Quiz time: Can you name these players?

Mainad

Mainad

Bionic Poster
For all you stats freaks out there:

In the Open Era (1968 to the present), the maximum number of Grand Slam finals played by a male player, who never went on to win one, is 2. The maximum number for female players is 3. A total of 8* men played in 2 Grand Slam finals without ever winning one and a total of 4 women played in 3 Grand Slam finals without ever winning one.

Can you name these 8* men and 4 women? :)

*Edited.
 
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Flash O'Groove

Flash O'Groove

Hall of Fame
So far I can only think of Martin and Corretja.

Edit: Philipoussis and Pioline. I think I have all the two time runner-up since the 90's. Before that I don't know well enough. No idea for the women. Others have to find them.
 
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A

ARFED

Professional
I know that Tony Roche played 3, i think, major finals in the open era and he never won one, but he did won a frech open title during his amateur years
 
A

ARFED

Professional
Steve Denton played back to back finals at Australia in 81-82 against Kriek, both times coming up short
 
Mainad

Mainad

Bionic Poster
Soderling, Safina, Mecir, Dementieva * and Denton are all correct.

Edited: Sorry, Dementieva is not one of the 4 women. My mistake.
 
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Mainad

Mainad

Bionic Poster
ARFED said:
I know that Tony Roche played 3, i think, major finals in the open era and he never won one, but he did won a frech open title during his amateur years
Click to expand...

Roche did lose 3 GS finals but he did win the French Championships before the Open Era started so I've discounted him. The players I am after are all multi-Slam finalists who never won a Slam at any point.
 
Goosehead

Goosehead

Legend
what about kevin curren apart from the well remembered 1985 Wimbledon final he lost to boom boom boris..did he reach a aust open final pre 1983 ?.(in other words, when it was sh1te :))
 
Mainad

Mainad

Bionic Poster
Sorry guys, just realised there were 8 men, not 7. I've edited my original post.

All the men have now been mentioned:

1. Alex Corretja (runner up at 2 French Opens (1998 and 2001).

2. Kevin Curren (runner up at 1984 Australian Open and 1985 Wimbledon).

3. Steve Denton (runner up at back to back Australian Opens, 1981 and 1982).

4. Todd Martin (runner up at 1994 Australian Open and 1999 US Open).

5. Miloslav Mecir (runner up at 1986 US Open and 1989 Australian Open).

6. Mark Philippoussis (runner up at 1998 US Open and 2003 Wimbledon).

7. Cedric Pioline (runner up at 1993 US Open and 1997 Wimbledon).

8. Robin Soderling (runner up at back to back French Opens, 2009 and 2010.)
 
Mainad

Mainad

Bionic Poster
Oh crumbs, made another blooper, this time with the women. One of the 4, Helena Sukova, was actually in 4 losing Slam finals, not 3. So she actually holds the women's record all by herself.:oops:

So, of the women mentioned so far, we have:

1. Helena Sukova (runner-up in a record 4 Grand Slam finals without ever winning one: 1984 and 1989 Australian Opens, 1986 and 1993 US Opens).

2. Mary Jo Fernandez (runner up at 1990 and 1992 Australian Opens and 1993 French Open).

3. Dinara Safina (runner up at back to back French Opens in 2008 and 2009 and at 2009 Australian Open).

There is one more with 3 runner-ups. Can anyone guess the remaining one?
 
Goosehead

Goosehead

Legend
yay, i got kevin curren right..reached aussie open final in 1984, when it was turning into a proper major. but I did think it was earlier..
 
Mainad

Mainad

Bionic Poster
These are the 8 men who each made 2 Grand Slam finals in the Open Era but never won any:

1. Alex Corretja (runner up at 2 French Opens, 1998 and 2001).

2. Kevin Curren (runner up at 1984 Australian Open and 1985 Wimbledon).

3. Steve Denton (runner up at back to back Australian Opens, 1981 and 1982).

4. Todd Martin (runner up at 1994 Australian Open and 1999 US Open).

5. Miloslav Mecir (runner up at 1986 US Open and 1989 Australian Open).

6. Mark Philippoussis (runner up at 1998 US Open and 2003 Wimbledon).

7. Cedric Pioline (runner up at 1993 US Open and 1997 Wimbledon).

8. Robin Soderling (runner up at back to back French Opens, 2009 and 2010.)


These are the 4 women who made at least 3 Grand Slam finals in the Open Era but never won any:

1. Helena Sukova (was actually runner-up in a record 4 Grand Slam finals without ever winning one: 1984 and 1989 Australian Opens, 1986 and 1993 US Opens).

2. Mary Jo Fernandez (runner up at 1990 and 1992 Australian Opens and 1993 French Open).

3. Dinara Safina (runner up at back to back French Opens in 2008 and 2009 and at 2009 Australian Open).

4. Wendy Turnbull (runner up at 1977 US Open, 1979 French Open and 1980 Australian Open).
 
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Mainad

Mainad

Bionic Poster
Sentinel said:
If you'd started this thread a year earlier, you could have added another name to this list. Who is that ?
Click to expand...

Sorry Sentinel, I've scratched my head until I'm almost bald but I can't possibly think who you might be referring to? :wink:
 
borg number one

borg number one

Legend
Mainad said:
Sorry Sentinel, I've scratched my head until I'm almost bald but I can't possibly think who you might be referring to? :wink:
Click to expand...

Ha Ha. Good one Mainad. It's interesting with Kevin Curren and Steve Denton being on the list. They were a great doubles team as well.
 
PDJ

PDJ

G.O.A.T.
At least the women on your list have one grand slam/Olympic title, or more, after their name, albeit in doubles. With the exception of Safina (2007 USO) the other 3 are multiple winners. Not too shabby.
 
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