Born: January 23, 1968 in Praha
Height: 1.91 m
Plays: Left-handed
“I was waiting for this a long, long time. What we went through was unbelievable. I didn’t believe it could happen. It’s a dream come true,” said Korda after winning the Australian Open ’98 at the age of 30, echoing Andrés Gómez’s story (French Open ’90) of claiming a maiden major title after nearly a decade of competing at the highest level. Unlike Gómez, who had failed to reach even a semifinal in 26 major attempts before his French Open triumph, Korda had already played one final in his 33 previous Grand Slam appearances. Born in Prague (a rarity among top Czech players), Korda began his tennis journey under the guidance of his father: “Because of him, I’ve got a golden touch!” From an early age, he idolized Ivan Lendl, even serving as a ball boy during one of Lendl’s matches in Prague. Defeating his childhood hero, the best Czechoslovak in history (5-7, 6-1, 6-4 in Stockholm ’91) became a 
career highlight in his early years on the tour. Korda ultimately won four of their five meetings. The summer of ’91 on American hardcourts marked a breakthrough period for Korda, who was representing Czechoslovakia at the time. The lanky Czech reached three ATP finals within a month. After falling short in the finals in Washington and Montreal, he clinched his first trophy in New Haven. During this remarkable run, he surged from No. 69 to No. 15 in the rankings.
As a child & teenager, Korda was exceptionally thin. Over the years, he gained some weight, but even as a professional, he never quite fit the typical athlete’s physique. His career was plagued by unorthodox injuries: groin issues, hernias, para-nasal sinus problems, and other minor ailments. At times, he was devastated, even considering premature retirement. “I was in constant pain, wondering if I’d ever live normally,” he admitted. After a series of operations and as he approached his 30th birthday, Korda finally stabilized his physical condition. Between July ’97 and January ’98, he soared from No. 27 to No. 2 in the world rankings, notching a sensational five-set victory over Pete Sampras at the US Open, and capturing the Stuttgart title above all. For a few weeks in February and March of 1998, he was within striking distance of the top spot, but always fell short by two or three matches.
Korda’s enormous potential is defined by his extraordinary triumph in Germany under challenging circumstances. At the 1993 Compaq Grand Slam in München, he staged a remarkable comeback against the reigning French Open champion Sergi Bruguera in the quarterfinals (4-6, 6-0, 6-4), rallying from 4:2* down in the third set. This was nothing compared to what was to come: in the semifinal, he outlasted world’s best Sampras in a spectacular 4.5-hour battle saving match points in two successive sets… exhausted and barely standing in the fourth and fifth sets, Korda defied expectations by not only reaching the final but also defeating Michael Stich, the second-best player of the season, in another five-set thriller. Astonishingly, Korda survived both matches despite winning fewer points than his opponents (10 fewer against Sampras and 13 fewer against Stich). These victories over Sampras and Stich are unprecedented, no one before or after has won the semi-final and final in so long five-set duels (given the number of games in the deciding sets). If we add that Korda did it against the two best players in the world, on a surface where they were very efficient, it’s really mind-blowing.
Unfortunately, Korda’s career ended in controversy. At the end of 1998, the ITF announced that he had tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone during Wimbledon ’98. While he was not banned from the sport, Korda was stripped of his ranking points and prize money ($94,500) from Wimbledon. The decision sparked outrage among his peers. Richard Krajicek questioned: “If he used nandrolone, why hasn’t he been disqualified? If he was found not guilty, why did they take away his money?” Jonas Björkman, who lost to Korda the Aussie Open quarterfinal being in the form of his life, added: “Before Wimbledon, he was playing the best tennis of his life. Afterward, he was much worse. If someone takes illegal substances, they should be banned for a few years.”
Shortly after the nandrolone scandal, Korda was banned from competing in his native Czechia for two years. Despite the criticism, Korda returned to the Australian Open ’99 to defend his title but suffered humiliating moments; he defeated Galo Blanco in five sets despite the adversary crowd, and the Spaniard refused to shake his hand. Because of his beautiful, classical ground-strokes and amusing behaviour (a tendency to juggle the ball, celebrating victories with scissor kicks) he was a rather beloved figure all over the world, but in 1999 he became the public enemy wherever he went. His ranking plummeted, and within a year of nearly reaching the pinnacle of tennis, he found himself outside the Top 100. A six-match losing streak, including a defeat to Rodolphe Cadart (who had only three main-level wins), marked the beginning of the end. After losing to Danny Sapsford in the Wimbledon ’99 qualifiers, Korda announced his sudden retirement.
A year and a half later, when the Czech ban expired, Korda made a brief comeback at a Prague Challenger event. He lost 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 to little-known Martin Hromec of Slovakia, who had never played a main-level match. The almost 33-year-old Korda described the tournament as a gift to his father, who had turned 60 that week.
Korda was primarily an offensive baseliner, characterized by unparalleled ease in spreading the ball to all corners of the court with very low net clearance, but on grass, he adopted the traditional serve-and-volley tactics, which he occasionally used as a surprise element on other surfaces making himself an all-round player.
His son Sebastian Korda (born in 2000) emerged as a promising talent a few years ago. After starting with a 0:3 main-level record and a ranking outside the Top 200, Sebastian reached the fourth round of Roland Garros ’20, where he was outclassed by Rafael Nadal. Standing taller than Petr, being right-hander, and wielding a two-handed backhand, but also prone to play flat, Sebastian represents the next generation of the Korda sport legacy, under the US flag. It’s highly unlikely that he’ll achieve better results than his father, the next few seasons will reveal his true capabilities.
Career record: 410-248 [ 246 events ]
Career titles: 10
Highest ranking: 2
Best GS results:
Australian Open (champion 1998; quarterfinal 1993)
Roland Garros (runner-up 1992)
Wimbledon (quarterfinal 1998)
US Open (quarterfinal 1995 & 97)
Grand Slam Cup champion 1993
Born: November 22, 1967 in Leimen (Baden-Württemberg)
Height: 1.90 m
Plays: Right-handed
As a young child, Becker played football and tennis with equal passion. He decided to devote himself to the racquet sport at the age of 12, training in his hometown near München. Between 1982 and 1984, he won West German titles in the junior category. When he claimed his first German junior championship, defeating boys three years older, he was only 15 but didn’t look it. He was often mistaken for an adult! Becker matured at a dizzying pace – both physically and mentally. By 1984, the 16-year-old 
was ready to compete with professionals. He quickly signed a lucrative contract with Adidas, guided by experts Günther Bosch and manager, former player from Romania – Ion Țiriac. It was almost Polish Wojtek Fibak who became Becker’s mentor, but fate had other plans.
The results came swiftly. On May 14, 1984, the 16-year-old Becker won his first Grand Prix tournament. Teaming up with the 15-years-older Fibak, he triumphed in the doubles event in München. A few months later, the teenager reached the quarter-finals of the Australian Open. Becker trained intensively, dedicating four to five hours daily to squats, push-ups, running, and serving. He spent less time honing other shots, as they appeared to be a natural endowment.
In 1985, Becker claimed his first major singles victory at the Queens Club, a tournament that preceded Wimbledon. Few bet on the young German at Wimbledon, but the 17-year-old, playing athletic and uncompromising tennis, diving for “unwinnable” points, became the youngest champion in the tournament’s history. He showcased not only exceptional skills, but also remarkable mental resilience. In the third round against Joakim Nyström, he trailed 4:5* (30-all) in the fifth set, only to win it 9-7. The teenager impressed with his powerful serve, precise forehand, excellent net coverage, and ability to clinch crucial points. When he faced the big-serving Kevin Curren in the final, Becker was already the favourite to win. True to expectations, he triumphed in spectacular fashion, etching his name into history as the youngest Wimbledon champion at just 17 years, 7 months, and 15 days. While it’s true that he didn’t face a single Top 5 player en route to the title, Becker silenced any doubters the following year. He defended his crown with authority, dismantling the world’s best player, Ivan Lendl, in a commanding final performance.
Despite numerous injuries, Becker remained at the forefront of tennis for the next decade. He won the sport’s biggest events and was instrumental in West Germany’s Davis Cup successes (1988 and 1989). Reflecting on tennis, he once said in the second half of the 80s: “Five to ten years ago, it was played differently. Vilas, Wilander – it was a different game, from the baseline. I think a good tennis player proposing constant volleys will beat an opponent who plays from the back of the court.” This aggressive style defined Becker’s game, especially on fast surfaces like grass and carpet, where his powerful serve, net coverage, and flat strokes paid dividends. Becker demonstrated his mastery of indoor tennis while still a teenager. In the autumn of 1986, he achieved a remarkable feat under the roof, capturing three titles in three consecutive weeks across three continents – Sydney (hard), Tokyo (carpet), and Paris (carpet) not being close to lose any of 15 matches! The year 1989 marked the pinnacle of Becker’s career. After conquering Wimbledon for the third time, he triumphed at the US Open, and spearheaded Germany to its World Team Cup and Davis Cup victories. In the eyes of fans, he was undoubtedly the best player in the world that year. However, with no ranking points awarded for WTC and Davis Cup rubbers (11 wins in total), Becker ended the season ranked second; what had seemed inevitable since his stunning Wimbledon breakthrough as a teenager, finally came to fruition nearly six years later, when he claimed the Australian Open ’91.
However, clay courts proved to be Becker’s Achilles’ heel. Despite reaching three semi-finals at Roland Garros (1987, 1989, 1991) and six finals in smaller clay events (thrice in a big Monte Carlo event nonetheless), he never won a singles title on the red surface. His weight and natural playing style made movement on clay challenging, moreover his serve lost some of its effectiveness. Even in matches where he seemed poised for victory – like the 1995 Monte Carlo final against Thomas Muster, which he lost 4-6, 5-7, 6-1, 7-6, 6-0 – clay remained his curse.
Becker’s legacy, however, is undeniable. He is remembered as one of the greatest tennis champions of the 20th Century – a spectacular player admired worldwide. For twelve years (1985-1996), he successfully competed at the highest level, co-creating countless thrilling matches at the sport’s grandest stages against legends such as Lendl (Masters ’88 it’s their most memorable battle), John McEnroe, Stefan Edberg, Andre Agassi (four major semifinals), and Pete Sampras (also the Masters clash, in 1996, it was something special). His “serve-and-volley” rivalry with Edberg, in particular, electrified audiences. They played 35 matches (Becker won it 25-10) with three Wimbledon finals included (the last one in 1990), battling for supremacy during 1989-1991, as Lendl, the most dominant force of the 1980s, began to fade.
Becker’s game had its quirks. He was a slow starter, often losing the opening set, but his will to win was tremendous, leading to many comeback victories in best-of-five matches (in February of 1992 he notched two astonishing comebacks in different conditions: Rio and Brussels). Surprisingly, he was also a slow-paced server, despite his preference for quick points. “Boris had no technique in his youth, but he had an amazing fighting spirit. He tried by all means to get the ball to the other side,” said Boris Breskvar, his first coach. Despite his ability to thrive under pressure and the absence of any glaring weaknesses in his game, Becker often struggled in decisive tie-breaks – a puzzling anomaly in his otherwise stellar career.
Throughout his career, the German worked with numerous coaches, including earlier mentioned Bosch, Bob Brett, Günter Bresnik, Nick Bollettieri, as well as former players Tomáš Šmíd, Eric Jelen and finally Mike DePalmer Jr., who guided him from August 1995 until his retirement. Almost two decades after retiring from professional tennis, Becker transitioned into coaching, taking on a pivotal role as Novak Đoković’s mentor. During their partnership in years 2014-16, Đoković improved his serve and backhand slice, capturing six Grand Slam titles and further solidifying Becker’s legacy as a key figure in the sport, both on and off the court.
Career record: 713–214 [ 264 events ]
Career titles: 49
Highest ranking: No. 1
Best GS results:
Australian Open (champion 1991 & 96; quarterfinal 1984 & 90)
Roland Garros (semifinal 1987, 89 & 91; quarterfinal 1986)
Wimbledon (champion 1985-86 & 89; runner-up 1988, 90-91 & 95; semifinal 93-94; quarterfinal 92 & 97)
US Open (champion 1989; semifinal 1986, 90 & 95)
Davis Cup champion 1988-89
World Team Cup champion 1989
Hopman Cup champion 1995
Masters champion 1988, 92 & 95
Grand Slam Cup champion 1996
Year-end rankings 1983-99: 563 – 66 – 6 – 2 – 5 – 4 – 2 – 2 – 3 – 5 – 11 – 3 – 4 – 6 – 62 – 69 – 131
Born: December 26, 1975 in Santiago
Height: 1.75 m
Plays: Left-handed (two-handed backhand)
Few players in the Open Era were as naturally gifted as Marcelo “El Chino” Ríos. Left-handers are a minority in tennis, making their unique skills stand out more – John McEnroe’s sublime volleys in the first half of the ‘80s, Henri Leconte‘s extraordinary shot-making in the second half of the 80s, often emphasised by hitting winner after winner with graceful flair all over the court, Goran Ivanišević’s unmatched serve in the first half of the ‘90s; Ríos dazzled with his exceptional baseline game in the second half of the ‘90s (it wasn’t until the mid-00s that we witnessed another left-hander redefine the game – Rafael Nadal, whose extraordinary movement set new standards for defensive play). Ríos’ uncanny anticipation and ability to create incredibly sharp angles made him a nightmare for grinders and big servers whose mobility during longer rallies was 
limited. Once he improved his serve, he could dictate rallies with ease, forcing his rivals to scramble from corner to corner while he remained anchored near the baseline’s centre mark. Andre Agassi had a similar ability, but while Agassi relied on power, Ríos made it look effortless.
At the peak of his brilliance in March 1998, Ríos won back-to-back hardcourt US titles at Indian Wells and Key Biscayne, becoming the first South American man to reach World No. 1. Tennis had already become highly physical by then, making his rise all the more improbable given his smaller titles in previous years (his breakthrough season came in 1995, with triumphs in Bologna, Amsterdam, and Kuala Lumpur, but a skill set to beat the best players in the world on clay he showed triumphing at Monte Carlo ’97). The landscape of men’s tennis in 1998 also played a role – Pete Sampras was finally showing signs of fatigue after years of dominance, while Agassi was still rebuilding after his problematic 1997 season.
“Winning this, and beating Agassi in the final, the former No. 1, I can’t ask for more,” Ríos said after claiming the title in Florida, arguably the biggest in his career because six wins (five over top opponents) were required. “Being the best player in the world for Chile is something like not normal; I feel really proud.” Shortly after reaching the No. 1 ranking, Ríos made the surprising decision to part ways with his coach Larry Stefanki, whose expertise had been instrumental in refining the Chilean’s game – raising speculation that financial disputes may have played a role. A few months later in Rome, Ríos added another big title to his collection in lucky circumstances.
Later that year, Ríos won two indoor titles on different continents (Grand Slam Cup & Singapore), keeping hopes alive that he could finish as the year-end No. 1. However, injuries soon plagued his career – hamstring strains, a stress fracture in his back, thigh and hip issues, tendinitis in his knee and groin. He never regained his 1998 form, and by the early 2000s, his time at the top had passed. He remains the only World No. 1 in history to have never won a Grand Slam title.
Ríos’ last major impact came in 1999, when he won his fifth Masters 1000 title, in Hamburg after an amazing “South American” final. He was second year running among the top favorites for the French Open but suffered another four-set quarterfinal upset. In 2015, he controversially claimed he should be recognized as an Australian Open champion, arguing that his 1998 final loss to Petr Korda should be overturned due to Korda’s later doping suspension. It was the only time he managed to go beyond the Slam quarterfinals, having lost at this stage twice to Michael Chang before (Aussie Open and US Open in 1997).
Despite his reputation for being difficult both on and off the court, Ríos was an inspiration for a new generation of Latin American players. He paved the way for Chilean stars Fernando González and Nicolás Massú, who found success in the 2000s. However, even among his compatriots, he remained a distant figure. “I don’t have a relationship with Chino,” González once admitted. “I’ve never had it. Never. There was no good vibe, not bad either.”
Career record: 391–192 [ 198 events ]
Career titles: 18
Highest ranking: No. 1
Best GS results:
Australian Open (runner-up 1998; quarterfinal 1997 & 2002)
Roland Garros (quarterfinal 1998-99)
US Open (quarterfinal 1997)
Grand Slam Cup champion 1998
World Team Cup champion 2003
Born: February 20, 1963 in Skellefteå (Västerbotten)
Height: 1.86 m
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
As a coach, he helped Jürgen Melzer reach the 2010 French Open semifinal. As a player, however, he had a better career than his Austrian pupil overall but fell short in all three of his Grand Slam quarterfinal attempts.
Hailing from the northernmost European city to have produced an ATP player, Nyström had his best shot at a major semifinal in his first attempt. At Roland Garros ’85, he led John McEnroe 3:1* in the deciding set, on his favored clay surface, against an opponent who was not known for making comebacks in fifth sets. However, McEnroe’s supreme confidence at the time carried him through, 
and after 3 hours and 42 minutes, he emerged victorious, never being closer than six points from defeat. “I felt that when I got the break to go up 3:1 in the last set, I had a good chance to win the match,” Nyström later reflected. “But then he came to the net and put a lot of pressure on me.” Ironically, just a month earlier in Dallas (very prestigious 12-player event), Nyström had stunned McEnroe 6-4, 7-6, 6-3 in BigMac’s opening round on carpet, saving four set points in the second set and snapping McEnroe’s 23-match winning streak. When they met in the US Open ’85 quarterfinal, McEnroe astonishingly almost humiliated the Swede.
Only weeks after his heartbreak in Paris, Nyström suffered another gut-wrenching five-set loss. Facing a teenage Boris Becker in the third round at Wimbledon, he served twice for the match in the fifth set but ultimately lost 7-9. The young German went on to complete one of the sport’s most shocking triumphs, becoming the youngest Grand Slam champion in history. One can only wonder how Becker’s career trajectory might have changed had Nyström closed him out that day…
Throughout the mid-80s, Nyström was firmly entrenched in the tennis elite, nearly three years being inside the Top 10 or slightly outside it, ending the seasons ranked 11th-11th-7th in the years 1984-1986, respectively. During this consistent period – when he collected 11 of his 13 career titles – he showed versatility reminiscent of his doubles partner, Mats Wilander. He was an accomplished baseliner on clay but also attacked the net quite frequently behind his first serve on faster surfaces. Among the stars of Sweden’s golden generation, Nyström was perhaps the one who most resembled the great Björn Borg, both in playing style and demeanour. Emotionless on court, he never displayed reactions – whether under scoreboard pressure or when confronted with an opponent’s antics.
His biggest career title came at Monte Carlo ’86, where he outlasted back-to-back Top 10ers in Stefan Edberg and Yannick Noah, enduring rain delays throughout the event. “I knew he was tired,” Nyström said of Noah after the final. “I didn’t have to go so close to the lines with my passing shots.” Unfortunately, knee injuries forced Nyström to retire in 1989 at just 26 (more or less at the same time knee problems caused Kent Carlsson’s retirement too; five years younger Swede seemed to be even a stronger candidate to conquer the French Open at least once as he became a Hamburg ’88 champion). He had been battling those injuries for two years after winning his final title in Båstad ’87 – featured by the strongest draw in the event’s history, where he defeated the three top Swedish players in succession, making himself like an unofficial Scandinavian champion outdoors.
His backhand meant his trademark shot, he was among the rare few who could strike it standing close to the center mark instead of trying to dictate the pace with his forehand. Nyström remains somewhat underrated in the history books. He had the potential to be remembered as the third-greatest Swede of the 1980s, but his tennis destiny had other plans.
Him and countrymen: Nyström was never beaten by Sweden’s best player born in the 1960s – Edberg. They played three times (once indoors, twice on clay), each match going the distance, with Nyström winning twice by the same scoreline (4-6, 6-0, 6-3). His Head-to-Head record against Wilander, however, was a different story – ‘Jocke’ lost their first 12 encounters (six times in deciding sets) before finally breaking through on the 13th attempt. The two shared a close friendship on tour and initially trained under the same coach, Jon-Anders Sjögren, alongside Anders Järryd and a forgotten Hans Simonsson.
Nyström’s crowning achievement in doubles came at Wimbledon in 1986 when he and Wilander pulled off an incredible title run. In the quarterfinals, they survived one of the most dramatic matches in Grand Slam doubles history, rallying from a *2:5 deficit in the third set, saving three match points in the 10th game, another in the tie-break, and two more on return at 4:5 in the decider to edge Ken Flach and Robert Seguso 3-6, 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-4, 11-9! ‘Jocke’ is a double Davis Cup champion thanks to partnering Wilander. The Davis Cup captain Hans Olsson twice (1985 and 1987) decided to appoint the Nyström/Wilander combo in the finals instead of Edberg/Järryd, and in both cases, it worked out perfectly.
After retiring, Nyström transitioned into coaching, serving as Sweden’s Fed Cup captain and later assisting Wilander with the Swedish Davis Cup team. In recent years, he worked with Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak, though he was unable to help him break into the ATP’s upper echelon.
Trivia: Nyström is a co-author of the longest game played in the Open Era (Roland Garros ’87, fourth round). In the third set against Ivan Lendl (6-2, 1-6, 7-5, 0-6, 2-6), he survived a 15-deuce game (at 3:5*) that lasted 30 minutes. The Swede fended off nine set points as a receiver in that game and another two in the following game (the last one after a 48-stroke rally!), setting a record for the most set points saved in a set – a record that stood until 2013.
Career record: 265–142 [ 148 events ]
Career titles: 13
Highest ranking: No. 7
Best GS results:
Roland Garros (quarterfinal 1985)
US Open (quarterfinal 1985-86)
Davis Cup champion 1985 and 1987
Born: April 3, 1976 in Chartres (Centre-Val de Loire)
Height: 1.85 m
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
The lowest-ranked player among those I decided to include in the list of the best players born between 1959 and 1989, yet despite never breaking into the Top 15, I have no doubt that, given his technical and mental skills, he had the potential to be a Top 10 player. A man for special occasions, a big talent – ultimately unfulfilled. From the very beginning of his career, he struggled with injuries.
The tennis world first took notice of him at just 17 years old when he received a wild card for the 1993 French Open and the honor of facing Boris Becker on Centre Court. Escudé was given a brutal lesson, managing to win only three games, and nearly disappeared from the main tour for the next four years. It wasn’t until 1997 that he made a breakthrough, reaching the third 
round twice in Paris as a “wild card” – first at Roland Garros, then in Bercy – results that allowed him to finish the year inside the Top 100 (a year before finished 413th).
The 1998 Australian Open was only the 11th main-draw event of his career, yet he made a stunning run to the semifinals, winning three matches from two sets down (Magnus Larsson in 1R, Richey Reneberg in 3R, and Nicolas Kiefer in the quarterfinal). No player had ever accomplished such a feat in the Open Era before him. Even more remarkable was the fact that he came within a few points of losing each of those five-setters. Instead of capitalizing on that momentum and breaking into the Top 20 within a year, injuries once again held him back, keeping him around the Top 100. Then came another shocker – at the 1999 US Open, he had to go through qualifying and barely survived his opening match, saving a match point in a near 0-3 defeat to Magnus Gustafsson. He went on to reach the quarterfinals, where he lost to eventual champion Andre Agassi in a competitive straight-set match.
His next Grand Slam quarterfinal came at Wimbledon 2001, once again ending at the hands of Agassi. That tournament was a turning point in Escudé’s career. Until then, he had been known as an offensive baseliner, comfortable approaching the net off either wing but using serve-and-volley mainly as an element of surprise. The early 2000s marked the decline of serve-and-volley dominance at Wimbledon, yet in 2001, the strategy was still effective. Despite modest grass-court results in previous seasons (his best being a runner-up finish in the Netherlands in 2000, benefiting from a favorable draw), Escudé decided to continue the classical grass-court strategy, and everything clicked at Wimbledon that year thus he kept this style for another few years of his career also on hardcourts. His victory over a young Lleyton Hewitt was particularly impressive – by then, the Australian had already made a name for himself as a specialist in dismantling ageing serve-and-volleyers. However, when faced with a different rhythm on his own service games, his passing shots weren’t as sharp. Not only did Escudé defeat Hewitt – the best player in the world at the time – at Wimbledon ’01, but he repeated the feat in the Davis Cup final that same year – both matches ending with strikingly similar scorelines (4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 and 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4) as well as the duration (3:26h and 3:23h).
France’s 2001 Davis Cup triumph was Escudé’s masterpiece abroad: in the quarterfinal against Switzerland (Neuchâtel), he saved a match point in the deciding fifth rubber against George Bastl; in the semifinal (Rotterdam), he endured an almost five-hour battle against Sjeng Schalken, coming within a few points of losing in both the fourth and fifth sets; when the final in Melbourne arrived, he didn’t blink. Facing Wayne Arthurs instead of Patrick Rafter in a clincher, Escudé was the slight favorite, and with his superb serving and a handful of crucial backhand passing shots, he secured victory in four sets.
Though he won only four ATP titles, two of them came in Rotterdam (overcoming Roger Federer on both occasions), one of the premier indoor events in the first half of the season. His second triumph there in 2002 was particularly extraordinary because he survived – as a defending champion – three consecutive matches where he was either one or two points away from a straight-sets defeat (!) – all against high-caliber opponents.
A persistent shoulder injury forced him into early retirement at just 28 years old.
Career record: 172-129 [ 129 events ]
Career titles: 4
Highest ranking: No. 17
Best GS results:
Australian Open (semifinal 1998)
Wimbledon (quarterfinal 2001)
US Open (quarterfinal 1999)
Davis Cup champion 2001
Born: May 1, 1982 in Hostalric (Cataluña)
Height: 1.82 m
Plays: Right-handed
All Spanish players who advanced to the Top 10 in the Open Era have had one thing in common – good mentality, understood as the ability to sustain long matches, and deliver their best tennis in critical moments; I can indicate only one case with more dramatic defeats than wins, but even Fernando Verdasco, who was questioned so many times, has won five-setters against five-set specialists (Đoković, Ferrer, Nadal, Murray)… Robredo was distinctive in terms of mentality; I’d say that he 
maximized his potential thanks to dealing well with difficult situations. Not a fan favorite, he was often called “Boredo” due to his rather conservative style, indicating that his strokes/behaviour had a vibe of boredom. Indeed, he didn’t possess any big weapon, but also no weaknesses in his arsenal. Apart from excellent physical preparation, the second important aspect of his tennis which helped him survive many tight matches was his ability to play more aggressively with his forehand when it mattered the most.
He showcased versatility in his best 2006: captured a Masters 1K title on clay (Hamburg), reached semifinals on hard (Cincinnati) and carpet (Paris-Bercy), becoming a Top 10 player, and keeping that position more than a year. Before it happened he’d been a member of the Spanish team that triumphed in the Davis Cup (2004), helping with a vital win against Czechia in singles and against France in doubles, and raised the trophy in the most prestigious event for all Catalan players – Barcelona, in 2004. Moreover, he finished his career as a multiple major quarter-finalist at three different venues. Could he have asked for more? Yes – one Grand Slam semifinal seemed definitely within his grasp. The problem was that, usually in his seven quarterfinal appearances (once in Melbourne, five times in Paris, once in New York), he turned to be a heavy underdog. In the mid-2010s, he became an infamous leader of the most defeats at this stage in the Open Era without advancing to the semifinal.
The lack of one leading shot caused him big problems against the best players born in the 80s, especially against Roger Federer (1-11 H2H… the only victory came at the US Open ’13) and Andy Roddick (0-11 H2H, losing twice even on clay). Even though Robredo was a pretty equal player off both wings, the only weakness was more connected to his position on the court than to his technique – i.e., to feel his shots well he needed to stay far behind the baseline as a receiver, 2-4 meters. This caused him plenty of problems against big servers. He simply couldn’t find his normal rhythm in return games when facing big servers. This way, I explain his very poor records against Federer (a really big server at times) and Roddick – they could easily dictate the pace during rallies with their big forehands after Robredo’s slow returns. I think it’s not accidental that the Spaniard had bad records against one-dimensional guys like Ivo Karlović (0-4), John Isner (1-3), Milos Raonic (0-6) and Wayne Arthurs (0-3), all known for the most lethal serves in their times.
Trivia: Robredo has the second-longest streak of successive tie-breaks won (17 in a row in the years 2008-09). He also has one of the best five-set records of the Open Era (17-5) – the most memorable five-set victory at Roland Garros ’05: his mental toughness and physical endurance were epitomised at the 2013 French Open, where he became the first man since Wimbledon 1927 (Henri Cochet) to win three consecutive matches from two sets down. His unique speciality of winning tight matches with high frequency was brutally verified in Autumn 2014 as he lost two finals to Andy Murray (Shenzhen, Valencia), squandering ten (!) championship points in total. He simply faced an opponent with similar perseverance, yet more skilful and possessing a better serve, so crucial in tight tie-breaks. Those two finals ended Robredo’s good times when he was 32, but he remained competitive at the Challenger level until he turned 40, reflecting his unwavering dedication and commitment to the sport despite stepping away from the main tour.
Career record: 533-358 [ 364 events ]
Career titles: 12
Highest ranking: No. 5
Best GS results:
Australian Open (quarterfinal 2007)
Roland Garros (quarterfinal 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2013)
US Open (quarterfinal 2013)
Davis Cup champion 2004 (played only doubles in the final)
Hopman Cup champion 2002 and 2010
Born: December 9, 1981 in Edina (Minnesota)
Height: 1.87 m
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
The third-best player (fourth was Robby Ginepri, fifth Taylor Dent) of a generation of Americans who began their professional careers when Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras were nearing retirement (as well as Jim Courier, Michael Chang & Todd Martin), so at the beginning of the 21st Century. Andy Roddick was undoubtedly the leader, yet at the level of the fourth best US player of the previous generation in terms of achievements, followed by James Blake and Fish, who had remarkably similar careers. Fish reached five big finals, while Blake made three; both advanced to three Grand Slam 
quarterfinals. In the hierarchy of American tennis, I rank Blake slightly higher due to his significant contribution to the U.S. Davis Cup victory in 2007. Additionally, Blake secured a few more titles and won 64 more matches, though both share the same career win/loss percentage of 58%.
During their time on tour, the greatest challenge was facing Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Both Americans had comparable Head-to-Head records against these tennis legends: Fish was 1-8 against Federer (the only – stunning – win comes from Indian Wells ’08), and the same against Nadal, while Blake had a 3-4 record against Nadal and 1-10 against Federer.
Early in his career, Fish, much like his contemporary Federer, showed a natural inclination for serve-and-volley tactics. However, tennis was transitioning to a more defensive style in the mid-00s, and over time, Fish’s game became increasingly reliant on ground-strokes – an approach that didn’t suit him well, given his forehand’s inconsistency, especially under pressure (Blake faced a similar issue with his backhand). Initially, Fish was a serve-and-volleyer with a powerful first serve, resembling a less refined version of Sampras. His serve was considered one of the best in this regard in the mid-2000s. A testament to this was his run to the 2003 Cincinnati final (where he held a match point before losing), during which numerous strong players, including Roddick in the final, struggled to break him. Between his first-round match in Cincinnati and the second round of the 2003 US Open, Fish held serve 92 consecutive times.
The year 2004 was pivotal from a patriotic standpoint. Fish reached the Olympic final in Athens as the favorite for the gold medal and later played a crucial role in helping the U.S. Davis Cup team reach the final by winning a key match against Max Mirnyi in the semifinals vs Belarus. However, Fish’s trajectory changed in 2005 due to a left wrist injury that required two surgeries. Though it wasn’t his dominant hand, it significantly affected his game, particularly his stronger backhand side.
After two difficult years (2005-06), Fish reemerged as a more complete player. He used serve-and-volley as an occasional surprise tactic, and his serve became more versatile while remaining a formidable weapon – evident in Lyon 2007, where he hit 43 aces in a three-set match against Olivier Rochus.
The years 2010-11 marked the peak of Fish’s career. As he approached 30, he lost 13 kilograms by adopting a healthier diet -cutting out cheese, sugar, pizza, cheeseburgers, and French fries – and intensifying his physical training. “A lot of it is maturity and getting older,” he said. “Getting married and realizing you’re not out there for yourself anymore. You can be pretty selfish as a tennis player, being in an individual sport.” Fish’s fitness in the latter stages of his career was emphasized by back-to-back titles in Atlanta after dramatics finals, held in extreme heat, against John Isner.
In 2011, Fish finally broke into the Top 10 mainly thanks to reaching two hardcourt Masters 1K finals (Cincinnati ’10 and Montreal ’11) – something that had seemed within reach as early as 2003. However, his decline began after a semifinal loss to Nadal in Tokyo ’11. From that point on, he struggled to string together consecutive wins, going eight tournaments in a row without back-to-back victories.
In 2012, health issues forced him to miss part of the season, and the 2012 US Open – where he reached the fourth round but withdrew before his match against Federer – marked his last strong showing. Though he officially retired in 2015, his competitive career effectively ended three years earlier in New York. He played sporadically in 2013, skipped the entire 2014 season due to an anxiety disorder, and underwent a cardiac catheter ablation procedure in June of that year to correct misfiring electric pulses in his heart. Given his overall skills, he deserved to have won at least one big final or reached the semi-finals of a Grand Slam. As opposed to competitive Masters 1K finals, he had little to say in his three Grand Slam quarter-finals (Aussie Open ’07, US Open ’08 and Wimbledon ’11). Unfortunately for him, apart from the Olympic final, in the most important matches of his life he always faced better players than himself.
Career record: 302–219 [ 216 events ]
Career titles: 6
Highest ranking: No. 7
Best GS results:
Australian Open (quarterfinal 2007)
Wimbledon (quarterfinal 2011)
US Open (quarterfinal 2008)
Silver medallist of the Olympics ’04
Hopman Cup champion 2008
Born: February 18, 1974 in Sochi (Krasnodar Krai in Soviet Union)
Height: 1.90 m
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Евгений Александрович Кафельников… When you enter the Top 100 for the first time and you’re lucky enough to face the two best players in the world, people typically expect you to win a handful of games in a set and gain valuable experience – Kafelnikov had other ideas. The 19-year-old Russian first stunned Michael Stich [2] in Lyon ’93 (“Zhenya”‘s main-level event no. 12), and a few months later, he was just two points away from eliminating Pete Sampras [1] in the second round of the Australian Open ’94 making his debut in this Slam. At the time, Sampras was the reigning Wimbledon and US Open champion, widely considered the favorite to achieve the Grand Slam. Yet the blonde youngster from Sochi wasn’t intimidated.
Kafelnikov didn’t have a massive serve or overwhelming groundstrokes, he wasn’t a serve-and-volleyer either, so how could he come so close to defeating the two best players in the world as a virtual unknown? The following years proved these matches were no fluke. Kafelnikov developed into one of the most versatile players of the 1990s.
In just his second full ATP season (1995), Kafelnikov won titles on three different surfaces: carpet (Milan), clay (Gstaad), and hard court (Long Island), he also reached the Wimbledon quarterfinal on grass. His adaptability to different conditions set him apart from his peers, including his friend (from the times of the Soviet Union collapse) Andrei Medvedev and Thomas Enqvist – two other highly gifted tall players born in 1974, both with game-styles resembling Kafelnikov’s. Medvedev’s future had seemed brighter when both post-Soviets were 20, as he defeated Kafelnikov in the Monte Carlo semifinal and Hamburg final, but Kafelnikov’s tactical intelligence and versatility as well as a tendency to choose unconventional solutions at key moments, allowed him to flourish when the other guys faltered in the late 90s. When both, Medvedev & Enqvist, at the decade’s inception were expected to threaten the most dominant players of the 90s (Sampras and Agassi), Kafelnikov was actually obscure for an average tennis fan.
As an offensive baseliner, the Russian lacked the explosive power of No. 1 players like Ivan Lendl or Andre Agassi. His nickname “Kalashnikov” was exaggerated, operating on the baseline he couldn’t blow off the court his opponents like Enqvist. His game was more reminiscent of Jimmy Connors – precise and methodical. He excelled at spreading the ball across the court, finishing points with down-the-line shots or attacking the net off opponent’s shorter balls. Though not a natural at the net, Kafelnikov had solid volleys off both wings and knew when to approach. His doubles expertise added a layer of strategic depth to his singles game (he participated in 224 doubles main-level events).
Kafelnikov “the Stakhanovist” was the last top player to regularly compete in both singles and doubles at the same tournaments, famously winning Roland Garros ’96 in both categories. His passion for playing tournaments almost every week, paid off in 1999 when, despite a seven-match ATP losing streak (!), he achieved the No. 1 ranking – a milestone mainly driven by his Australian Open ’99 title. Reflecting on this accomplishment, Kafelnikov said: “I think it’s the ultimate goal for every professional tennis player, to be able to reach that pinnacle. That’s what we play for. It’s one of the most enjoyable accomplishments of my career.” One year later in Melbourne he played his third and last major final.
Wearing Russian coat of arms was always a source of pride for Kafelnikov. He earned a gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and helped Russia clinch the Davis Cup ’02, though by then, Marat Safin was the team’s primary force. In the semifinals of that edition against Argentina, Kafelnikov enjoyed one of the most impressive comebacks of the decade overcoming Gaston Gaudio. In the years 1994-95, Kafelnikov led Russia to the Davis Cup finals, playing singles and doubles (alongside Andrey Olhovskiy). Kafelnikov and Safin represented Russia in three consecutive World Team Cup finals (2000-02).
One curious aspect of Kafelnikov’s career is his lack of success at Masters 1000 events (known as Mercedes Super 9 during his time). Despite reaching five finals at this level (Hamburg ’94, Paris ’96, Stuttgart ’98, Montreal ’99, Paris ’01) and the ATP Finals championship match in 1997 (Hannover), he never claimed a title in this tier. It’s an unusual record for a player who won two Grand Slams and an Olympic gold medal. Kafelnikov admitted that after the Davis Cup triumph, he was fulfilled with his career. Nevertheless he continued in 2003, but in each of the first three Slams he was eliminated after five-setters in early rounds – he understood that physically he reached his limits, and not having any serious injury decided to quit at the end of that year even though his ranking was good enough to guarantee him being seeded in smaller ATP events of 2004. Quite surprisingly he chose St. Petersburg as his farewell event, not Moscow where he triumphed five times in the years 1997-2001 being undefeated in 28 consecutive matches in the Russian capital.
Trivia: Kafelnikov played five Bo3 matches that featured three tie-break sets – and won them all. It’s quite intriguing that Kafelnikov’s toughest opponent beside Sampras (H2H 2-11) was someone who achieved incomparably less: Dominik Hrbatý (H2H 4-9). Kafelnikov recalled: “Dominik’s game was such a solid game that he had every answer to all my shots. If I was hitting the ball hard, the ball was coming back twice as hard. That stuff was driving me nuts.”
Career record: 609–306 [ 297 events ]
Career titles: 26
Highest ranking: No. 1
Best GS results:
Australian Open (champion 1999; runner-up 2000; quarterfinal 2001)
Roland Garros (champion 1996; semifinal 1995; quarterfinal 1997, 00-01)
Wimbledon (quarterfinal 1995)
US Open (semifinal 1999 & 2001)
Olympic Gold medallist 2000
Davis Cup champion 2002
Born: March 13, 1974 in Stockholm
Height: 1.92 m
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Magnus Norman once remarked that Enqvist could have been the world’s top player if he had performed in tournaments as he did during practice sessions. While the details of Enqvist’s training sessions remain unknown, one could envision him as the most dominant player had the tennis rules been significantly modified. Specifically, he might have excelled if service boxes were restricted solely to serves, eliminating net approaches and drop shots. Given his awkwardness with volleys and overheads, combined with his relatively modest speed, eliminating the need to chase drop shots, covering tight angles, and knowing opponents couldn’t attack the net would have kept him in his preferred playing style all the time.
Except on clay courts, he typically outperformed his opponents in baseline exchanges, delivering rapid, flat shots from both wings, similar to Andre Agassi. However, Enqvist, being larger and more powerful, executed this style even more impressively, particularly on hard courts (Cincinnati ’00 his biggest title) and indoor surfaces (champion of two big events: Paris ’96 and Stuttgart ’99). In their ten encounters, they split the Head-to-Head record 5-5 (Agassi better in sets though, 17-12, but Enqvist won their only final, his lone title on red clay). Agassi acknowledged: “He has a good serve and lethal groundstrokes. He is strong mentally and performs well under pressure.”
Enqvist was anticipated to continue the legacy of Swedish tennis greats Björn Borg, Mats Wilander, and Stefan Edberg. He was virtually unbeaten in Europe in the age group “14 and under” thus when he turned 15, he made his main-level debut as “wild card” in München where he lost to a Soviet player from Estonia, Andres Võsand. Enqvist achieved world No. 1 junior ranking at age 17 (two Slam titles in three finals), advanced to a Challenger final in his second appearance at this level, and the following year rocketed from No. 229 to 63 in the ATP rankings. However, his rapid ascent was interrupted by severe injuries to both knees, nearly ending his career in 1994. He rebounded strongly in 1995, claiming five titles and reaching a dramatic semifinal at the Masters, where he fell to Boris Becker.
His career pinnacle nearly arrived at the 1999 Australian Open. He displayed exceptional form in Australia in January, winning 14 straight matches (including the Kooyong exhibition event). However, in his most important final, his contemporary Yevgeny Kafelnikov, guided by coach, former no. 35, Larry Stefanki, devised an effective strategy despite 2:4 in their Head-to-Head at the time. The Russian prevailed in four sets, remarkably winning nine consecutive games against the favorite Enqvist, who had notched impressive earlier victories over Australians in back-to-back matches: Patrick Rafter (third round) and Mark Philippoussis (fourth round) – one of the Aussies was expected to win the event after their US Open ’98 final, and Pete Sampras‘ withdrawal. By the way, Sampras was Enqvist’s toughest opponent (9-2 H2H).
Notably, Enqvist had a unique approach to his serving routine, rarely bouncing the ball before either serve. Both his first and second serves were fast and flat, matching his groundstroke style. His game was characterized by an exceptionally quick pace, numerous aces and double faults, as well as abundant winners and casual errors during short rallies. With his attitude, he almost always had more ground-stroke winners than any of his opponents. Therefore not surprisingly, he never experienced a three-hour ‘best of three’ match, and only once played a match exceeding four hours – in the 1996 Davis Cup final, where he overcame Cédric Pioline in five gruelling sets, being two points away from defeat at 6:7 in the decisive set. This could have been his career highlight had Nicklas Kulti converted any of his three match points in the final rubber against Arnaud Boetsch. In 1997, when Sweden won the Davis Cup, Enqvist was a leading force in three ties prior to the final, but Swedish captain Carl-Axel Hageskog opted to keep him on the bench for the final against USA as he lost to his compatriots Jonas Björkman (Paris) and Magnus Larsson (Stockholm) in his last two ATP events of the season.
Interestingly, he was named after cross-country skier Thomas Magnusson, who earned three medals at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, including gold in the 30 km event. In spite of being one of the best hard-court players in the 1990s, Enqvist never made it to the quarterfinals of the US Open (he was defeated in the fourth round thrice, the first time in his debut).
Career record: 448-297 [ 301 events ]
Career titles: 19
Highest ranking: No. 4
Best GS results:
Australian Open (runner-up 1999; quarterfinal 1996)
Wimbledon (quarterfinal 2001)
Davis Cup champion 1997 (didn’t play in the final)
Born: June 3, 1986 in Manacor (Mallorca)
Height: 1.85 m
Plays: Left-handed (two-handed backhand)
September 11, 2001, popularly known as 9/11, is a memorable date for the Western world, especially the United States, due to a series of four coordinated terrorist attacks that claimed nearly 3,000 lives. Interestingly, it also marks a special moment in Nadal’s tennis career. On that day in Madrid, a 15-year-old boy with a fringe, then known as Nadal-Parera played his first professional match at the Futures level. Facing Guillermo Platel, a compatriot seven years his senior who never won a Challenger-level match, Nadal lost in dramatic fashion an opportunity to enter the ATP ranking: 6-2, 5-7, 2-6, squandering an astonishing number of 13 match points. It was a heart-breaking start for the promising youngster from the largest Balearic Island.
Earlier that year, Nadal’s talent had begun to draw attention. In May, during an exhibition in Mallorca, he stepped in for his mentor, Carlos Moyá, and defeated former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash, who had only retired a few years before. Despite this impressive feat, the loss to Platel reflected Nadal’s initial struggles with mental toughness. Over the next few years, his early career was marked by several missed opportunities. Already after his first 24 main-level events he had lost three matches wasting multiple match points, at one occasion he couldn’t have closed a set leading 5:1, succumbed three matches “0-3” losing two tie-breaks, and twice was defeated despite leading 5:2* in deciding third sets.
At age 18.2, Nadal claimed his first ATP title in a Polish seaside city of Sopot, though the competition wasn’t particularly fierce. Months earlier, he had shocked the tennis world by defeating Roger Federer 6-3, 6-3 in Miami, signalling his enormous potential. However, his inconsistency in clutch situations remained a concern. A turning point came during the Davis Cup ’04 final. Representing Spain against the United States, Nadal faced Andy Roddick in front of a record crowd of 27,200. Roddick, then a top player and tie-break ruler, had crushed Nadal earlier that year at the US Open. Yet Nadal rose to the occasion, winning in four long sets, with the pivotal third ‘tie-break’ set featuring 20 deuces
in nine games. Moyá, who had mentored Nadal, remarked: “He’s the kind of guy who thrives in these kinds of matches. I really trust him.” This win elevated Nadal’s confidence and accelerated his development. Spain claimed the trophy for the second time in four years (for the first time in 2000 when 14-year-old Nadal was a flag bearer), and Nadal was a national hero even though he didn’t win a clincher. He would help Spain to win the Davis Cup a few more times, the most satisfied moment probably came in 2011 as he clinched the tie against Juan Martín del Potro after a rubber on super slow clay where the serve didn’t really mean anything.
In 2005, holding a black-yellow Babolat racquet, wearing sleeveless shirt Nike and excessively long shorts (he stuck to these two brands throughout his career), he won back-to-back titles for the first time (Costa do Sauípe, Acapulco) before losing the Miami final to Federer, despite being close to beat the best player in straight sets again! After that unfortunate final, Nadal began showcasing his dominance on clay, capturing titles in Monte Carlo, Barcelona, and Rome in quick succession. His Roman victory, following an epic battle against Guillermo Coria, cemented his status as the inevitable clay-court king. [ He went two years without a loss on this surface before Federer ended his 81-match winning streak in Hamburg ’07 ] By May 2005, he rose from world No. 51 to No. 5 within five months, becoming the first debutant to enter the French Open as a favorite. Living up to expectations, Nadal won Roland Garros without dropping two sets to any opponent, beating Federer in the semifinals turning 19, and drugged Mariano Puerta in the final two days later. It was clear that Nadal had emerged as Federer’s most formidable rival, surpassing other top players like Lleyton Hewitt, Marat Safin and Roddick. No other 18-year-old boy reached such a high level of play since the second half of 1980s, when Boris Becker, Michael Chang and Andre Agassi took advantage of rapid advances in tennis racquet technology. Nadal was undoubtedly a novelty, exhibiting lateral movement behind the baseline and passion to fight not seen before.
The teenager from Mallorca didn’t stop there. Later in 2005, he won two significant hard-court titles in Montreal (outdoors) and Madrid (indoors), defeating several top-20 players. The veteran Agassi, after losing to Nadal in the Canadian Open final, stated: “I’ve never seen anyone move like that on a tennis court.” Nadal’s unparalleled athleticism, anticipation, and ability to hit winners from seemingly impossible positions set him apart. While his style, based on rather soft serving, extreme forehand top-spins, relentless defence and high-energy rallies, led many to believe his career would peak early, Nadal had other plans… He was only 21 years-old when he became arguably the best Spaniard in the Open Era with another two Parisian titles obtained in the finals against Federer (2006 and 2007), surpassing the achievements of Manuel Orantes (the best Spanish player of the 1970s) and Sergi Bruguera (the best of the 1990s). His improved volleying and left-handed slice serve, honed through doubles matches, made him increasingly versatile. He was regularly defeating Federer on clay (Rome ’06 their most exiting match on this surface) but narrowly lost to the Swiss in two Wimbledon finals (2006 and 2007).
Nadal displayed incredible patience and determination, continuously refining all aspects of his game. Over the years, he enhanced his serve, the net game, with his backhand volley being one of the greatest shots in tennis history in my opinion. He adapted his game to faster surfaces, adjusting his court positioning (standing closer to the baseline compared to clay), and developing an effective backhand slice. These adjustments paid off spectacularly in the third consecutive Wimbledon final against Federer. In an almost five-hour epic under fading light, Nadal defeated the Swiss master, overcoming the failure of losing chances to close it out in the third and fourth sets. This victory marked Nadal’s ascent to the summit of the tennis world, and his dedication was soon reflected in the ATP rankings. After claiming the Gold Medal at the Beijing Olympics, Nadal became the world’s best player at 22 years old (ATP awarded ranking points for the Olympics during three editions: Athens ’04, Beijing ’08, and London ’12) what led to the decision to play in shirts with sleeves; his first Grand Slam title in a more classic outfit came at the 2009 Aussie Open (he would win his first US Open title a year later). With these triumphs he exceeded Manuel Santana, the previous greatest Spanish player who’d reigned supreme in the mid-1960s.
More or less at the time Nadal reached the pinnacle, two slightly younger players, Novak Đoković and Andy Murray, began staking their claim among the strict elite. The Spanish left-hander defeated each of them in super tight Bo3 encounters, winning fewer total points (Madrid ’09 and London ’10), establishing his mental edge. The year 2008 marked the birth of the so-called “Big 4” (or “Big 3” without Murray), a rivalry that dominated tennis for eight consecutive years – unprecedented in its consistency. In 2016, this era faced a sudden twist as Nadal and Federer suffered injuries, with the Spaniard dropping to No. 9 and Federer to No. 17. Many believed their reign was over, but both staged incredible comebacks in 2017, reclaiming the top of the sport, meanwhile, ironically Đoković and Murray faced their own struggles with exhaustion and injuries.
In the 2000s, the Federer-Nadal rivalry captivated tennis fans, with Nadal ultimately holding a 24-16 Head-to-Head advantage (despite losing six of their last seven encounters, including their emotional final meeting at Wimbledon ’19). However, the Nadal-Đoković rivalry eventually surpassed it in longevity and competitiveness, stretching across 18 years and three decades. Their competition for historic supremacy began as early as Miami 2007, where Đoković defeated Nadal 6-3, 6-4 avenging two quick defeats, and communicating his intent to disrupt the Federer-Nadal indisputable dominance predicted two years earlier. Ultimately, Đoković edged the Nadal rivalry 31-29 (there was 4:14!), thanks to their final encounter at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where the Serb demolished his toughest rival 6-1, 6-4 (briefly losing focus and conceding four games in a row leading 4:0 in the second set).
Regardless of how their rivalry ended, Nadal’s legacy on clay remains unparalleled. His astounding 14 French Open titles are unlikely to ever be matched. Even as early as 2012, his seventh title was considered extraordinary, surpassing Björn Borg‘s seemingly untouchable six titles (1974-1981). Every additional triumph defied superlatives. Among these, Nadal’s penultimate French Open victory stands out, I believe. Held during the pandemic, the tournament was moved from May to October under cold, damp conditions that slowed the courts. These conditions theoretically worked against Nadal, who always preferred faster clay to maximize his spin-heavy game. Moreover, the absence of spectators created an unusual atmosphere for an animated player accustomed to roaring crowds on Philippe Chatrier. Yet Nadal overcame all obstacles, winning the title without dropping a set. Only the emerging star Jannik Sinner came close to stealing a set, something even the great Đoković couldn’t manage in the disappointing final.
Nadal’s ability to rise from setbacks is legendary. Beyond the injuries that hampered him in 2016, his career hit a significant roadblock in 2012 after a shocking loss to Lukáš Rosol at Wimbledon. Sidelined for seven months due to knee injury, Nadal faced skepticism when he lost to doubles specialist Horacio Zeballos in the Viña del Mar ’13 final. Critics predicted his decline, but Nadal silenced them by dominating the season later that year, winning four big hardcourt titles: Indian Wells, Montreal, Cincinnati, and the US Open.
However, Rosol’s upset at Wimbledon marked a turning point for Nadal’s performance at the most prestigious tournament. Between 2006 and 2011, he played five Wimbledon finals but failed to reach another final thereafter. While he came close in 2018 (losing a thriller in the semifinals), his early exits became more expected following the Rosol match. Between 2012 and 2017, Nadal did not reach even a quarterfinal at Wimbledon. However, in his last three appearances at the tournament (excluding 2020, which was cancelled, and 2021, when he withdrew), he made the semifinals each time; these runs ended against either all-time greats or due to injury. A key factor in this late-career resurgence was the influence of his coach, Moyá, who replaced Nadal’s uncle Toni Nadal in 2017. Under Moyá’s guidance, Nadal developed a more effective serve – critical for faster surfaces – and adjusted his playing style to account for his age, employing a more calculated approach. He became more eager to attack the net, and selective in expending energy, choosing when to push at full intensity and when to conserve it.
In his mid-20s, Nadal was renowned as the most reliable five-set player, boasting a 15-3 record in such matches (in addition to the previously mentioned defeats to Federer, he also lost to Hewitt in five). However, this perception shifted dramatically after his painful loss to Đoković in the unforgettable 2012 Australian Open conclusion – the longest final in history (partly as a result of both champions breaking the rules of maintaining the required pace between points) at nearly six hours. Nadal led 4:2 in the fifth set but ultimately lost, a defeat that left a psychological mark. After this match, his five-set record dropped significantly, with just 7 wins in his 17 following encounters of this type. Particularly concerning for his fans were back-to-back quarterfinal losses in Melbourne to Dominic Thiem (2020) and Stefanos Tsitsipas (2021). Both matches were gruelling four-hour battles in which Nadal lost all tight sets, raising doubts about his ability to perform at his best under the biggest pressure against much younger opponents.
Yet, he defied these doubts with a miraculous 2022 season. At ~36, just months after relying on crutches, the balding Nadal, but true to his headband since his first full ATP season (2003), returned to his peak form, winning two major titles. His Australian Open final against Daniil Medvedev will be particularly indelible; trailing two sets to ‘love’ and *2:3 (0/40), Nadal mounted an extraordinary comeback to win in five sets against ten years younger opponent. Later that year, he defeated Félix Auger-Aliassime – 14 years his junior – in a lopsided five-set battle at Roland Garros, featuring the subtext of facing a player advised by his own uncle, Toni… Nadal went on to claim his 14th French Open title, brutally dominating Casper Ruud in the final. By midyear, Nadal seemed poised to achieve the sport’s ultimate feat: winning all four majors in a calendar year.
However, his Wimbledon quarterfinal against Taylor Fritz marked the beginning of the end. Nadal entered the match with a stellar 35-3 season record but suffered an abdominal injury early in the second set. Ignoring his father’s advice to retire, Nadal pushed through in a display of sheer persistence – risking his shots more than usual – he overcame an ambitious but technically limited opponent in a marathon contest. The injury worsened, forcing him to withdraw from the highly anticipated semifinals against refractory Nick Kyrgios, who solidly tested Nadal in their three previous major encounters. [ Nadal was closer to win four Slams in a row in a non-calendar year at the Aussie Open ’11 when he sensationally lost to his compatriot David Ferrer in the quarterfinals ] The Fritz match effectively ended Nadal’s career at the top, as he struggled with injuries (left foot in particular) in the following months, experiencing a steady ranking decline in 2023. Between his shocking second round Australian Open ’23 exit (ousted by American journeyman Mackenzie McDonald) and his return in early 2024, Nadal did not play professionally, marking the longest hiatus of his career.
Nadal announced 2024 would be his final season, hoping to end his career on a high note. Unfortunately for him, low ranking caused exceptionally tough draws in his beloved Paris, French Open and the Olympics saw him departure early, losing to Alexander Zverev (1R) and Đoković (2R), respectively. His last realistic shot at glory came at the Davis Cup Finals in Málaga. However, Spain fell to the Netherlands in the quarterfinals, with Nadal losing to an average Dutch player Botic van de Zandschulp in spite of several months of preparation for this special occasion. Carlos Alcaraz, Nadal’s unquestionable heir, also struggled under the weight of expectation, failing to secure a crucial doubles victory.
On his retirement day, Nadal with tears in his eyes reflected with humility: “I’m just a good person from a small village in Mallorca. I want to
thank you for allowing me the opportunity to spend these last days as a professional team player. My body has told me it doesn’t want to play tennis anymore, and I have to accept that. I am privileged. I have been able to make my hobbies my profession.”
The first decade of this Century (2000s) belonged to Federer, the 2010s to Đoković. If the tennis gods wanted to be fair, they should have given the legendary Spaniard the edge in Grand Slam titles over the other two greatest players, as he was their most challenging rival during their two separate decades of hegemony. But that did not happen. Even though Nadal surpassed Federer in major titles (22 to 20), he finished two behind Đoković, who also claimed the elusive Olympic gold medal in 2024, basically ending the discussion “¿Who’s the Goat?”. Despite his superiority over Đoković on clay (20-9 Head-to-Head, including 8-2 at the French Open… one five-setter), Nadal ultimately lost the race for the most majors, a reality that likely stings. Another blemish on his otherwise stellar legacy is the absence of a season-ending ATP Finals title (historically known as “Masters”). Nadal reached the finals in 2010 and 2013 but was outclassed both times by his most demanding rivals, simply better than him under the roof. His scheduling-packed with intense hard/clay-court events between March (Indian Wells) and June (French Open) – often left him physically depleted in the latter half of the season, contributing to six missed appearances at the “Masters” event as a Top 10 player.
Career record: 1080-228 [ 312 events ]
Career titles: 92
Highest ranking: 1
Best GS results:
Australian Open
(champion 2009 and 22; runner-up 2012, 14, 17, 19; semifinal 2008; quarterfinal 2007, 10-11, 15, 18, 20-21)
Roland Garros
(champion 2005-08; 10-14; 17-20 and 22; semifinal 2021; quarterfinal 2015)
Wimbledon
(champion 2008 and 10; runner-up 2006-07, 11; semifinal 2018-19 and 22)
US Open
(champion 2010, 13, 17 and 19; runner-up 2011; semifinal 2008-09, 18; quarterfinal 2006)
Davis Cup champion: 2004, 08 (didn’t play the final), 09, 11 and 19
Olympic Gold medallist (Beijing 2008 – singles, Rio 2016 – doubles)
Masters runner-up 2010 and 2013
Year-end rankings 2001-24: 811 – 200 – 49 – 51 – 2 – 2 – 2 – 1 – 2 – 1 – 2 – 4 – 1 – 3 – 5 – 9 – 1 – 2 – 1 – 2 – 6 – 2 – 670 – 154
