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August 2025 M T W T F S S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Albert Costa Casals
Born: June 25, 1975 in Lleida (Cataluña)
Spanish tennis witnessed the emergence of five promising young players in the mid-’90s: Alberto Berasategui, Àlex Corretja, Félix Mantilla, Albert(o) Costa (removed the “o” from his name in 1997), and Carlos Moyá. Initially, my expectations leaned towards Costa’s potential, but witnessing Moyá’s performance at the Aussie Open ’97 changed my perspective. Two years later, he claimed the World No. 1 spot, and in
Career record: 385–273 [ 275 events ]
Stefan Edberg
Born: January 19, 1966 in Västervik (Kalmar)
Height: 1.88 m
Plays: Right-handed
Sweden dominated world tennis for two decades, during the 1980s and ’90s. The ’80s stood out significantly, while the ’90s were notable compared to the subsequent decline in the 21st century. In the ’80s, the strength of Swedish tennis was embodied by a roster including Björn Borg (who regularly played only in 1980-81 given that decade), Mats Wilander, Henrik Sundström, Anders Järryd, Joakim Nyström, Jonas Svensson, and Kent Carlsson. The ’90s showcased players like Thomas Enqvist, Magnus Larsson, Magnus Gustafsson, Jonas Björkman, Magnus Norman, and Thomas Johansson. Stefan Edberg bridged both generations, contributing to Davis Cup triumphs over a decade and displaying a consistent serve-and-volley style across all surfaces, a unique approach among players of his generation.
Edberg, an exceptional junior player, achieved the rare feat of capturing all four Grand Slam junior titles in 1983, earning the lone “Junior Grand Slam” in the Open Era. However, his professional career nearly ended already at its beginning, during the US Open ’83, when his serve tragically caused the death of linesman Dick Wertheim. The incident plunged Edberg into depression, contemplating quitting tennis. Fortunately, he eventually realized it was a tragic accident and found the strength to continue.
His breakthrough came in ’84 during his first full year on the tour, securing success in doubles by aiding Sweden’s victory over the USA in the Davis Cup final alongside Järryd. In the mid-’80s, Edberg emerged as a formidable force in both singles and doubles, dethroning John McEnroe as the premier singles and doubles player and as the best serve-and-volleyer. Despite securing two Australian Open titles on grass (1985 and 1987, yet back-to-back), he recognized the need to enhance his game to challenge Ivan Lendl, identifying his forehand as a significant hurdle (his one-handed backhand belongs to the best of his era). Playing all the strokes with a classical continental grip was unique for the time (a norm for operating wooden racquets), limiting his ability to generate fast topspin balls off the forehand.
Under the guidance of his British coach Tony Pickard (a decent player in the 1950s and ’60s), Edberg evolved his game, tweaking his service motion as well as the grip (adoption of eastern backhand) in the late ’80s to maintain a high percentage of first serves (often around 65%) and produce kick-serves that posed considerable discomfort, especially for opponents with one-handed backhands, a prevalent style among players at that time. He naturally gravitated toward the net, fine-tuning his footwork to achieve optimal positioning and overcoming initial troubles with foot faults. As a receiver, Edberg acknowledged his forehand limitations, using it primarily to keep the ball in play while excelling in passing shots off the weaker wing with strategic angles.
Despite struggles against players with greater top-spin and athleticism, especially Jim Courier (Edberg lost to him four four-setters at Slams in the years 1991-93, even at Wimbledon), Edberg’s physical peak from ’89 to ’92 showcased remarkable tennis prowess (uniquely emphasised at the US Open ’92 when he overcame three elite players in consecutive five-setters being on the verge of defeat in fifth sets thrice), capitalizing on his exceptional movement and often employing a ‘cheap-and-charge’ strategy. He even came close to triumphing at Roland Garros, notably reaching the final in ’89 but squandering many opportunities against Michael Chang to win 3-1. Interestingly, he later reversed this outcome in ’96, displaying a different level of reflexes against a vastly improved Chang in his prime.
The late ’80s saw Edberg engaged in intense rivalries with Lendl, Wilander, and most prominently, Boris Becker. Despite Becker’s overall 25-10 advantage in their matches, Edberg prevailed in critical “best of five” encounters, leading 2-1 in Wimbledon finals, 1-0 in ‘Masters’ finals, and 1-0 at Roland Garros.
Edberg’s decline was swift, notably in ’94. Despite being 28, not considered a veteran by standards then, after reaching the Australian Open semifinal, his performance took a nosedive. Between Roland Garros ’94 (one of the tightest clay-court matches of all-times) and Wimbledon ’96, Edberg failed to progress beyond the fourth rounds at majors, a significant downturn for a player accustomed to quarterfinal appearances at least. He was interested in claiming Grand Slam titles, but realizing it wouldn’t be possible, he made the decision to retire despite maintaining a Top 20 ranking.
From a tactical perspective, I believe that Edberg’s serve remains an underrated aspect of his game. In the late 80s, he adjusted his preparation and technique for the serve, reducing the speed while enhancing accuracy and the percentage of successful first serves. He consistently varied the direction of both his first and second serves, keeping opponents guessing and often earning free points directly or as a result of his subsequent volleys. It’s noteworthy his economic approach on serve, constant attacks to the net behind the second serves were a norm, yet often at 40/0 or 40/15 he was staying back behind the first serve. An essential aspect of his serve was its adaptability in changing pace. Initially hailed as a powerful server in his teenage years, he transitioned in his 20s, prioritizing precision over sheer velocity. Nevertheless, he reserved those big serves for critical moments, often deploying them in the closing stages of matches or during tie-breaks.
Career record: 801–270 [ 283 events ]
Career titles: 41
Highest ranking: No. 1
Best GS results:
Australian Open (champion 1985 & 87; runner-up 1990, 92-93; semifinal 1988, 91 & 94)
Roland Garros (runner-up 1989; quarterfinal 1985, 91 & 93)
Wimbledon (champion 1988 & 90; runner-up 1989; semifinal 1987, 91 & 93; quarterfinal 92)
US Open (champion 1991-92; semifinal 1986-87; quarterfinal 1996)
Masters champion 1989
Davis Cup champion 1984 (doubles), 1985 & 1994
World Team Cup champion 1988, 91 & 95
Gold medal of unofficial event at Olympics 1984 (Los Angeles) & Bronze in Seoul ’88
Year-end ranking 1982-96… 523 – 53 – 20 – 5 – 5 – 2 – 5 – 3 – 1 – 1 – 2 – 5 – 7 – 23 – 14
Henri Leconte
Born: July 4, 1963 in Lillers (Hauts-de-France)
Height: 1.84 m
Plays: Left-handed
In retrospect, when considering five distinct generations of French players during the Open Era, it seems that the cohort playing in the 1980s boasted the best talents. Yannick Noah (born in 1960), along with two younger left-handed players, Henri Leconte (b. 1963) and Guy Forget (b. 1965), stood out. Noah remains the sole French player to have clinched a major title, while Leconte played in a major final. However, Forget’s performances at majors overall were disappointing, even though he managed to secure two ‘Mercedes Super 9’ titles in 1991 and contributed significantly to France’s Davis Cup victory that same year, alongside Leconte.
Leconte’s impact on the tennis scene emerged in November ’82 when he claimed his first title in Stockholm, defeating the then French Open champion, Mats Wilander, in the final (notably, Leconte saved three match points in the third round against Tomáš Šmíd). His triumph in Stockholm also earned him a spot in the Davis Cup final, yet he lost a crucial rubber to Gene Mayer. The following year Leconte defeated the best player of the 70s Björn Borg (Monte Carlo), twice the best player of the 80s Ivan Lendl (the Czechoslovak hadn’t that status yet, but his potential dominance in the decade was rather conspicuous then, Leconte even had a 5:3 lead in H2H against Lendl at some point in 1985), thus expectations that Leconte would be a leading player in the 80s were obvious. The years 1986-88 marked the zenith of Leconte’s career, with seven out of his sixteen finals occurring during this period. His performance in major tournaments culminated in the French Open ’88 final. Having won three five-setters prior to the final, Leconte succumbed to fatigue after losing the opening set to the formidable Wilander.
Unfortunately, on May 12, 1989, Leconte underwent the first of three operations for a herniated disk, marking a turning point in his career. The year 1991, at the age of 28, heralded a downturn that eventually led to his retirement five years later. Nevertheless, the end of that year held a sweet moment. Noah, now Davis Cup captain in the twilight of his career, enlisted Leconte to play the second rubber in a tie against the United States. Despite being ranked at No. 159 and having not won a match for five months, Leconte stunned Pete Sampras. The following day, he assisted Forget in defeating one of the top doubles pairs at that time, Ken Flach and Robert Seguso, in a manner that exceeded expectations.
Struggling with his herniated disk, Leconte continued to surprise. First, at the French Open ’92, he advanced to the semifinals as a ‘wild card’ [200]. Then, in Halle ’93, he secured his final title as a player ranked at No. 141, overcoming two Top 10 players in the last two matches. Prior to the event, Leconte held a dismal 2-8 record for the year. He concluded his career at his beloved French Open, in the year 1996. Sixteen years after making his first main-level appearance at the tournament, he fell to a Swedish player again (Hans Simonsson in 1980 and Thomas Johansson in 1996).
Leconte departed the Centre Court in tears with flowers, marking the end of an era. Suddenly, he reappeared as a ‘wild card’ two weeks later in Rosmalen, only to lose to Kenneth Carlsen. This match ultimately stood as his final appearance at the main-level of his professional career (though he did play two more Challengers that year). Leconte’s service motion was short, similar to Roscoe Tanner‘s serve. He was an all-round player, adept at implementing a serve-and-volley style across all surfaces (only a few players in the 80s could be as effective attacking the net behind the second serve). His exceptionally quick hands, especially on his backhand, were at times sensational, producing astonishingly fast strokes with a short swing. An emotional player, Leconte thrived on interacting with the crowd, drawing inspiration from the loud atmosphere. Chanting “Henri! Henri!” was something he relished while playing in France; it seemed to elevate his game to another level.
One notable example of this came during the fourth round of the French Open ’90 facing Andrey Chesnokov, who was then displaying some of the best tennis of his career after winning Monte Carlo and finishing as the runner-up in Rome. Chesnokov had won 16 of his last 17 matches and was considered a favorite for the title. However, Leconte almost outplayed him in straight sets in under two hours on Centre Court. Despite Chesnokov seizing control in sets three and four, Leconte responded with an ‘all or nothing’ attitude in the decider. He relentlessly attacked the net as both a server and receiver, winning the deciding set 6-3. Out of the 29 points he earned, an impressive 16 came from his winners! Leconte took part in the first final I have seen in my life – Antwerp ’90 – the only event in which he faced Brad Gilbert despite spending the entire 80s on the tour together. The gifted Frenchman defeated all the best players of the 80s, except fellow left-handers, Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe, and only once Leconte was awfully close to leave the court as a winner in 16 meetings against them (Australian Open ’85).
Trivia: the Frenchman was the first man in the Open Era to face a player in every major (it was Amos Mansdorf, they met in the four most important cities tennis-wise in the years 1985-87… Leconte won everywhere, needing a decider only in London).
Career record: 377–269 [ 250 events ]
Career titles: 9
Highest ranking: No. 5
Best GS results:
Roland Garros (runner-up 1988; semifinal ’86 & 92; quarterfinal ’85 & 90)
Wimbledon (semifinal 1986; quarterfinal 1985 & 87)
US Open (quarterfinal 1986)
Davis Cup champion 1991
World Team Cup champion 1986
Pat Cash
Born: May 27, 1965 in Melbourne (Victoria)
Height: 1.83 m
Plays: Right-handed
Considered one of the most accomplished players without reaching the 300 main-level wins milestone, Cash’s sudden decline in the ’90s potentially deprived tennis of numerous thrilling matches. He belonged to the same generation as Stefan Edberg and Boris Becker, emerging as an elite serve-and-volleyer in the mid-’80s before turning 20 (the US Open ’84 semifinal was his most captivating result as a teenager… he was using a wooden/graphite composite manufactured by Puma). While lacking Becker’s serve and forehand or Edberg’s 
backhand, Cash compensated with a warrior-like mentality, an acute game sense, and his early career successes were comparable to these achieved by the multiple Grand Slam champions.
By the age of 23 in 1988, Cash had contested three major finals (equalling Edberg and Becker) and steered Australia to two Davis Cup victories (1983 and 1986), contributing significantly to both triumphs by securing crucial points and clinching decisive matches. Cash’s commendable head-to-head records against Ivan Lendl (3-3 at majors, including Wimbledon ’87 final – the last Grand Slam title won using an aluminium racquet, Prince “Magnesium Pro”) and Mats Wilander (5-4 record overall) suggest he could have been a formidable contender not only against Pete Sampras but also against Michael Chang, Andre Agassi, and Jim Courier in competitive Grand Slam encounters of the 90s. However, his prowess wasn’t as pronounced on clay courts due to relatively weaker groundstrokes. Technically, his mastery of the lob surpassed that of Edberg and Becker, proving instrumental on faster surfaces but inconsequential on clay.
The Wimbledon ’88 tournament, culminating in an unexpectedly short defeat to Becker, marked the conclusion of Cash’s peak years on the tour (he already switched to a graphite racquet, Yonnex “Rex-50”). Over the subsequent nine years, he grappled mainly with injuries (knee and Achilles tendon) and made sporadic attempts at resurrecting his career. His involvement in several seasons (1989, 1994-97) was limited to just a few tournaments, in 1993 he didn’t play at all (he’d experienced an extended period on the sidelines for the first time in the years 1985-86 when a back injury caused his fall from no. 7 to no. 413 between Wimbledons). Throughout this turbulent period, he clinched a solitary impressive win in Dubai ’95, stunning Thomas Muster, who was at the peak of his form, in a hard-fought match (2-6, 6-4, 6-4) being two games away from defeat in consecutive sets. “My goal is not to be a Top 20 player again, I believe in my game and have to show those guys I’m serious and came back” – said the 526th player in the ranking. In his another event he reached the Copenhagen quarterfinal surviving two dramatic matches, and it was basically over of his serious comeback. For another two years he would win only two matches losing fourteen.
Post-retirement, Cash transitioned to coaching top players like Mark Philippoussis and Greg Rusedski while also participating regularly in the Champions Tour, albeit without securing a title in any of those events. His trademark: black and white chequered headband (he wore it from 1987 to the end of his career ten years later).
Career record: 243–148 [ 139 events ]
Career titles: 6
Highest ranking: No. 4
Best GS results:
Australian Open (runner-up 1987-88; quarterfinal 1982 & 84)
Wimbledon (champion 1987; semifinal 1984; quarterfinal 1986 & 88)
US Open (semifinal 1984)
Davis Cup champion 1983 & 86
Goran Ivanišević
Born: September 13, 1971 in Split (Dalmacija in Yugoslavia)
Height: 1.93 m
Plays: Left-handed (two-handed backhand)
Ivanišević stands as one of the most psychologically intriguing players of the ’90s. He was a constant chameleon, altering his appearance regularly: long hair, short hair (at the start of 1992, he sported an almost bald “mohawk” hairstyle), with stubble, a full beard, or clean-shaven. He’d don a cap or a headband, and in 1996, a flamboyant plume above his forehead emerged. “I think young people like it. Old people, you know, are not so happy. It’s tough to please old people. They complain too much,” he quipped about his eccentric hairstyle.
Consistency wasn’t his forte; Ivanišević rarely wore the same T-shirt for longer than a month, though he favored the “Sergio Tacchini” brand, and stuck his entire career to “Head” racquets with yellow over-grips. His constant sartorial changes painted a picture of emotional inconsistency. On-court jests and amicable interactions with people could abruptly transform into eruptions of anger. Throughout the ’90s, he found himself embroiled in dramatic matches more frequently than any other player.
In matches involving Ivanišević, anything seemed possible: a 15-13 victory in the fifth set against Richard Krajicek, or a heart-wrenching 12-14 loss in the fifth set against Magnus Norman. He twice equalled the record for the longest tie-break (20/18) within four years, triumphing against fellow left-handers Daniel Nestor and Greg Rusedski. He clinched other marathon tie-breaks: 15/13 (Guy Forget), 14/12 (Jason Stoltenberg, Sébastien Lareau), or 13/11 (Fernando Luna, Hendrik Dreekmann, Cyril Saulnier) while other experienced players rarely go above 10-all. Astonishingly, he found ways to lose tie-breaks despite leading 5:0 or 5:1.
In 1998, he found himself embroiled in major three-setters consisting of three tie-breaks, losing to Marzio Martelli, then defeating Jan Siemerink in a unique Open Era match where the winner saved set points in all won sets. His matches resembled a roller-coaster ride, swinging between extremes. His phenomenal serve, arguably the best of the ’90s, was his cornerstone. Often leading to victories, it was occasionally a double-edged sword. Upon analysing his serve, I arrived at, perhaps, controversial conclusions. I often sensed that, even against top players, he deliberately provoked difficult situations to test his mentality under pressure.
I witnessed numerous matches where, at 4:5 or 5:6 in a set or in a tie-break, he gifted the opponent an opportunity only to erase it with an ace/service winner, even off the second serve. He relished the thrill of winning sets on the brink of losing them. While his serve rescued him many times, it also caused bitter defeats, deserting him in crucial moments of significant matches. Three Wimbledon finals saw his serve betray him, once (1992) against Andre Agassi as a favorite, and twice (1994 and 1998) against his toughest rival, Pete Sampras. It also faltered thrice in “Masters” semifinals (1992, 1993 and 1996).
A notable example was his encounter with Sampras in Hannover ’96. Ivanišević served phenomenally that day, notching 35 aces in three sets. As the deciding third set tie-break loomed, he led 30/0 in the 12th game. However, three casual errors gifted Sampras a match point. Ivanišević unleashed a 186 kph second serve, the fastest that day, but it sailed out. Sampras, disbelievingly observing the speed measurement, shook his head in disbelief. Despite being only a month younger than Sampras, Ivanišević was initially ranked higher in their first two years on the tour, already reaching the Australian Open ’89 quarterfinal when Sampras was actually unknown. Their encounter in the Munich quarterfinal in 1990 (Grand Slam Cup), where Sampras barely clinched victory, laid the groundwork for a mental edge for the American.
Though Ivanišević navigated tight situations adeptly in general, against Sampras, a few points here and there often separated him from clinching crucial victories. However, by the end of 1995, Ivanišević revamped his coaching staff and began winning matches consistently. Between December ’95 and March ’96, he competed with astonishing frequency, securing five titles in the process. He finally ousted Sampras in the Key Biscayne semifinal. Just when it seemed he would dethrone the American, fatigue took its toll, forcing his retirement in the final. Nevertheless, it marked the pinnacle of his career, his most prolific year.
The late ’90s brought stagnation, leaving many expecting Ivanišević to be remembered as the best player of his generation without a major title. And then came Wimbledon ’01 – an event of miracles. Ivanišević [125], a mere ‘wild card’ entrant, caused a stir by defeating Carlos Moyá in the second round. The seven-time champion, Sampras, fell in the fourth round to a young Roger Federer, paving the way for the Croat. Mirroring his mid-’90s form, he served exceptionally and luck favored him (winning back-to-back matches being two points away from defeat). At 30, reminiscent of Andrés Gómez and Petr Korda, Ivanišević triumphantly raised the most coveted trophy in tennis.
“I don’t care now if I ever win a match in my life again,” Ivanišević said after the memorable Monday final against Patrick Rafter (his semifinal against Tim Henman extended over three rain-hit days!). “Whatever I do in my life, wherever I go, I’m always going to be Wimbledon champion.” He didn’t achieve anything worth remembering afterward, Wimbledon ’01 marked Ivanišević’s glorious swan song. He’s the only player to achieve noteworthy results representing two countries: in 1990-1991 he played the World Team Cup finals for Yugoslavia, third final (1995) in this competition he notched representing Croatia, and for this country – carrying the flag at the opening ceremony in Barcelona – he won the Olympic bronze medal, winning four successive five-setters (before and after him, no-one has done it in the Open Era), two of them withstanding match points in the fifth sets. After retiring, he regularly participated in the Champions Tour and then began coaching players born in Yugoslavia: Croatian Marin Čilić and Serbian Novak Đoković, helping them in winning Grand Slam events.
Career record: 599–333 [ 337 events ]
Career titles: 22
Highest ranking: No. 2
Best GS results:
Australian Open (quarterfinal 1989, 94 & 97)
Roland Garros (quarterfinal 1990, 92 & 94)
Wimbledon (champion 2001; runner-up 1992, 94 & 98; semifinal 1990 & 95)
US Open (semifinal 1996)
Grand Slam Cup 1995 champion
Olympic bronze medallist 1992 in Barcelona
World Team Cup 1990 champion (for Yugoslavia)
Davis Cup champion 2005 (he was only a member of the Croatian team in the final)
Hopman Cup 1996 champion (for Croatia)
1993 and 2023
January: Week 1 – Week 2 – Week 3/4 (AUSSIE OPEN)
February: Week 5 – Week 6 – Week 7 – Week 8
March: Week 9 – Week 10/11 (Indian Wells) – Week 12/13 (Miami)
April: Week 14 – Week 15 (Monte Carlo) – Week 16
May: Week 17/18 (Madrid) – Week 19/20 (Rome) – Week 21
June: Week 22/23 (FRENCH OPEN) – Week 24 – Week 25 – Week 26
July: Week 27/28 (WIMBLEDON) – Week 29 – Week 30
August: Week 31 – Week 32 (Toronto) – Week 33 (Cincinnati) – Week 34
September: Week 35/36 (US OPEN) – Week 37 – Week 38 – Week 39
October: Week 40/41 (Shanghai) – Week 42 – Week 43
November: Week 44 (Paris) – Week 45 – Week 46 (“Masters”) – Week 47 (Davis Cup)
December: Week 48 (“Young Masters”) – Summary
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 fellow Frenchman, 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
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Week 48 (NextGen)
…2023…
Saudi Arabia, the largest country in the Arabian Peninsula, long envied its neighbours such as Qatar and the UAE for organizing ATP tournaments. Saudi Arabia finally made its debut by hosting the Next Generation ATP Finals, an event spotlighting the talents of the top eight players aged 21 and younger. Previously held in Italy since its inaugural event in 2017, this experimental tournament introduces unique rules not commonly seen on the professional circuit. Among this year’s innovations were: the absence of a warm-up, the first three games of a set being played on the same side of the court, and a shot-clock of 8 seconds between the first and second serves.
The event faced the lack of prominent players: Carlos Alcaraz and Holger Rune, both already among the top 8 players in the world, naturally withdrew, as did Ben Shelton and Lorenzo Musetti, both in the Top 20, deeming the unconventional rules less beneficial before the upcoming season.
Consequently, 19-year-old Arthur Fils [36] was seeded No. 1, considered a main favorite due to his notable ATP indoor performances earlier in the year. Despite this, in a tense final, he struggled against the exceptional serving of 20-year-old Hamad Međedović [110], the first player in the event’s history to win a five-set final. He did it not being broken. Both finalists destroyed their racquets in the process.
Interestingly, this year marks a significant moment for the Arabic Middle East as representatives from the region emerged onto the main-level. 20-year-old Abdullah Shelbayh, a ‘wild card’ entry in Jeddah, became the first man from Jordan to secure an ATP Tour match win this year (Banja Luka). Similarly, 28-year-old Benjamin Hassan, raised in Germany, but representing Lebanon, made a history for this country advancing to two ATP tournaments this autumn.
…1993…
A triumph like Petr Korda‘s at the Compaq Grand Slam Cup ’93 (December 7-12) had not occurred before and would not be replicated in the future. What sets this victory apart is not only the remarkable length of the fifth sets the champion won in his last two matches but also the caliber of players he defeated. Korda endured thrilling encounters of opposing styles (offensive baseliner vs serve-and-volleyers), overcoming day-by-day the two best players in the world at that time: Pete Sampras (13-11 in 5th set) and Michael Stich (11-9 in 5th set).
Stich’s form was exceptional towards the end of the season, outshining every other player in the Open Era comparing the last few events of the year; solely performing at home, he secured the “Masters” title (Frankfurt), led Germany to the Davis Cup trophy (Düsseldorf), and in the München final against Korda [12], he managed to save a match point with a fortunate net-cord, creating a triple break point afterward. Despite the support of the German crowd and facing a visibly fatigued opponent, luck deserted him, leading to a dramatic loss in the fifth set.
Remarkably, the most lucrative event in tennis reduced its prize money in 1993, with the champion receiving a check for $1.625 million instead of the usual $2 million awarded in the three preceding editions. It’s regrettable because considering the entire history of that specific event (1990-1999), I’d argue that no one deserved those two million dollars more than Korda.
…Finals 2023…
Jeddah (“NextGen“; $2M; hard indoors)
🇷🇸Hamad Međedović d. 🇫🇷Arthur Fils 3-4(6), 4-1, 4-2, 3-4(9), 4-1
…Finals 1993…
München (“Grand Slam Cup“; $6M; carpet indoors)
🇨🇿Petr Korda d. 🇩🇪Michael Stich 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(5), 2-6, 11-9
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Week 47 (Davis Cup – finals)
…2023…
After the Davis Cup structure renewal, Spain has been hosting the finals since 2019 (the initial two editions were held in Madrid, followed by another two in Málaga). However, the oldest team competition in tennis didn’t take place in 2020 due to Covid-19. This year, Spain surprisingly failed to secure a spot among the top eight teams. Nevertheless, the atmosphere remained vibrant, largely thanks to the Finnish fans who filled the Martin Carpena Arena from Fuengirola (home to the second-largest community of Finns outside Finland). The Finns emerged as a revelation in this year’s competition, yet their dream of creating an enormous sensation was halted in the semifinals by Australians who finished as a runner-up second year running.
Novak Đoković had aspirations for something extraordinary: winning the Davis Cup with Serbia in a span of thirteen years (in 2010, he did not clinch the decisive match, but he was the architect of the success). Nevertheless, his third encounter against Jannik Sinner [4] within two weeks dealt a significant blow – the Serb squandered a triple match point in a game that could have propelled Serbia into the final. Two hours later, he suffered another loss (this time in doubles) to Sinner – the 22-year-old red-haired South-Tyrolean, who’d bypassed the “Group stage” in September, emerged as an unquestionable leader of the Italian team in the “Knockout stage” – winning all three of his singles matches and, with the assistance of Lorenzo Sonego, also securing victories in two doubles matches. Matteo Arnaldi [44] – Sinner’s age-mate – made substantial contributions too, aiding Italy in reclaiming the Cup after forty-seven years (won when Adriano Panatta, the then-reigning French Open champion, led Italy to triumph).
…1993…
In week number 48 of 1993 (as week 47 was designated for the doubles ‘Masters’ event won by a Dutch pair, Jacco Eltingh and Paul Haarhuis in Johannesburg), the Davis Cup final saw the Germans employ a strategy reminiscent of the Americans three years prior. They chose to host Australia on clay, clearly an indoor setting due to the weather, aiming to neutralize the Aussie players’ serve-and-volley style. The captain from Down Under, Neal Fraser (b. 1933) had limited changes in the lineup, again depending on his most reliable clay-court player, Richard Fromberg, who has been a unique case as he participated in two Davis Cup finals despite never entering the Top 20. The selection for the second singles player was less evident; reportedly, Jason Stoltenberg was chosen despite his poor form post-US Open, allegedly due to winning a sparring session match against Wally Masur, that year’s US Open semifinalist. So the Australian team comprised singles players whose Nordic surnames hinted at their Teutonic ancestry.
Fraser’s surprising decision nearly paid off. Stoltenberg put up a highly competitive match against Michael Stich, who was in tremendous form after claiming the ‘Masters’ title. Stich’s brilliance shone in the pivotal doubles match; paired with a good partner, he defeated the most dominant pair of the ’90s, the Woodies. Despite having played seven hours in the two previous days, Stich’s match on Sunday seemed routine. He secured an early break for a 3:2 lead in the first set against Fromberg, and never looked back. Reflecting on the victory, Stich remarked: “Luckily, it wasn’t so difficult today. It has been a very long, but also a very successful year.” Respectable player of the late 60s/early 70s, Croatian Nikola ‘Niki’ Pilić (b. 1939) holds the distinction of being the sole team captain to claim the Davis Cup title with two different nations, leading (West) Germany to victory in 1988 / 89 – with Boris Becker as a team leader, 1993 – with Stich as a leader, and Croatia to triumph in 2005 – with Ivan Ljubičić as a leader, showcasing Pilić’s exceptional management across three decades and two different Indo-European languages.
…Finals 2023…
Málaga (Davis Cup; hard indoors)
Italy d. Australia 2-0
…Finals 1993…
Düsseldorf (Davis Cup; clay indoors)
Germany d. Australia 4-1
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Week 46 (Masters)
…2023…
Officially known as the “ATP Finals” since 2017 and hosted in Turin since 2021. This year saw two debutants, 20-year-olds Rune and Alcaraz (the Spaniard was set for his debut a year earlier but withdrew due to injury). Three decades ago, the Top 10 players were divided between serve-and-volleyers and baseliners. Today, everyone adopts a more or less similar style, leaning towards offensive baselining. The only division now considers the way players handle their backhands. Stefanos Tsitsipas, the lone one-handed backhander in the Top 10 and the 2019 champion, faced setbacks arriving in Italy. 
Despite his problems, he chose to compete, losing his opening match swiftly and retiring from his second after just three games. In his Green group the matches involving Jannik Sinner, Novak Đoković, and Holger Rune provided fans with gripping moments. Đoković, the primary favorite, engaged in three three-set battles, the third one against Hubert Hurkacz, who replaced Tsitsipas. Đoković’s fate wasn’t in his hands during the final group meeting. The Serb could have been eliminated had Rune defeated Sinner. At 4:3 in the third set, Rune sent his backhand return wide off Sinner’s second serve at mini-match point.
In the Red group the victories were evenly distributed among three players: Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, and Alexander Zverev whose elimination was decided by the ratio of sets, as he dropped three sets while the other two players lost two each. Despite his extensive experience (his fourth appearance in the season-ending championships and having reached the semifinals a year prior), Andrey Rublev struggled to make an impact, failing even to force a tie-break. Disturbingly, he seems inclined towards self-destruction, lately hitting quite regularly his left knee with the frame of his racquet, causing it to bleed.
The semifinals left something to be desired. Local favorite Sinner secured his third victory over Medvedev in recent months. However, their two previous encounters were far more intriguing. Medvedev, seemingly learning from those losses, opted for a more aggressive baseline game in the Italian semifinal, resulting in an energy drain. His performance in the third set was notably poor, marked by strange gestures directed at the spectators. In the second semifinal, Đoković outclassed Alcaraz, a disappointing outcome given their four thrilling previous encounters where victories were evenly split.
Đoković, the oldest finalist of this event with his 36 years and 181 days (previous record holder, Arthur Ashe was 35.188 at the Masters ’78 final) to some degree emulated his phenomenal semifinal performance. The 2nd set of his final against Sinner was much tighter though than the opening set as well as two sets against Alcaraz. The Serb has now won the season-ending event seven times (Roger Federer did it six times, Ivan Lendl & Pete Sampras five).
…1993…
Officially known as the “ATP Tour World Championships” in the ’90s, the event for the top eight players was hosted in Frankfurt. It ran from Tuesday to Sunday, featuring three “round-robin” matches per day. The leader of the * Arthur Ashe group, Pete Sampras, initiated his campaign on Wednesday, enjoying a two-day break after his final in Antwerp. His first match was crucial as he faced his peer, Goran Ivanišević, who had been leading 5:2 in their meetings. A bit surprisingly, Sampras won 2-1 without a tie-break set, altering the trend of their rivalry and ultimately winning 9 out of their next 10 meetings. As expected, clay-courter Sergi Bruguera didn’t secure a victory in his first “Masters” appearance, facing three serve-and-volleyers. Ivanišević’s victory against Stefan Edberg, after 2 hours and 43 minutes (the longest match at the group stage), secured his spot in the semifinals, although he had been serving to win the first two sets, only to split the tie-breaks and claim a decisive break at 4:3 in the third set.
In the Stan Smith group, there was one serve-and-volleyer (Michael Stich) and three offensive baseliners. Stich, the clear favorite on a fast court due to his fantastic autumn form indoors, and the support of the home crowd, faced an open question about the second player to advance to the semifinals. 19-year-old Ukrainian, second debutant, Andrei Medvedev proved that his final appearance in Paris was 
no fluke, displaying his fighting spirit again. He fought back to win two ‘lost’ matches, first against Jim Courier (saving four match points, including a triple match point at 3:5 in the decider on return!), and then against Michael Chang trailing 2-6 and *1:4. Suffering his bitter defeat, Courier astonished onlookers with two unexpected occurrences: it was the first instance in 1993 that he appeared on the court without his trademark baseball cap, and during changeovers, he engrossed himself in the novel ‘Maybe the Moon’ by Armistead Maupin.
The first semifinal was a 50-minute lesson from Sampras to Medvedev, concluding with Sampras’ 1000th ace of the season. This accomplishment made him the first man in the Open Era to surpass this number, with statistics collected since 1991. In the second semifinal, in a clash of big servers, Stich outperformed Ivanišević in two tie-breaks. While the Croat was the biggest tie-break specialist above “9-all” in the ’90s, against Stich, he lost the second tie-break 10/12, marking his longest tie-break loss throughout his career.
In the final, Sampras might have paid the price for playing five days in a row and two full consecutive weeks following his Belgian triumph. He was erratic and shockingly broken twice in the opening seven games. Although he theoretically could have won the final 3-0, it was evident he couldn’t muster the energy required to deliver his best service performance. Stich claimed the trophy, concluding the season with three indoor titles and replacing Courier as world No. 2. Not many could have expected this scenario after the US Open ’93 when Courier had a 1337-point advantage over the German… * Between 1989 and 1993, it was customary to name both groups in homage to the legendary players from the late ’60s and early ’70s.
…Finals 2023…
Turin (“Masters”; $15M; hard indoors)
🇷🇸Novak Đoković d. 🇮🇹Jannik Sinner 6-3, 6-3
…Finals 1993…
Frankfurt (“Masters”; $3M; carpet indoors)
🇩🇪Michael Stich d. 🇺🇸Pete Sampras 7-6(3), 2-6, 7-6(7), 6-2
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Week 45
…2023…
Unlike thirty years ago, when comparing the last week of the regular season, this year’s rivalry at the top of the game is essentially over with Novak Đoković needing just one win next week. There is no longer any place left to fight for the season-
ending event in Turin. Consequently, many elite players withdrew from the last two events, and only one top-20’er decided to take part – Karen Khachanov. Left-handers prevailed in both Metz and Sofia; the best French players, Ugo Humbert and Adrian Mannarino, triumphed. What’s more interesting is they were competing to finish the year as No. 1 in their country. For the home-town favorite Humbert, his fourth ATP title in four finals (13-6 record in the finals at lower levels) means advancement to the top 20 for the first time in his career. The “Sofia Open” took place in quite bizarre circumstances. After seven years, this event disappeared from the calendar but was restored because Tel Aviv was cancelled due to the outbreak of war in the region. Two ‘wild card’ veterans, Pierre-Hugues Herbert [344] and Fabio Fognini [147], advanced to the semifinals in France, achieving their best results of the season. Herbert, who played his first ATP event in 2023, saw a dramatic fall in the rankings due to being unvaccinated (preventing him from entering several big events) and injuries, particularly a knee injury. In round two, Fognini won his 18th encounter saving a match point – more than any other active player (his peer Đoković has won 17).
The “Moselle Open” quarterfinal lineup consisted of four all-countrymen pairs (two French, one Italian, one Russian). This hasn’t occurred since Orlando 1991, when all quarter-finalists represented the United States. The 21st-century boys, Jack Draper and Alexander Shevchenko, played their first ATP finals this week. Shevchenko is a new face of 2023, while the one-year-younger Draper had already displayed significant potential a year earlier. However, the Brit, who claimed a Challenger title in Bergamo a week before, is prone to injuries and doesn’t physically handle close matches well, which was confirmed in Bulgaria; he had a double break point in the final’s last game but seemed out of gas in the rallies.
…1993…
In the second ATP edition in Antwerp, held as a point-awarded tournament from 1992 onwards (after being an exhibition event in the years 1982-1991), the focus was on two players, Goran Ivanišević and Cédric Pioline. One of them had to secure the last spot at the “Masters”. The solution was straightforward: they were on a collision course, with the Croat needing to win their quarterfinal match to automatically qualify, while Pioline required to reach the final. Pioline prevailed with a 7-6, 6-0 victory and found himself serving to beat Pete Sampras in the semifinal. The Frenchman sniffed the glory on a platter but couldn’t seal the deal. Sampras felt an extra motivation because winning the title in Flemish Belgium could secure his spot at the top of the year-end rankings, regardless of his performance the following week in Frankfurt. The American claimed his 20th title after a perfect
match on Sunday. The runner-up, Magnus Gustafsson, was left disappointed after facing the third big server in a row. In the preceding rounds, he had defeated the two best Germans, Michael Stich and Boris Becker, in straight sets.
Meanwhile, in Moscow, Marc Rosset [15] successfully defended his title. This marked his third title of the season. Although not many players collected as many titles that year, Rosset was not in contention for the “Masters” (he’d very bad season at majors with an abysmal 1-3 record). There were higher expectations for him in the “best of five” format, especially after his impressive achievements in 1992, when he triumphed at the Olympics and led the Swiss team to the Davis Cup final, having defeated in both events the best man in the world – Jim Courier. In hindsight, both Pioline (b. 1969) and Rosset (b. 1970) stand out as the best players of the 90s who never participated in the prestigious season-ending event; Pioline came particularly close, falling short by just two points facing Sampras. In Moscow, two qualifiers from the former Soviet Union enjoyed a successful run: Russian Andrey Merinov [218] had the best ATP event of his career, reaching the quarterfinals while Ukrainian Dimitri Poliakov [173] advanced to the semifinals. His only better result it’s a shocking title in Umag two years earlier, also as a qualifier. Björn Borg [1148] finally played his ultimate match, perversely finishing the agony he had already begun in Monte Carlo ’83. The 11-time Grand Slam champion squandered a match point against the local favorite Alexander Volkov [17], before losing 6-4, 3-6, 6-7, and he felt that it was a performance worth to be the last on the professional circuit. Volkov, who said he used to have posters of Borg, admitted he was dissatisfied with his play. “The first set was awful, the second set was less awful, the third one was awful again,” the Russian stated.
The regular season concluded in Buenos Aires, where two Spaniards battled their way to the nearly gale final. The eventual champion, Carlos Costa, decided to make a surprising journey to South America, having spent two weeks in Europe following a flight from Asia. In the first round, veteran Diego Pérez emerged victorious, defeating Horacio de la Peña 7-6, 6-4 in the longest “2-0” encounter of the season; notably, the Uruguayan survived a marathon first-set tie-break, which ended with an astonishing 17/15 scoreline. This was the longest tie-break on clay since Jimmy Arias defeated Trevor Allan 6-2, 7-6(15) in Florence ’85.
…Finals 2023…
Metz (ATP 250; hard indoors)
(4)🇫🇷Ugo Humbert d. 🇷🇺Alexander Shevchenko 6-3, 6-3
Sofia (ATP 250; hard indoors)
(2)🇫🇷Adrian Mannarino d. 🇬🇧Jack Draper 7-6(6), 2-6, 6-3
…Finals 1993…
Antwerp ($1M; carpet indoors)
(1)🇺🇸Pete Sampras d. 🇸🇪Magnus Gustafsson 6-1, 6-4
Moscow ($325K; carpet indoors)
(1)🇨🇭Marc Rosset d. 🇩🇪Patrik Kühnen 6-4, 6-3
Buenos Aires ($275K; clay outdoors)
(2)🇪🇸Carlos Costa d. (6)🇪🇸Alberto Berasategui 3-6, 6-1, 6-4
Top 10 at the end of the regular season:
1993: Sampras – Courier – Stich – Bruguera – Edberg – A.Medvedev – Chang – Ivanisevic – Muster – Pioline
2023: Djokovic – Alcaraz – D.Medvedev – Sinner – Rublev – Tsitsipas – A.Zverev – Rune – Hurkacz – Fritz
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