Born: January 4, 1978 in Bratislava (Západoslovenský kraj in Czechoslovakia)
Height: 1.82 m
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
The youngest Top 100 player of 1996 as the “King of Challengers”. The 18-year-old Slovak began that year ranked No. 315 participating in Egyptian and Croatian Satellites, he then won two Challengers, losing finals in four others. When he entered the Rod Laver Arena at the Australian Open ’97 to play a fourth round match against Pete Sampras, he was virtually unknown. He shocked the world though – not only did he outace one of the best servers in history, he also almost beat him in five sets, squandering 
three mini-match points in two different games! All of a sudden, he was a man to watch. Two months later, when he reached the fourth round of another big event (Key Biscayne), he said he would be a better server than Sampras! That cocky sentence contrasted with Hrbatý’s mundane on-and-off court attitude. Once, he said that he enjoyed the most in his leisure time… simply fishing in remote areas. I passed him once in Sopot ’03 at the city’s main avenue – he was walking in casual clothes with an obscure carrier bag hanging on his shoulder. No one outside the tennis world could guess that this guy had earned seven million dollars on the court…
Considering his style, I would put him in the same group with Thomas Enqvist as far as guys born in the 70s are concerned: two bold servers (the Slovak was tossing the ball unusually high) from the chilly area of Europe (encouraging to play indoors more in the formative years), quite prone to double faulting, eager to play the majority of points from the baseline, operating very close to it, endowed with very hard and flat strokes off both sides. Hrbatý was a slightly weaker version of Enqvist overall, but achieved more on clay courts, including arguably two career-best results: the Roland Garros semifinal in 1999 (a quite unfortunate four-set defeat to Andre Agassi), and a final in Monte Carlo ’00 in which he succumbed to Cédric Pioline. Hrbatý was coached at the time by a fellow Slovak – Marian Vajda – the future coach of Novak Ðoković.
Analyzing Hrbatý’s scorelines, I may argue that he was a different animal playing in the ‘best of five’ formula. His great physical preparation helped him a lot in winning many complicated four- and five-setters. Of course, it contributed to the fact that he nearly alone won the Davis Cup for Slovakia in 2005 (a 6-1 record in singles with two wins in the final vs Croatia). But in the ‘best of three’ matches, he was that guy you generally couldn’t have counted on, especially when it came to – let’s say – “3:4” in the 3rd set. Nevertheless, he won as many as three matches in the deciding tie-break against Marat Safin (the Hopman Cup final ’09 is one of them – Hrbatý triumphed twice in Perth with different women as partners: Daniela Hantuchová and Dominika Cibulková). But Safin was completely unpredictable when drama and additional tension were involved. Hrbatý loved to play Down Under in January because he felt stronger than his opponents after solid preparation in December the previous year. Following several years with a vibe of underachievement, the perception was in 2004 that a breakthrough year lied in front of him as he collected back-to-back titles (Auckland-Adelaide). He lost an 11-match winning streak after being easily outplayed by Sébastien Grosjean in Melbourne, and the successful period quickly evaporated.
At the end of 2006 when he seemed to be entering the twilight of his career, he almost did what a few other significant players had done around 30, namely get a title which would fulfill his career. At Paris-Bercy he luckily avoided playing in the first round, and handily won four matches. Despite being fresh, he was dismantled by Nikolay Davydenko in the final. Following the final in France, he was struggling with an elbow injury, and poor results in the years 2007-08 caused his decision to return to the Challenger circuit, interspersed with qualifying rounds to the ATP tournaments. However, trying for a few years, he didn’t regain his former self-confidence at the lower levels, and decided to quit in 2012, two and a half years after his last ATP event (he briefly returned in 2013, only to play two exotic Futures events).
Given his impressive five-set record, certainly he could be expected to play another major semifinal in the first decade of the new millennium; he failed thrice in the night session quarterfinals though, at the Australian Open ’01 and US Open ’04 he was strangely deflated in the fourth sets against serve-and-volley specialists. Trivia: he has a positive H2H record against the greatest players of the 2000s, 2-1 against Roger Federer and 3-1 against Rafael Nadal, having also defeated the greatest of the 90s (Sampras & Agassi).
Career record: 359-318 [ 304 events ]
Career titles: 6
Highest ranking: No. 12
Best GS results:
Australian Open (quarterfinal 2001, 2005)
Roland Garros (semifinal 1999)
US Open (quarterfinal 2004)
World Team Cup champion 2000
Hopman Cup champion 2005 and 2009
Born: January 3, 1967 in Lund (Skåne)
Height: 1.86 m
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
He came into the world in a city by the Baltic Sea where was also born the most famous Swedish actor (Max von Sydow), and began playing tennis at the age of six. For a long time, he trained alongside Jonas Svensson and Christian Bergström, other successful Swedish players; their main rule was, “whoever earns the most, 
pays for the travel of their colleagues.” A serious injury sidelined him between May ’94 and May ’95 (missing all main-level events between two editions of Roland Garros). In the meantime, he underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder and dropped from No. 13 to 611 in the rankings. However, with the help of Challenger tournaments in Germany, he rapidly returned to the Top 100, and by early 1997, he nearly regained his pre-injury ranking.
In the early years of his career, he was labeled as a clay-courter, but over time, he improved his volley game, which helped him become a dangerous player indoors (Stockholm ’89 final) and even on grass. At Wimbledon, he equaled his career-best result from Roland Garros. What’s quite peculiar, and I don’t know the reason behind it, he was avoiding regular starts in the United States, except the US Open where he recorded much more defeats than wins. It’s quite strange that he never played a quarterfinal at the French Open (he played a semifinal at Bercy though) having made the last 16 not dropping a set in his debut in 1988; he unfortunately had bad luck with draws in Paris. For instance, in 1995-97, he faced Top 10 players in the initial rounds of three consecutive French Open editions; third time lucky, in 1997, he defeated Goran Ivanišević on Centre Court only to be shocked by Galo Blanco in the following round on an outside court (the nine years younger Spaniard sensationally reached the quarterfinal then).
An extensive forehand was his trademark shot; I assume only Wayne Ferreira could have played with a comparable huge swing in the ’90s generating similar average velocity. Another notable aspect of the Swede’s game was his serve on the ad-court; he used to serve from his backhand corner to start constructing the point with his massive forehand. He was increasing his level representing his nation in the Davis Cup (an impressive 10-2 record for a while), and twice – vs Canada ’92 and Slovakia ’98 – he survived decisive fifth rubbers. In the Davis Cup ’98 final, he easily won his Friday encounter, perhaps the most forgotten vital rubber in the Davis Cup finals of the 90s, helping Sweden to destroy Italy in Milano. Seven years earlier, he collected one more singles win than the great Stefan Edberg when Sweden triumphed at the World Team Cup in Düsseldorf.
Taking into account his entire career, he is one of the most unfulfilled players of the Open Era considering majors. With the potential to play a semifinal at least, the Swede reached the quarterfinals just once in 42 appearances, Melbourne, where he played a competitive four-setter against the eventual champion Pete Sampras (btw, Sampras is the only prominent player of the 90s whom Gustafsson never defeated). He participated in twenty-six ATP finals, the vast majority on clay – the two biggest in Germany (runner-up in Hamburg ’91, triumphalist in Stuttgart ’93). Barcelona ’92 – where he lost the final – had a similar status to Stuttgart at the time.
Career record: 415–260 [ 268 events ]
Career titles: 14
Highest ranking: No. 10
Best GS result:
Australian Open (quarterfinal 1994)
Davis Cup champion 1998
World Team Cup champion 1991
Born: September 10, 1976 in Florianópolis (Santa Catarina)
Height: 1.91 m
Plays: Right-handed
Gustavo “Guga” Kuerten, of German descent, had a paternal great-grandfather named “Kürten” and a maternal great-grandfather named “Thümmel“. In 1995, Kuerten made his first trip to Germany as a young professional to play in the qualifying rounds in Hamburg (ATP) and Dresden (Challenger). He failed on both occasions. The following year, he transitioned from a Challenger to a main-level player, but without spectacular results.
When the “fairytale” French Open ’97 began, Kuerten was one of many young South American players who hadn’t attracted much attention (without a Davis Cup tie in which Brazil lost to the United States, he would be virtually unknown outside his 
continent). Everything changed after his third-round match against Thomas Muster, arguably the best clay-courter of the 90s. Muster, although not as dominant as in 1995-96, was still a Top 5 player and one of the main favorites for the title. Kuerten, ranked 66th and having never won three main-level matches in a row, stunned the former champion in a short five-setter.
When the Brazilian won another round against Andrei Medvedev in a similar five-set encounter, he suddenly became a serious contender for the title because the draw was wide open. In the quarterfinal, he faced the defending champion Yevgeny Kafelnikov, who had been playing poorly on clay before the event. Kuerten prevailed in another five-setter, his third in a row, winning by a two-game margin in the decider again. He won his last two matches more easily, defeating two-time French Open champion Sergi Bruguera in the final. “I did every shot perfectly,” Kuerten said after the final. “Today was my best match of the tournament. I didn’t think, ‘Wow, it’s a final and I have to win.’ I just played like I practice. I was pretty relaxed.”
Kuerten captured the hearts of the French public and tennis fans worldwide with his “samba” tennis. Unlike previous French Open champions of the 90s, who wore down opponents with consistent heavy topspins, Kuerten displayed an all-court versatile game with better serving, a more variable backhand, and numerous points won at the net. Before Kuerten, inexperienced players had won in Paris (Björn Borg ’74, Mats Wilander ’82, and Michael Chang ’89), but they were tennis prodigies with great futures anticipated from the start, while before French Open ’97, the refreshing 20-year-old Kuerten seemed to be just another clay-courter from South America; yet he soon confirmed his game suited hardcourts as well, reaching the Canadian Open final and Cincinnati quarterfinal, thrashing Chang and Andre Agassi with the same scoreline (6-3, 6-1).
Although the end of the 90s was somewhat disappointing, the years 2000-01 brought more than could have been expected from him. Kuerten conquered his second title in Paris, became the best player in the world, spending 43 weeks at the top, 31 more weeks than the great Boris Becker! He secured the No. 1 ranking at the end of 2000 in the nick of time claiming the title in Lisbon (against all odds surpassing Marat Safin) and lost this position in similar circumstances exactly a year later to Lleyton Hewitt. “As a tennis player, nothing could be higher than becoming No. 1 at the [Tennis Masters Cup], beating Pete and then Andre back-to-back. This is the highlight of my career by far,” stated the Brazilian.
In 2001, he enjoyed the best period of his career, winning three prestigious titles between June and August (Roland Garros, Stuttgart, Cincinnati), moreover reaching final and semifinal in two hardcourt events. However, including the US Open quarterfinal, he suffered 11 defeats within 12 matches afterwards. Struggling with a hip injury, he underwent surgery on February 26, 2002, in Nashville, Tennessee. After his comeback, Kuerten continued his career for another six years, but his fantastic footwork, allowing him to hit freely off both wings, was compromised. Between 2002-04, there were sporadic good results and some great matches, but Kuerten was unable to maintain a high level over several day-by-day matches. The last three years were miserable, and he was a shadow of his former self despite his relatively young age.
In 2006, for instance, he played just two pro matches, losing both to players who combined won fewer main-level matches in their careers than Kuerten had within one event! Kuerten played his last career match on Philippe Chatrier in Paris (after skipping nine consecutive majors), the court where he felt the best outside his native country. Wearing Diadora‘s blue-yellow outfit, almost the same in which he triumphed in 1997, he lost in straight sets to Paul-Henri Mathieu, then drew a heart inside the court, something he had done for the first time seven years before, miraculously surviving a unique contest against an inspired U.S. journeyman Michael Russell. “In terms of emotions, it’s the finest moment of my career. Nothing compares to that moment,” said Kuerten about the ‘Russell match’. “It’s the match – the one that I would take with me if I could choose only one. My connection with the fans was so strong… This heart was my way of thanking them for their support and for the emotions that we were going through together at that moment.”
Career record: 358–195 [ 198 events ]
Career titles: 20
Highest ranking: No. 1
Best GS results:
Roland Garros (champion 1997, 2000-01; quarterfinal 1999 & 2004)
Wimbledon (quarterfinal 1999)
US Open (quarterfinal 1999 & 2001)
Masters champion 2000
Year-end ranking 1993-2005: 665 – 421 – 182 – 88 – 14 – 23 – 5 – 1 – 2 – 37 – 16 – 40 – 292
Born: July 29, 1980 in Santiago (Región Metropolitana)
Height: 1.83 m
Plays: Right-handed
One of the most captivating players to watch in the 2000s, he claimed the French Open junior championship in 1998 by defeating Juan Carlos Ferrero in the final (Ferrero would exact revenge in the Parisian quarterfinal five years later). On the professional tour, the Spaniard made swift progress, reaching the French Open semifinals in the years 2000-01, while 
González barely made it through the qualifying rounds. Although it took him a few years to meet the high expectations in Chile, set after Marcelo Ríos ascended to world No. 1, he triumphed in Orlando in 2000, only his third main-level event, having saved four match points in the qualifying second round against an obscure player Giorgio Galimberti. Before and after Orlando, he was tirelessly working, alternating between Futures, Challengers and ATP qualifying rounds to elevate his game.
His breakthrough victory against Pete Sampras in Miami ’02 signalled that he was not just another clay-courter from South America. Later that year, he confirmed that defeating Sampras wasn’t a fluke as he advanced to the semifinal in Cincinnati and the US Open quarterfinal.
Throughout his career, he proved to be equally dangerous on all surfaces except grass, where his extensive forehand preparation and somewhat unnatural slice were less effective. Nonetheless he won distinctively more matches than lost on the green surface. The forehand was his signature shot, ranking him among the top contenders for the biggest forehands in tennis history. González’ unwavering confidence in this shot mirrored Mark Philippoussis‘ belief in his serve (and forehand too). Both players were the biggest risk-takers in their “new balls please” generation, who refused to concede hope to their opponents in tense rallies. Whether facing set point or match point down, Philippoussis and González were determined to unleash their signature shots to turn the tide. Their bold approach paid off statistically, as both players ended their careers with positive records in dramatic conclusions.
González experienced heartbreak in the two biggest finals of his career (the Australian Open ’07 and the Olympics ’08), facing Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal at their peak, respectively. Two major finals were within his grasp, but in the French Open ’09, he succumbed to Robin Söderling despite holding a 4:1 (30/15) lead in the deciding set.
Alongside Nicolás Massú, he clinched the gold medal in doubles at the Olympics in Athens ’04 and secured the bronze medal in singles after a thrilling victory over Taylor Dent in the third-place match, where he saved two match points at 13:14 with service and forehand winners (four years later, he secured another memorable “MP down” victory in a prolonged deciding third set against a US player at the Olympics, this time in Beijing, where he faced James Blake). Known for his massive “la derecha”, González consistently outperformed his opponents in forehand winners, making it nearly impossible to witness a match won by “Gonzo” with fewer of these electrifying shots.
Certainly, considering the level he reached in men’s tennis, he would have been satisfied with at least one Masters 1000 title. However, luck wasn’t on his side in the finals in Madrid ’06 and Rome ’07, where he faced the toughest opponents available at the time. Given his and Massú’s dedication, as well as their doubles success in Athens, it’s a bit strange they never led Chile to the Davis Cup semifinal at least. The closest they came was in 2006 when visiting the United States. González made a heroic effort in securing the first rubber for Chile, but Andy Roddick collected two crucial points against Massú and González.
Trivia: he defeated Novak Đoković twice in three confrontations, both wins (Cincinnati, Madrid) when the Serb was a teenager, and on each occasion Đoković was within two points from victory – his first two defeats of this type at the main-level.
Career record: 370–202 [ 204 events ]
Career titles: 11
Highest ranking: No. 5
Best GS results:
Australian Open (runner-up 2007)
Roland Garros (semifinal 2009; quarterfinal 2003 & 08)
Wimbledon (quarterfinal 2005)
US Open (quarterfinal 2002 & 09)
Olympic medals (Bronze in Athens ’04, Silver in Beijing ’08)
World Team Cup champion 2003-04
Born: May 18, 1960 in Sedan (Grand Est)
Height: 1.93 m
Plays: Right-handed
Noah, the sole French champion in the Open Era, stands out as one of the premier players of the 80s, with a game style that was uniquely his own. In many ways, Noah embodied a blend of Pete Sampras, Stefan Edberg, and Rafael Nadal, possessing a distinct element off game-styles of these three great champions. Had he possessed all their attributes, he might have been hailed as the greatest player in history(?)
During the 80s, Noah ranked among the top five servers globally, boasting an offensive overhead smash akin to the prowess of Sampras and Roger Federer. Notably, the Frenchman introduced the slam-dunk smash to tennis (the tweener was his trademark), a signature move admired by Sampras. Noah’s towering stature made him a demanding opponent almost everywhere, his net-coverage was second to none, particularly challenging to lob him with top-spins which was very difficult in the early 80s before the racquet transition from wood to graphite occurred.
Noah’s backhand outshone his forehand, he was frequently employing chip-and-charge – tactics reminiscent of Edberg’s style (the Swede was his toughest rival, winning all their six encounters). Additionally, Noah’s exceptional athleticism, ability of switch from defence to attack, and emotional intensity, echoed the spirit of Nadal on the court.
Reflecting on Noah’s game, one wonders how formidable he would have been under different circumstances. For instance, if restricted to ground-strokes with only one serve, Noah’s impact might have been brutally diminished. While his ground-strokes lacked potency in standard exchanges, Noah possessed a flair for improvisation akin to a jazz musician, utilizing unorthodox shots to surprise opponents.
Despite his acumen, Noah’s performances at Wimbledon remained a conundrum (just a 6-6 record, skipped the event many times). Notwithstanding his powerful serve as well as sacrificial serve-and-volley inclination (stretching, diving, squatting), he never progressed beyond the third round at Wimbledon. Actually his best grass court win comes from the Davis Cup ’83 as he outplayed a teenage Pat Cash in straight sets, the future Wimbledon champion. His lack of good results in London was perhaps hindered by challenges adapting to grass courts: his offensive backhand, reliant on extreme grip, struggled to find traction on grass, limiting his effectiveness. In addition, the footwear available in the 80s made it impossible to replicate clay-court movements, a style Noah heavily relied on, especially his frequent use of sliding on the red surface.
In exploring the Noah family lineage, a pattern of sporting excellence emerges. Yannick’s father, Cameroonian Zacharie Noah (lived 1937-2017), was a professional footballer, while Yannick’s son, Joakim Noah (b. 1985), pursued basketball, achieving successes as a basketballer of the Chicago Bulls. Their remarkable height increase across generations — Zacharie (176 cm), Yannick (193 cm), and Joakim (211 cm).
Noah’s crowning achievement came with his French Open ’83 victory (the last Slam won with a wood/graphite composite – Le Coq Sportif), a lifelong dream realized. There was certainly no stroke of luck in that triumph, as he dispatched Ivan Lendl en route to the title, among others. Lendl, already a top player at the time, didn’t intimidate Noah in the least, and their Head-to-Head record was tied at 5-5 after that match. Although Noah couldn’t follow up his French Open ’83 triumph with another major title, he maintained his status as one of the world’s most prominent players throughout the remainder of the 80s, securing numerous titles, with Rome ’85 standing out as the most significant. His inability to take part in another major semifinal of the 80s may seem strange, but it’s worth mentioning that in the years 1987-89, Key Biscayne had a status of the “fifth Slam”, and Noah reached the semifinal there in each edition (only one set separated him from the ’89 final as he was eliminated by Thomas Muster). His long awaited second semifinal appearance at Slams (the Australian Open ’90) marked his farewell from competitive singles tennis. Following this, his win-loss ratio drastically declined, prompting his retirement in 1991; in the meantime he transitioned into the role of Davis Cup captain. In this new capacity, Noah guided France to their first Davis Cup victory in fifty-nine years. He replicated this achievement five years later, returning briefly to professional play after a 3.5 year break in ’95 (three events) and ’96 (one event). As a player, Noah had led France to the Davis Cup ’82 final, where he narrowly lost the opening rubber to John McEnroe in a gripping five-set encounter.
Career record: 478–209 [ 215 events ]
Career titles: 23
Highest ranking: No. 3
Best GS results:
Australian Open (semifinal 1990; quarterfinal 1987)
Roland Garros (champion 1983; quarterfinal 1981-82, 84 & 87)
US Open (quarterfinal 1983, 85, 89)
Born: September 6, 1973 in Montreal (Quebec)
Height: 1.93 m
Plays: Left-handed
July 1992, I first encountered this surname with typical Polish suffix “-ski”. At 19 years old, Rusedski shared a position of the most gifted Canadian in decades with fellow left-hander Daniel Nestor, who was only a year older (no Canadian in the Top 100 in those days). Despite their youth, they had already gained some experience at the main level, with Nestor making a significant mark by stunning Stefan Edberg in the first round of the 1992 Davis Cup, nearly clinching victory for Canada against Sweden before narrowly falling to Magnus Gustafsson in a deciding rubber. Nestor held the rank of 235, while Rusedski stood at 153 when as ‘wild cards’ they entered the Canadian Open ’92, where they were both outplayed by the eventual champion Andre Agassi in the second and third rounds respectively.
These lanky, tall youngsters, keen to attack the net after each serve, were heralded as the new faces of Canadian tennis, with a promising future seemingly laid out before them. Shortly thereafter, Rusedski emerged as one of the fastest servers in the world, swiftly climbing the ranks. Meanwhile, Nestor carved out his own successful path, becoming one of the most accomplished and enduring doubles specialists in the game.
Rusedski broke into the Top 100 in 1993, making his debut at Wimbledon where he played a tight four-setter against grass-court specialist Edberg. His victory at Newport followed shortly after, a title earned after battling through five tie-breaks in the last six sets. While Rusedski’s prowess on faster surfaces was evident, his luck at Newport didn’t seamlessly transition to other courts. Despite his reputation as a formidable server, Rusedski’s ground-strokes, particularly his offensive backhand, were deemed mediocre, prompting him to dedicate significant effort to improving his volley and forehand in order to challenge top players and clinch crucial tie-breaks against them.
The day after his lone clay-court final, Rusedski changed his nationality from Canadian to British, thanks to his English mother (his father of Polish and Ukrainian descent). This move afforded him special treatment during the English grass-court season. However, the years 1995-96 didn’t see his career ascend to greater heights; he found himself on the losing end of tight matches more often than not.
In 1997, Rusedski experienced a breakthrough season, defying expectations by soaring to No. 4 in the rankings within twelve months (following the Indian Wells final, at Key Biscayne ’98 he even had a theoretic chance to become No. 1 – he needed to win the title on the assumption four players ahead of him in the ranking would lose early). He excelled on indoor, grass, and hard courts, culminating in a memorable run to the final of the US Open ’97 (Princess Diana‘s death), where he faced off against Patrick Rafter. Rusedski’s tenure in the Top 10 spanned roughly two seasons, during which he began working with coach Tony Pickard, who had previously coached Edberg. However, their partnership came to an abrupt end after Wimbledon ’98, when Rusedski retired in the first round and accused Pickard of pressuring him to compete despite an injury.
Sven Groeneveld took over as Rusedski’s coach, and under his guidance, Rusedski with an enhanced backhand and having improved his own records in the serve speed, secured his two biggest titles (both indoors): Paris-Bercy ’98 (carpet) and the Grand Slam Cup ’99 (hard). The latter victory, which earned him $1.3 million, was absolutely unexpected two weeks before the final, akin to winning the lottery for Rusedski – he participated in the event because as many as five players withdrew! He followed this success with a title in Vienna, overcoming a 0-2 set deficit against Nicolas Kiefer erasing bad memories from a final in the same city two years before when he was within a few points to win 3-0 against his toughest opponent Goran Ivanišević. However, Rusedski’s form began to wane at the turn of the millennium, especially at majors and Davis Cup, leading to speculation that winning the Grand Slam Cup title might have negatively impacted his motivation to keep the physical fitness at the highest level. Nevertheless from time to time with the help of his killer serve, he was capturing another titles (San Jose ’01 is the most impressive among them as he defeated two top players).
As far as the main-level in concerned, in singles, Rusedski concluded his career on a high note in 2006, clinching a Davis Cup victory against Sergiy Stakhovsky, after saving a match point in the fifth set of the first rubber (Great Britain defeated Ukraine 3-2). It was a fitting conclusion for a player who had consistently thrived in high-pressure situations throughout his career. In 1998 Rusedski became just one of a few players in history to finish four consecutive matches in five-setters.
Career record: 436–287 [ 293 events ]
Career titles: 15
Highest ranking: No. 4
Best GS results:
Wimbledon (quarterfinalist 1997)
US Open (runner-up 1997)
Grand Slam Cup champion 1999
Born: September 23, 1974 in Barcelona (Catalonia)
Height: 1.80 m
Plays: Right-handed
The son of schoolteachers, he initiated playing at the age of ten… The late 90s marked the beginning of a golden era for Spanish tennis (it lasted more than 20 years in total), as evidenced by their first Davis Cup title in 2000. Sergi Bruguera, once hailed as the “King of Clay,” saw his dominance wane, while the sensational French Open runner-up of 1994, Alberto Berasategui, struggled to replicate his earlier successes on clay. Nonetheless, they remained dangerous, as a new generation of young Spaniards emerged (in order of birth): Àlex Corretja, Félix Mantilla, Albert Costa, Carlos Moyá and Juan Carlos Ferrero.
With smaller ATP events kicking off on clay, it became predictable that at least one of the Spanish youngsters would reach the final. Mantilla, however, achieved less than his peers – he’s the only one from that group without a Grand Slam final or participation in the “Masters”. Despite his prowess on clay, he struggled to adapt his style to faster surfaces, yet he played four finals on hardcourts. In 1997, Mantilla enjoyed his best season, clinching five clay-court titles, reaching his first significant final in Hamburg, and playing a pivotal role alongside A.Costa in Spain’s World Team Cup triumph. Those results positioned him as one of favorites for the French Open ’98, but he faltered in the semifinal to Moyá, who went on to defeat Corretja in the final. Despite this setback, Mantilla’s patience, super-confident topspin backhand, and fighting spirit allowed him to achieve numerous victories in subsequent years including a title in Barcelona – an exceedingly important event for all Spaniards, who wield their racquets for a living.
Mantilla stood out for his unique clothing style, being the sole male player known for using the ball holder clip, a practical accessory predominantly favored by female players. It’s also worth mentioning his ability to dig out of hopeless situations: he displayed remarkable resilience, saving nine match points in two clay-court matches, with triple MP-down on both occasions (!) – first time he did it against Berasategui in Hamburg ’98 trailing 1:5 in the 3rd set when began facing match points, for the second time against another Spaniard, Albert Portas in Palermo ’01 when found himself at 2-6, 3:5* (0/40); moreover he came back from a 2:5 deficit in the 3rd set against A.Costa at Monte Carlo ’99, withstanding four match points before losing the semifinal…
In 2002, his performance declined, but he bounced back in Rome 2003, stunning the tennis world as No. 47. His route to the title was sensational, defeating six “Top 10 players,” including Roger Federer in the championship match. Following this triumph, he reflected: “When I come to Rome, I always feel like a gladiator in the Colosseum. […] The people enjoy watching me. I’m just running and fighting all the time. I don’t have the serve of Sampras or the volley of Rafter or the talent of Agassi, but I am strong physically, I am strong mentally.” Understandably, it was his swan song at 29. His last match appeared to be at the US Open 2005 when he faced Guillermo Coria, ending the season due to shoulder problems. In 2006, a diagnosis of skin cancer prompted him to take a 1.5-year break from hitting the ball. Upon his return, he played a few events, mixing Challengers with ATP tournaments. The final two matches of his career were against Robin Haase, concluding with consecutive losses.
Mantilla’s mentality was enigmatic; while he staged astonishing comebacks from multiple match points down and was also able to win three straight five-setters at the Australian Open 2003 (before losing round 4 in five), he catastrophically struggled in deciding tie-breaks (a miserable 8-20 record), notably losing three of them to Ferrero, whom he never defeated in eight meetings.
Career record: 313–218 [ 225 events ]
Career titles: 10
Highest ranking: No. 10
Best GS results:
Aussie Open (quarterfinal 1997)
Roland Garros (semifinal 1998)
World Team Cup 1997 champion
Born: August 3, 1960 in Springfield (Massachusetts)
Height: 1.91 m
Plays: Right-handed
Timothy Mayotte – a man who holds one of the most humiliating head-to-head records in the Open Era, namely 0-17 against Ivan Lendl. The initial phase of their rivalry didn’t foreshadow such a one-sided outcome. In a fourth set of the US Open ’82 second round, Mayotte found himself within three points of ousting Lendl in a two-day duel. He even held a 2:0 lead in the 5th set, serving remarkably well (19 aces), but ultimately succumbed on the sixth match point. “One of the highlights of my career,” Mayotte reflected, “I missed an opportunity to bolster my confidence.” In his preceding major (Wimbledon), Mayotte reached the first of his two semifinals at this level, dispatching three seeded players. That year elevated him to the echelons of the tennis elite for the remainder of the 80s.
Ironically, Mayotte’s maiden trophy (Delray Beach ’85) remained his arguably most significant (two years later he won Paris-Bercy; it’s an open question which title is more impressive), despite clinching another eleven titles thereafter. He was almost 25 when he claimed his shocking title in Florida, in a peculiar event that later evolved into the so-called “fifth Slam” held at Key Biscayne. It’s noteworthy that in that experimental (first four rounds ‘best of three’, then ‘best of five’) two-week tournament, Mayotte didn’t face any seeded players. Instead, every opponent he encountered from the fourth round onwards had already achieved their career-best result. In hindsight, Mayotte’s triumph gains additional significance considering that in the second round, he ousted Boris Becker… the 17-year-old German, participating in just his 15th main-level event, who was an unexpected Wimbledon champion a few months later overcoming Mayotte in round 4. “I recall Borg’s words when he won Wimbledon,” Mayotte reminisced after defeating Scott Davis in the three and a half-hour Delray Beach final. “It’s a combination of preparation, effort, and luck.” With the victory, Mayotte earned $112,500, surpassing his total winnings for the entire 1984 season.
Three years later, Mayotte came close to achieving tennis immortality by reaching the Olympic final (tennis featured officially at the Olympics for the first time), but he fell to Miloslav Mečíř in their lone encounter. “It’s peculiar because here, the emphasis is on medals rather than solely on winning,” Mayotte observed with a silver medal adorning his neck. “So, there is solace in joining the medal ranks. The ceremony was magnificent; it’s a unique approach.” Despite his struggles against Lendl, the formidable-serving, excellent volleyer Mayotte posed a challenge to the era’s top players, defeating luminaries like Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Stefan Edberg, Mats Wilander, as well as rising American super talents (Andre Agassi – Philadelphia, Pete Sampras, Michael Chang).
At the Australian Open ’90, Mayotte, in his first trip to Australia within four years, engaged in an almost five-hour marathon against Sampras, succumbing 10-12 in the deciding set after committing a double fault on Sampras’ match point – marking the longest match played that year. Fast surfaces (grass, carpet) suited Mayotte’s game best, on clay he was basically non-existent. The year 1991 marked a sudden decline for him; nevertheless, on Wimbledon’s court no. 1, he stunned Chang in five sets, saving four match points in the 4th set. “It was the most exhilarating experience I’ve had in a long time,” he expressed. “I didn’t come here with high expectations – I simply aimed to enjoy myself.” While Mayotte could have been expected to triumph, the manner in which he did so was truly memorable. The teenage Chang had already established himself as a marathon match specialist, surviving eight consecutive five-setters. Mayotte’s victory marked his third win against Chang in as many encounters, all at Grand Slams. He never again participated in a match of such magnitude, announcing his retirement in Philadelphia 1992, a city where he was very successful (unbeaten in 18 consecutive matches in that most prestigious U.S. event indoors).
He remains emblematic of the 80s, a period when his style of play reigned supreme, and all his notable achievements stem from that decade. In the early 90s, he failed to adapt to the changing times and neglected to enhance his first serve acceleration, a skill well within his reach given his height.
Career record: 340–202 [ 204 events ]
Career titles: 12
Highest ranking: No. 7
Best GS results:
Australian Open (semifinal 1983; quarterfinal 1981)
Wimbledon (semifinal 1982; quarterfinal 1981, 83, 86, 88-89)
US Open (quarterfinal 1989)
Olympic silver medal (Seoul ’88)
Born: August 22, 1964 in Växjö (Kronoberg)
Height: 1.82 m
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
The parallels between Wilander and Björn Borg are staggering. Wilander not only played like his eight-years-older compatriot (with amazing baseline patience on clay and serve-and-volley on grass), winning the biggest titles, but he also matured very early tennis-wise and burned out at a very similar age. It was the year 1982 when Wilander replaced Borg as the potential king of clay. Borg had won the French Open title five times and decided to suspend his career at the age of 25. At the same time, 
Wilander appeared in Paris for the first time among professionals, and as an almost 18-year-old boy, claimed the title (Borg conquered Paris in his second French Open being at the same age, more or less, in 1974). Wilander played four additional finals in the French capital, winning two more titles (1985, 1988) and he was arguably the most successful clay-court player of the 80s (Ivan Lendl also won the French Open three times in five finals; in their mutual meetings on Philipp Chatrier court, it was tied 2-2, but I perceive the Swede as a more successful clay-courter given his contribution to the Davis Cup titles on the red surface).
Jay Berger, when asked in 1988 “Is Agassi’s forehand the biggest weapon in tennis?”, replied “No, it’s Wilander’s brain” (by the way, they met twice & Berger won both matches easily!). I agree with that statement and think that Wilander could write a better “Winning Ugly” book than Brad Gilbert. When I watch Wilander’s matches, I don’t see anything particularly interesting: the serve was just decent, ground-strokes rather moderate as well as Wilander’s volleys. Of course, everything at a high level, but nothing impressive; the forehand was not aesthetically pleasant, actually nothing allowed to expect that this guy would win seven major titles (Wilander’s two grass-court Australian triumphs of the years 1983–84 cannot be compared on equal terms to his five other GS titles).
So where is the secret to Wilander’s stellar career? Very likely in his mind as Berger suggested; Wilander, knowing all his limitations, was able to perfectly construct his game-style and also adjust it to his opponents. Wilander once said that the legendary Davis Cup loss to John McEnroe of 1982 gave him more than plenty earlier wins. During that match, after losing the first two sets on a surface that suited McEnroe more, facing the partisan crowd too, the Swede decided to keep the first serve in as long as possible, and it changed the trajectory of the match, preventing McEnroe’s cheap-and-charge attacks in returning games, and Wilander was within two games from winning the longest match in history at the time! One may say that he had a coach beside; regardless of the inventor of the tactics change, there’s no doubt that Wilander could keep the concentration at the highest level for a long period of time.
His physical preparation was great; he quickly improved his volley skills, accelerated the serve, and polished his backhand slice. His Australian Open ’83 triumph wasn’t less shocking than his first major title. He had been labelled as a clay-courter, yet within 1.5 years since lifting the Parisian trophy, Wilander could already deliver a full package. It was very helpful in the years to come; nothing great as far as his strokes were concerned, but everything very good, and flexible thinking, constantly analyzing which tools to use and against whom, also changing it throughout the match depending on the situation.
The US Open ’88 final, a pinnacle of Wilander’s career, is a great example of his highly strategic mind. It was a period when he was in great form but losing the most important finals to Lendl. Even though on hardcourts Wilander was playing in rather defensive mode, he won that final with the help of constant pressure on Lendl. In the sets 2-5, Wilander was regularly applying the serve-and-volley tactics despite Lendl’s piercing passing-shots. Over the years, Wilander figured out that Lendl’s backhand return wasn’t aggressive and was approaching the net, targeting only that wing; perhaps the tactics couldn’t have been so efficient if the Swede had been doing that permanently… he was doing it wisely, intertwining with conservative serves to Lendl’s forehand staying on the baseline behind them. Moreover, in that match, Wilander decided to keep the ball in play off the backhand side almost entirely with slices. You have to praise a player who, instead of repeating the same strategy time and time again in vain, counting on luck, tries to propose something contrary to his own style. From a purely technical level, I like in Wilander’s game his passing-shots – he was hitting the ball much faster being attacked by opponents, with an attitude “from the baseline I can play in moderate pace longer than you, but if you want to attack me better do it with extreme precision; otherwise, the ball will come at you much faster.”
The year 1988 was extraordinary – three major titles (initiated with the first Aussie Open played on hardcourts) and a Key Biscayne triumph (the so-called “fifth Slam” then) – one of the best seasons any player enjoyed in the Open Era; it could have been even better if Wilander hadn’t lost to his toughest rival (Miloslav Mečíř) in Wimbledon’s quarterfinal. There were still matches against more natural grass-court players ahead, but Wilander was in such a terrific form that he couldn’t be written off facing Stefan Edberg and Boris Becker. After the final victory over Lendl in New York, Wilander became the best player in the world’s ranking; he was only 24, but it was already his eighth full season among professionals. “It’s the biggest victory I ever had,” said Wilander after the final. “Bigger than my first Paris (French Open) title. It meant so much. A Swede has never won this tournament. I’m going to be No. 1 now. It’s definitely the biggest match I have ever played.”
In the aftermath, he lost his enthusiasm to train hard and the will to force himself to constantly think during matches. Never before or after, a player who reached the peak experienced such a downhill like the Swede in 1989 (it began with the Davis Cup ’88 final). Well, it was still a good year by the standards of the majority of very good players [two major quarterfinals – Paris and London – and helping Sweden to play seventh (!) consecutive Davis Cup final], yet for a multiple Grand Slam champion of a calendar year, it was a big failure. Another two years were even worse; in 1992, the disguised and looking much older than the age would suggest Wilander didn’t play at all; he needed to redefine his career. After the comeback in the Summer of ’93, he was playing more for personal satisfaction; he did something Borg hadn’t unfortunately done in 1983. The pressure-free Wilander surprised the tennis world twice in 1995 reaching quarter/semifinals in big American events (Key Biscayne & Montreal), winning four successive matches in them both. His attitude towards professional tennis perhaps was too careless – between two very good US appearances, Wilander tested positive for cocaine (with his good friend Karel Nováček). In his final ’96 season, Wilander played his last ATP final (almost six years after the previous one); also, that year he defeated Patrick Rafter, who would soon become one of the best players in the world. The final stages of Wilander’s career weren’t as nice and worldwide appreciated as in Edberg’s case, but the farewell was much tastier than in case of the third great Swede – Borg.
Career record: 571–222 [ 233 events ]
Career titles: 33
Highest ranking: No. 1
Best GS results:
Australian Open (champion 1983-84 & 88; runner-up 1985; semifinal ’90)
Roland Garros (champion 1982, 85 & 88; runner-up 1983 & 87; semifinal 1984; quarterfinal 1989)
Wimbledon (quarterfinalist 1987-89)
US Open (champion 1988; runner-up 1987; semifinal 1985; quarterfinal 1983-84)
Davis Cup champion 1984, 85 & 87 (the third time as both, singles & doubles player)
Year-end ranking 1980-96… 283 – 69 – 7 – 4 – 4 – 3 – 3 – 3 – 1 – 12 – 41 – 159 – X – 330 – 129 – 46 – 196
Born: December 6, 1971 in Rotterdam (Zuid-Holland)
Height: 1.96 m
Plays: Right-handed
Born in Rotterdam, but initiated his tennis journey in Amsterdam at the tender age of three, Krajicek grew up in the Netherlands with his Czech parents, Peter and Ludmila Krajíček, who had fled Czechoslovakia in the aftermath of the invasion by five Warsaw Pact countries – the Soviet Union, Poland, Bulgaria, East Germany, and Hungary. His father, a sports enthusiast, had previously pursued handball professionally in his native country. From a young age, Krajicek displayed remarkable dedication to the sport, emerging as a prodigy in the early 1980s. A striking 
photograph from London in 1982 juxtaposes him with John McEnroe, highlighting Krajicek’s significant growth over the subsequent decade, as he stood approximately 30 cm shorter than the BigMac, the best player in the world at the time.
At the age of 12, Krajicek, being the biggest Dutch talent, made a pivotal decision to transition from a two-handed to a one-handed backhand, mirroring the choices made by tennis greats such as Pete Sampras and Stefan Edberg during their formative years. However, his posture among peers remained modest, leading him to keep a defensive playing style during his early teenage years when he was winning the championships in the Netherlands year after year. The sudden growth of his body at 16 slowed down the progress, somewhat mirrored the case of his Aussie namesake, excellent junior Richard Fromberg, whose style – as opposed to Krajicek – didn’t evolve gradually with his growth.
Krajicek’s fortunes changed when he became a member of a group led by Stanley Franker of Surinam in the late 80s. Training alongside slightly older compatriots, serve-and-volleyers such as Jan Siemerink and Jacco Eltingh, Krajicek honed his volley skills, deciding to change his game-style, eventually ascending to the Top 100 in the early 90s with an attacking approach. Notably, he clinched a title in his Challenger debut as a qualifier in Verona ’90, triumphing over Eltingh in the final, marking a significant milestone in both friends’ careers.
Despite early big results with the help a tremendous serve (semifinals vs Jim Courier at the Australian Open ’92 and French Open ’93), Krajicek faced challenges on his journey to the top, including persistent injuries to his shoulder and knees, as well as a perceived weakness in his offensive backhand (his backhand lob was very good though). However, his formidable serve-and-volley game, as well as his powerful forehand – particularly his cross-court shots on the run – set him apart from his many contemporaries. Notably, he boasted a favorable Head-to-Head record against the likes of Sampras, initiating it in Los Angeles ’93.
The turning point in Krajicek’s career came during the rainy Wimbledon of 1996. Seeded with a bizarre No. 17 due to Thomas Muster‘s withdrawal, Krajicek, who had lost Wimbledon first rounds in his two previous trips, defied expectations by dispatching former champions Michael Stich (fourth round) and Sampras (quarterfinal) in consecutive matches without dropping a set. Displaying newfound confidence, he emerged as the heavy favorite in the semifinal and final, ultimately clinching the Wimbledon title in an edition that challenged conventional wisdom. The runner-up MaliVai Washington said: “If he continues playing like this, he’ll be the best in the world.”
Three years later, shortly after winning the Stuttgart and Key Biscayne titles, only five matches separated Krajicek from Washington’s prophecy. The Dutchman arrived in Hamburg ’99 as the No. 4 in the ATP ranking, top seeded, and winning the title seemed within his reach in semi-indoor conditions, despite clay being his least favorite surface. Krajicek had showcased his prowess on the red surface before, having reached the French Open ’93 semifinals, the Rome ’96 final, having triumphed in Barcelona ’94. However, his dreams were dashed in his first match as he lost to the unpredictable Hicham Arazi, in spite of winning their two previous meetings. Following this defeat, Krajicek faced recurring physical issues, coupled with mediocre results (the best was US Open quarterfinal when he established a new record of aces for another six years), which prevented him from seizing opportunities in the years 1999-2000 when Sampras lost his dominance, and as many as five players reached the No. 1 spot for the first time. With better timing to avoid health issues, Krajicek could have easily been among them.
Krajicek missed the entire 2001 singles season due to injury; he returned after a twenty-month absence following two elbow surgeries. Remarkably, in only his second event after his comeback, he mirrored Guy Forget‘s achievement from 1994 by reaching the Wimbledon quarterfinals with a very low ranking. This feat came after a remarkable three-day contest against Mark Philippoussis, consisting of four tie-breaks. However, a few months later, a heel injury forced Krajicek to retire from the US Open.
Krajicek had planned to conclude his career at Wimbledon ’03, but the draw presented a formidable obstacle – facing Lleyton Hewitt, the world No. 1 and defending champion. A recent humiliating defeat on grass to Andre Agassi made Krajicek apprehensive about a similar fate on Centre Court. Consequently, he opted to withdraw, paving the way for another big server, relatively unknown at the time, the Croatian giant – Ivo Karlović, to step in – his stunning victory over Hewitt in four sets remains one of the biggest upsets in Wimbledon history.
Trivia: all three of Franker’s pupils made their Slam debuts in the same event, and each found success – at the Australian Open ’91: Krajicek [113] and Siemerink [132, qualifier] reached the fourth round, while Eltingh [125] advanced to the third round.
Career record: 411-219 [ 222 events ]
Career titles: 17
Highest ranking: No. 4
Best GS results:
Australian Open (semifinal 1992)
Roland Garros (semifinal 1993; quarterfinal 1996)
Wimbledon (champion 1996; semifinal 1998; quarterfinal 2002)
US Open (quarterfinal 1997, 99-00)
