwards like McEnroe (1983), Pat Cash (1987), Becker and Edberg may have stopped him at Wimbledon in his top form, but his sheer consistency, fitness, and relentless pursuit of improvement made him one of the greatest players in tennis history, and distinguish grass-court player too.

Career record: 1068–242 [ 320 events ]
Career titles: 94
Highest ranking: No. 1
Best GS results:
Australian Open (champion 1989-90; runner-up 1983 & 91; semifinal 1985, 1987-88; quarterfinal
1992)
Roland Garros (champion 1984, 86-87; runner-up 1981 & 85; quarterfinal 1983 & 88)
Wimbledon (runner-up 1986-87; semifinal 1983-84, 1988-90)
US Open (champion 1985-87; runner-up 1982-84, 88-89; semifinal 1991; quarterfinal 1980, 90 &
92)
Masters champion 1981-82, 1985-87
Davis Cup champion 1980 (contributed in singles & doubles)
World Team Cup champion 1981

Year-end rankings 1978-94: 74 – 20 – 6 – 2 – 3 – 2 – 3 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 2 – 1 – 3 – 5 – 8 – 19 – 54

Born: October 10, 1979 in Viña del Mar (Valparaíso)
Height: 1.81 m
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)

Massú took his first steps on the tennis court under the tutelage of his maternal Jewish-Hungarian grandfather. Massú, whose paternal lineage traces back to Lebanese and Palestinian origins, enjoyed a prolific junior career (crazy genetic heritage?). In 1998, when Marcelo Ríos ascended to the world’s top ranking, sports journalists were already heralding Massú and Fernando González as his potential successors.
While Ríos’ younger compatriots may not have eclipsed his ranking achievements, Massú carved out a unique niche in Chilean tennis history. He stands alone among the trio as the recipient of one of tennis’ most coveted prizes – an Olympic gold medal. His triumph in Athens in 2004 ignited debates about the greatest player in Chilean history: Ríos captured the most ATP titles, González collected the most medals (the only player in history with gold, silver & bronze, and has the best resume given major events), but neither has won a title as significant as Massú. These three distinctive players triumphed at the World Team Cup ’03, Ríos wasn’t a member of the team when Chile defended the title.
Massú’s Olympic feat was nothing short of extraordinary. Not only did he clinch gold in singles, but he also partnered with González to secure the top spot in doubles. Both finals were nail-biting five-set encounters, resolved within a breathtaking 24-hour span. This unprecedented double-gold performance transcended tennis, etching Massú’s name into the annals of sports history for decades to come.
In the culminating matches of the tournament, Massú vanquished American players who were also experiencing career-defining moments. However, the magnitude of Massú’s accomplishment is further amplified by his earlier victories over former world No. 1 players Gustavo Kuerten and Carlos Moyà. What makes this achievement even more astounding is that Massú arrived in Athens on the heels of eight consecutive hardcourt losses. The fact that these Olympic triumphs represent his sole hardcourt title in singles and his only doubles title overall underscores the miraculous nature of that unforgettable week.
Massú was renowned for his tenacity and indefatigable fighting spirit. He frequently emerged victorious from seemingly insurmountable deficits, particularly in the ‘best-of-three’ format. He did it even in the finals: Buenos Aires 2002 and Palermo 2003. His approach to the game suggested a preference for marathon matches – the longer the contest, the more it suited his style. Curiously, this mental fortitude didn’t fully translate to major tournaments, where he maintained a negative record, even on the clay courts of Roland Garros. It’s really staggering that a player of his calibre, played a fourth round at Slams just once – US Open ’05 when he lost a 4-hour-32-minute marathon to Guillermo Coria leading 2-1 in sets, yet he didn’t have chances for victory in the last two sets. Massú accused Coria of faking an injury during the match.
During the 2000s, no other player was involved in as many protracted matches as Massú. He was notorious for stretching the time between serves to the maximum allowed (25 seconds in ATP events and 20 seconds in majors at that time). After the first few pro years of being primarily associated with clay courts, he surprised many by reaching the final of the indoor Madrid tournament. This result undoubtedly bolstered his confidence on harder surfaces, culminating in his glorious performance in Athens. As Massú approached his 29th birthday, he began to encounter the physical limitations that often challenged professional athletes before turning 30. The final five years of his career saw him primarily competing at the Challenger level, where despite his efforts, he was unable to reclaim a position within the Top 100 rankings which would allow him to participate in the biggest events. As a coach, he helped Dominic Thiem achieve a career-best result, the ’20 US Open title.
Trivia: Massú holds the distinction of playing the longest four-set “tie-break” matches, both occurred in Davis Cup against less accomplished players: in 2007, he succumbed to Dudi Sela of Israel 3-6, 4-6, 7-6, 4-6 in an epic 5-hour, 7-minute battle; two years later, he prevailed over Austrian Stefan Koubek in a marathon lasting 5 hours, 14 minutes, creating a unique situation that these two players have played the longest match of their careers, finished in 4, not 5 sets… Massú is the first player in history to officially ask for a Hawk–Eye challenge, it happened at the beginning of his match against Raemon Sluiter in Miami 2006.

Career record: 257–238 [ 225 events ]
Career titles: 6
Highest ranking: No. 9
Best GS result:
US Open (fourth round 2005)
Olympic Gold medalist in singles and doubles (Athens 2004)
World Team Cup champion 2003 and 2004

Born: March 24, 1975 in Linköping (ÖsterGötland)
Height: 1.79 m
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)

The Grand Slam champions from Sweden and their number of titles are as follows:
11 – Björn Borg, 7 – Mats Wilander, 6 – Stefan Edberg…
and 1 – Thomas “ToJo” Johansson, who is not related to Joachim “Pim-Pim” Johansson (the US Open ’04 semifinalist). Despite producing many distinctive players in the 80s and 90s, Sweden only saw “ToJo” joining the three great Swedes: Borg, Wilander, and Edberg as a Grand Slam titleholder. Johansson first caught my attention in 1993, as an unranked 18-year-old ‘wildcard’ (he had been recognised as a big talent already four years earlier becoming the best European under 14), when he defeated the experienced Karel Nováček, then ranked No. 17, in Bolzano. He made it to the quarterfinals, where he lost a close three-setter to Andrey Olhovskiy. Such an impressive debut – without any prior experience in Challengers or Satellites – was absolutely astonishing, and I thought he would become an extraordinary player.
I first saw him on TV in 1995, playing against Michael Stich in Vienna, a few months later against Boris Becker in Melbourne and Goran Ivanišević in Munich. However, in these three matches he didn’t make much of an impression on me, even though he won the first two sets against Becker, known as a slow-starter though. Then, in May 1996, Johansson surprised many, including myself, by dismantling Henri Leconte 6-1, 6-1, 6-4 in the Frenchman’s farewell match on Centre Court in Paris. Seeing the young, humble Swede win so convincingly in such a significant match, with the entire stadium against him, was unexpected. If someone had told me then that he would become a Grand Slam champion, I wouldn’t have believed it. He seemed too reserved, too timid to capture the biggest titles.
I always appreciated Johansson’s powerful first serve (considering his relatively modest height) and his ability to perfectly hit ground-strokes down the line from both wings. Struggling to close out tight matches could have easily dashed his hopes of ever reaching a major final. “It’s the worst what could happen. I would prefer to lose 2-6, 2-6, 2-6” said the devastated Swede after a heart-breaking quarterfinal loss at the US Open ’98. Nonetheless, more than three years later, he seized his opportunity in Melbourne, aided by fortunate circumstances (Andre Agassi‘s withdrawal, a favorable draw in the second week, and Marat Safin‘s infamous birthday party a night before the final). He stunned the tennis world by lifting the Australian Open ’02 trophy, becoming one of the most surprising Grand Slam champions in history. “I was only 24 years old, so for me, it was a huge title,” Johansson reflected on his first widely acclaimed success at the 1999 Canadian Open, a victory that undoubtedly gave him the confidence to truly believe in winning a major event. “All of the best players in the world were there. It was like an approval that if I played my best tennis, I could compete with the best. Beating Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Jim Courier, two big champions, was just amazing.” Until the end of his career, Johansson was unable to replicate his Montreal and Melbourne achievements, but he did play some of his best tennis in Autumn ’04, when he defeated Agassi in the final in Stockholm.
Two other notable results following his Australian glory, were reaching the Wimbledon ’05 semifinal and earning a silver medal in doubles at the Olympics the year before. Considering the generally strong performances of Swedish players on clay courts over the decades as well as Johansson’s super solid baseline strokes, it is inexplicable that he never reached the third round at Roland Garros in eleven appearances, and took part in only one ATP semifinal on clay (which occurred when his opponent decided not to play the quarterfinal due to injury). Johansson finished his career with a disappointing 35% win rate on clay.
Trivia: in January 2004, he made another unranked run to an ATP quarterfinal, in Adelaide, following knee surgery that had sidelined him for the entire 2003 season.

Career record: 357–296 [ 288 events ]
Career titles: 9
Highest ranking: No. 7
Best GS results:
Australian Open (champion 2002)
Wimbledon (semifinal 2005)
US Open (quarterfinal 1998 and 2000)
Davis Cup champion 1998 (didn’t play in the final)
World Team Cup champion 2008

Born: January 16, 1971 in Barcelona (Catalonia)
Height: 1.87 m
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)

Spanish tennis had to wait eighteen years for another major title after Manuel Orantes‘ US Open victory of 1975. In the interim, players like José Higueras and Emilio Sánchez reached the top 10 but were never seen as serious Grand Slam contenders. Bruguera, initially, wasn’t either. Though he showed promise as a teenager – nearly upsetting Jimmy Connors in Hamburg in 1989 and then demolishing the veteran “one and one” in Rome a week later – his first pro years were marked by inconsistency.
Bruguera’s straight-set victory over top seed Stefan Edberg in the first round of the 1990 French Open as well as his semifinal in the same city (indoors) a few months later, hinted at his potential. He confirmed his aspiration to be a leading player on clay courts in the 90s, triumphing at Monte Carlo ’91, but it wasn’t until 1993 that he found consistency on the ‘red dirt’ when he decided to be an ultra defensive baseliner. After a mixed start to the season, Bruguera hit his stride, making deep runs in several clay-court tournaments (including his second title in Monaco – the last one at the Masters 1K level), culminating in a dominant performance at Roland Garros. His run to the final was reminiscent of Björn Borg‘s prime, including a triple bagel over former quarterfinalist Thierry Champion. In the final, Bruguera ended Jim Courier‘s twenty-match winning streak at the French Open in a gruelling four-hour battle.
When Bruguera successfully defended his title in 1994, it seemed he might rule Paris for years to come. Yet, despite his huge success, there was little remarkable about Bruguera’s tennis to remember him with sentiment. His game was built on patience and heavy topspin from both wings, frequently manufactured as he was standing two-three meters behind the baseline; the balls struck by him had very high net-clearance. Generally speaking, he waited primarily for his opponents to make mistakes. Although tall, his second serve was more of an entry point to rallies rather than a weapon, and his volleying was average at best. His forehand and backhand, while effective in constructing points from far behind the baseline, lacked the aggression seen in other contemporary Slam champions.
Bruguera’s strength laid in his passing shots, which allowed him to create impressive records against excellent serve-and-volleyers like Patrick Rafter (6-2, with a win even on Wimbledon grass!) and Pete Sampras (3-2); in defiance of his returns being generally unthreatening; he often applied a blocked forehand return. Among his fourteen career titles, only one came on a surface other than clay, a hardcourt victory in Bordeaux ’93, in the final against Diego Nargiso, a talented but underachieving Italian.
Though Bruguera tried to adapt his clay-court game to other surfaces, he never reached a major quarterfinal outside of Roland Garros. Technically-wise, his career peaked with a Masters ’94 semifinal – he was trying to be more aggressive with all his basic shots and almost made the final in Frankfurt. It seemed that he’d be dangerous on faster surfaces, fighting for the position on top of the world, but it never happened. After a semifinal loss in Paris 1995 where he was a double defending champion, he never won another title, despite playing professionally until 2002 (his streak of seven consecutive lost finals began in Rome ’95).
Bruguera’s decline could be attributed to the physical and mental demands of his game, which required him to operate at maximum capacity. By the age of 23, with two French Open titles already in hand, his motivation may have waned. Although he reached three more big finals – at the 1996 Olympics, Key Biscayne in 1997, and Roland Garros the same year – he lost all of them having been easily outplayed. After 1997, he became a mere shadow of his former self, with his shocking 2-6, 2-6, 3-6 defeat to Hernán Gumy at the 1998 French Open serving as a symbol of his fall from the top. “Currently, nothing goes my way, on and off the court,” Bruguera lamented after that first round loss, a fitting epitaph for the twilight of his career. Just four years after his second triumph in Paris, he couldn’t have won a set on his beloved clay losing thirteen in succession, not playing even a tie-break.

Career record: 447-271 [ 267 events ]
Career titles: 14
Highest ranking: No. 3
Best GS results:
Roland Garros (champion 1993-94; runner-up 1997; semifinal 1995)
Olympic Silver medal in Atlanta (1996)

Born: June 25, 1982 in Moscow (Moscow Oblast in Soviet Union)
Height: 1.81 m
Plays: Right-handed

Михаил Михайлович Южный – a son of Mikhail, who served as a Soviet army colonel, carried the military tradition throughout his career, famously saluting after victories while using his “Head” racquet as a makeshift cap. Like a soldier, he consistently sported a short haircut, yet his playing style evolved significantly over the years. Early in his professional career, his backhand bore a striking resemblance to those of Björn Borg and Andrea Gaudenzi, with a two-handed swing. However, unlike Borg and Gaudenzi, who released their left hand at the moment of contact, Youzhny let go just before hitting the ball, giving his backhand a unique touch. Regular use of the slice backhand also facilitated the development of a more natural one-handed backhand over time.
Youzhny’s breakthrough came early in his career, during the 2002 Davis Cup final against France in Paris. Called upon to replace Yevgeny Kafelnikov in the deciding rubber, the young Russian found himself down two sets but staged a remarkable comeback to win the next three. This victory made him the first player in Davis Cup history to overturn a two-set deficit in the deciding fifth rubber of a final. Remarkably, Youzhny had been close to the Russian Davis Cup team long before this moment of glory, having served as a ball boy during the 1995 final.
Throughout his career, Youzhny worked with the stoic Russian coach Boris Sobkin, who recalled the early days with Mikhail and his older brother Andrey (who never played an ATP match): “Mischa was always breaking racquets and crying. Not many coaches want to work with a boy with such a strong character. They would practice on one court for 15 minutes, then be forced to move to another because a member wanted to play. This would happen all day. But there was something special in Mischa’s eyes – a sparkle, maybe. Sometimes the eyes tell more than the parents. I never saw him as a Top 10 player back then, but I knew he had something special.”
In 2002, the 20-year-old Youzhny clinched a significant title on the clay courts of Stuttgart, overcoming Guillermo Cañas in a grueling five-set final, having been down 4:1 in the final set. This victory undoubtedly influenced Shamil Tarpischev’s decision to trust Youzhny in the decisive match of the Davis Cup final later that year. Nick Bollettieri spoke highly of Youzhny, predicting a bright future. Indeed, Youzhny was a complete player who enjoyed a successful career, including two US Open semifinals (having defeated top players – they both were in the development process though – in the quarterfinals of 2006 and 2010), but one could argue he could have achieved more. Certainly, more could have been expected from him in Masters 1000 events, as he never reached the semifinals, losing six quarterfinal matches. The last loss (Shanghai ’14) was especially disappointing because he faced an opponent of similar caliber, was leading by a set and a break, yet still couldn’t secure the win.
Two key factors likely limited his success: first, his serve. Despite his ~6’0” height, Youzhny never developed a dominant serve, which could have earned him more easy points. The fact that he never served 20 aces in any of his 39 five-set matches is telling. His preparation to the serve was quite particular: he was standing a half meter behind the baseline, probably a side effect of excessive foot faults at the beginning of his career. Second, his lopsided record against Roger Federer – 17 losses, with only one match (Halle ’03) where the Russian was close to winning. Only two of their encounters were finals (Dubai ’07 and Halle ’13), but it’s impossible to know how different Youzhny’s career might have been had he managed to overcome Federer more often to improve his self-esteem.
Youzhny retired just shy of 500 main-level wins, a milestone he narrowly missed after a closely contested second-round match against Roberto Bautista Agut in St. Petersburg ’18. At thirty-six, having lost his Top 100 status after 17 years, it was a sensible decision to retire rather than chase that elusive 500th victory.
A notable trivia: Youzhny defeated Novak Đoković in two dramatic matches at consecutive events in 2007, just before Đoković ascended to serious contender status against Federer and Rafael Nadal. In Marseille, Youzhny triumphed 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 after trailing *1:4 and 4:5 (0/30) in the decider. Then, in Rotterdam, he prevailed 3-6, 7-6, 7-5, saving match points in both sets – first in the tiebreak, and then at *4:5 (15/40) in the final set. The Serb avenged those defeats to some degree winning their very long Dubai ’10 final.

Career record: 499–416 [ 418 events ]
Career titles: 10
Highest ranking: No. 8
Best GS results:
Australian Open (quarterfinal 2008)
Roland Garros (quarterfinal 2010)
Wimbledon (quarterfinal 2012)
US Open (semifinal 2006 & 2010; quarterfinal 2013)
Davis Cup champion 2002 (won clincher) and 2006 (didn’t play in the final)

Born: April 26, 1985 in Greensboro (North Carolina)
Height: 2.08 m
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)

John Isner and Ivo Karlović (211 cm) hold a unique place in tennis history. While there were exceptional servers in the 80s, 90s, and 00s, these two towering giants introduced something entirely new to the game in the 2010s. Though both had established themselves as ATP tour players a decade earlier (Karlović in 2003, Isner in 2007), their presence on the court evolved into something almost unprecedented – a type of “tennis without tennis.” Matches against them often felt like a distinct sport where the outcome hinged on a handful of points. They racked up countless aces, engaged in innumerable tie-breaks, and frequently played marathon fifth sets. Isner, in particular, shattered previous records with his extraordinary battle against Nicolas Mahut at Wimbledon 2010.
Isner’s remarkable capabilities were on display as early as his second main-level event in Washington, 2007. He reached the final by winning five consecutive matches in deciding third-set tie-breaks – a feat that was unparalleled in tennis history. Unlike Roger Federer, who had won three straight deciding tie-breaks in 2005 across two tournaments, Isner accomplished his streak over five consecutive days on the same courts! This led many to believe that he was one of the most mentally resilient players ever. While his results from the Challenger circuit and college years painted a more nuanced picture, that week in Washington, Isner’s excessive luck defied probability. Among the five players he defeated in those tie-breaks were notable names like Tim Henman, Tommy Haas, and Gaël Monfils.
Sixteen years later, Isner retired from professional tennis. Looking back, he should feel fulfilled, having achieved far more than Karlović, who was six years his senior and possessed a similar skill set. Isner’s crowning achievement came at the 2018 Miami Open, where he claimed his biggest title after reaching three previous Masters 1000 finals (Indian Wells 2012, Cincinnati 2013, and Paris 2016). Surprisingly, he won Miami with minimal reliance on tie-breaks, breaking his opponents several times throughout the tournament. Among those he defeated were top-tier players and fellow giants, though considerably shorter than himself, like Marin Čilić, Juan Martín del Potro, and Alexander Zverev.
Throughout his career, Isner was consistently reliant on tie-breaks and extended fifth sets at major tournaments. He holds the unfortunate record for losing the most matches after holding match points (33 losses, compared to Karlović’s 22). Contrary to popular belief that such losses indicate a lack of mental toughness, Isner was anything but mentally fragile. The term “choke” doesn’t fit him. Like any seasoned player, he had matches that slipped through his fingers, but these were often due to his weaker backhand and limited movement rather than a mental collapse. No matter how skilled or confident his opponents were on any given day, they always knew what to expect against Isner – a moment in the second or third decisive set when he might face the only break(match) point, with their fate hinging on exploiting Isner’s backhand (if he had missed his first serve), forcing him to move quickly along the baseline. Beating Isner ‘7-6, 6-4’ or losing to him ‘7-6, 6-7, 4-6’ very often depended on the efficacy of his first serve at a critical juncture, regardless of how he felt the ball when hitting it from the back of the court. Tomáš Berdych was an intriguing exception, consistently breaking Isner’s serve. My explanation is that the tall Czech’s ability to hit the ball effectively at shoulder height with his backhand neutralized Isner’s kick serves, which typically troubled other opponents. Berdych was less productive returning Karlović’s serve though.
Isner was a more well-rounded player than Karlović. While the Croatian relied heavily on his serve-and-volley game, often slicing his backhands and waiting for a slower ball to attack with his forehand, Isner employed a more “one-two punch” strategy as a server, mixing up the serve speed (second serve faster than the first one, Karlović was never doing that), at times sneaking to the net behind kick-second serves. As a returner, he tended to wait until the final stages of sets to press, at which point he was much more effective than Karlović in retrieving balls. Isner even led Rafael Nadal 2-1 in sets at the 2011 French Open, a testament to his adaptability and resilience. Excluding the Laver Cup, which I don’t consider a main-level event, Nadal is the only great player born in the 1980s that Isner never defeated. Over the years, Andy Murray seemed to be Isner’s toughest opponent, but the American finally got the better of him in their ninth meeting at Wimbledon 2022, when Murray, playing with a metal hip, was far from the agile defender who had previously bested Isner at crucial moments.
With his booming serve, Isner always had the potential to reach a major final at Wimbledon or the US Open, where the electric crowd energized him. However, New York typically saw him exit in the third round, while London witnessed his deepest run in 2018 when he reached the semifinal before losing an epic match to his old college rival, Kevin Anderson. That match played a significant role in Wimbledon’s decision to introduce a tie-break in the fifth set starting in 2019.
Now that both Isner and Karlović have retired (both played their last matches at the US Open, the Croat two years earlier), Reilly Opelka (211 cm) remains the lone tennis player with the height more typical of a volleyball or basketball player. While Opelka’s movement & backhand appear better than Isner’s, and his tactical approach mirrors the latter’s, he lacks Isner’s commitment and passion. In Dallas 2022, Opelka and Isner co-created a new record for the longest tie-break. They played six times against each other: 17 sets, 14 tie-breaks (10-4 Opelka) – it explains there’s nothing special that these two US giants overcame Björn Borg‘s “eternal” record.

Career record: 489-317 [ 308 events ]
Career titles: 16
Highest ranking: No. 8
Best GS results:
Wimbledon (semifinal 2018)
US Open (quarterfinal 2011, 18)

Born: November 25, 1977 in Buenos Aires
Height: 1.85 m
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)

Guillermo Ignacio Cañas first picked up a tennis racquet at the age of 7, inspired by the legendary Argentinian player and his namesake, Guillermo Vilas. Although sharing a similar name didn’t propel Cañas to mirror Vilas’ achievements, he is still regarded as one of the finest Argentine players born in the 1970s, perhaps even the best. Known for his powerful physique, remarkable agility, and relentless “never-say-die” attitude, Cañas had an unbelievable ability to win points in seemingly lost situations (splits in defence), a skill unmatched before Rafael Nadal emerged. A versatile competitor, Cañas was the first Spanish native speaker in the 21st Century to reach finals on all primary surfaces: outdoors (clay, grass, hard) and indoors (hard) – and he did it in just seven months between June ’01 and January ’02. The year 2001 it was the first one when grass slowed down, certainly helping players of Cañas’ type.
His most memorable moment came in July 2002 when he claimed the title in Toronto. In retrospect, his path to the championship was nothing short of extraordinary. Cañas defeated Roger Federer (1), Paradorn Srichaphan (9), Yevgeny Kafelnikov (1), Marat Safin (1), Tommy Haas (2), and Andy Roddick (1) in succession. The numbers in parentheses denote each player’s career-high ranking (before or after that event), making his feat all the more remarkable. “Day by day, I felt more confident in my game,” said the 24-year-old Cañas, then ranked 19th. “It’s incredible to feel like you can beat anyone on the tour. Maybe I surprised myself. I knew I had the potential, but I had never executed it like this. To beat five top-10 players in one tournament feels amazing.” Cañas waited five years to contest another Masters 1000 final, which came after his return from a two-year suspension for testing positive for the diuretic hydrochlorothiazide. His ban was eventually reduced to a year, but by that time, the Argentine had lost his career-best ranking, vanishing from the list of active surnames. This marked his third extended break from the sport, with the first two in 2000 and 2003 resulting from persistent wrist injuries. Despite these setbacks, Cañas climbed back into the Top 100 within just seven months, largely thanks to his success in Challengers (five titles). He then enjoyed an ATP resurgence, defeating five Top 20 players in Miami before being schooled by ten years younger Novak Đoković in the final.
Given his ability to challenge the game’s elite across all surfaces and for his extraordinary fighting spirit, perseverance (only he and Nicolás Massú were regularly involved in three-hour Bo3 battles at the beginning of 00s), Cañas seemed destined to reach a Grand Slam semifinal at least. However, despite coming close twice – in 2002 and 2005 – he fell just short on both occasions. In 2002, facing eventual champion Albert Costa, Cañas held a 2-1 set lead and was up *4:2 (30/15) in the fourth set, only to lose the next ten games in a heartbreaking defeat.

…Fun Facts about Cañas…

• Tim Henman‘s worst torture on the court. Even though the man from Buenos Aires lost their first encounter in Toronto ’98, holding a 6-3, 5:2* lead, he won their next six meetings, including two gruelling five-setters, clinching 7-5 (French Open ’01) and 9-7 (Aussie Open ’04) in the 5th sets as well as 7-6 in the deciding 3rd set (Vienna ’01)

• He was one of the toughest challengers for Lleyton Hewitt as the Australian ascended to the top of the tennis world. It’s quite rare for two players without dominant serves to engage in marathon tie-breaks against each other, yet this is precisely what transpired between Cañas and Hewitt. Remarkably, the Argentine triumphed in both instances, on clay: a 14/12 tie-break at Delray Beach ’99, where he saved six set points, and a 15/13 tie-break at the 2002 French Open, saving five set points along the way.

• In 2007, he stunned the tennis world by defeating Federer 7-5, 6-2 at Indian Wells, ending the Swiss maestro’s 41-match winning streak. Just two weeks later, Cañas triumphed again over Federer in Miami, this time after a dramatic encounter. “I don’t know the secret to beating him,” Cañas remarked. “I just fight for every point, and maybe that’s why I won. Playing great tennis against Federer – it’s like living a dream.”

• He holds the unique and somewhat dubious distinction of being the only player known to lose a match after leading two sets to love and 5:0! This nightmarish collapse occurred in his Davis Cup vital debut in 1999, where he fell to Venezuela’s Maurice Ruah 6-3, 6-3, 6-7, 3-6, 3-6 in Caracas, without holding a match point. Argentina still won the tie 4-1.

Career record: 252–195 [ 196 events ]
Career titles: 7
Highest ranking: No. 8
Best GS results:
Roland Garros (quarterfinal 2002, 05 & 07)
World Team Cup champion 2002