Worst of the 2 time winners

[dominikk1985]

Who is the worst 2 slam winner of the open era?

-smith
-nastase
-kriek
-brugera
-kafelnikov
-rafter
-safin
-hewitt

[abmk]

Kriek .....

[Nadal_Power]

Bruguera and Kriek

[dominikk1985]

I really don't know kriek, smith and nastase so I can't comment on them (I know their names but have not seen them unless maybe a 2 minute clip).

out of the modern guys kafelnikov might be a good choice.

[kiki]

Kafelnikov

Anyway, two slams is no coincidence.Not a bad player in the lot...

[NadalAgassi]

I would say Kriek, but I consider the Australian Open to have only started sometime from 1985-1988, before that disregarding all the obvious "joke slam" only based winners (aka the kriek types), while not totally disregarding but slightly diminishing even the worthy ones (aka not kriek types) who won vs depleted competition, so with that said I go with Kafelnikov the weakest of the real 2 slam winners.

From best to worst:

1. Smith- arguably player to beat in 71 and 72.
2. Nastase- most talented by far.
3. Safin- due to sheer level of play in 2 wins.
4. Hewitt- hard to rank any higher considering he probably would be 0 slam winner if he didnt peak in transitional era, hard to rank any lower considering he is a 2 time year end #1 and 2 time WTF winner as well, and made people like Kafelnikov his slave.
5. Rafter- won 2 slams at tail end of Sampras era, beating some good players. Late bloomer, remained a major factor and threat for majors until retirement.
6. Bruguera- very good clay specialist, but not alot of Clay Masters for a 2 time RG winner. Virtual non entity on any other surface.
7. Kafelnikov- somehow slipped through the cracks to win 2 majors, was never seen as a major factor or threat in the mens game even in his prime.
8. Kriek- Australian Open as it once was.

[soyizgood]

Originally Posted by kiki

Kafelnikov

Anyway, two slams is no coincidence.Not a bad player in the lot...

2 slams + Olympic gold.

[dominikk1985]

safin might have been the best based on his level of play and opponents beat (prime fed and sampras).

outside of those years he was quite dissapointing for extended periods (lots of early round losses even in his prime) but when he was on he was really dangerous.

[NadalAgassi]

Originally Posted by soyizgood

2 slams + Olympic gold.

Everyone of those other players apart from Kriek (who I disregard as a real slam winner anyway) has won numerous Masters titles. Kafelnikov couldnt even win a single one (nor the WTF). Multiple Masters > Olympic singles gold, especialy back in 2000.

[kishnabe]

Johan Kriek....I think his 2 Australians were in a depleted uncaring field....he had the same guy in the final for 2 years.

I wanna say Kalfenikov.....but seeing his matches he was quite good. He was just an unlikable person.

Brugera was a great claycourter.....he earned his titles beating Courier.

[boredone3456]

Kriek...I have never really heard of him or the guy he beat in both of his major finals. I had to look him up because I could not even recall his first name off hand. The guy he beat in the finals was a nobody really to, except for beating J Mac in 1 final. In the jam packed 80's talent group...Kriek is like...nobody.

[robow7]

Kriek, as was stated, the AO was not the same high quality tourney as it is today. The bugger was lightening fast though.

[timnz]

Nastase
Smith
Hewitt
Safin
Rafter
Kafelnikov
Brugera
Kriek

Now before anyone gives Kriek too hard a time, you have to remember that he beat McEnroe 5 times, four times of which on indoor carpet which was McEnroes best surface.

[NadalAgassi]

It seems a consensus mostly.

Nastase and Smith the top 2 in one order or another
Safin and Hewitt 3rd and 4th best in one order or another
Rafter 5th
Kafelnikov and Bruguera 6th and 7th in one order or another
Kriek last

The two people who voted for Hewitt and Safin are clueless idiots btw.

[Mustard]

Here are their major wins:

Stan Smith
1971 US Open
R128: Stan Smith def. Raul Ramirez (6-0, 6-2, 7-6)
R64: Stan Smith def. Brian Fairlie (6-2, 7-5, 6-2)
R32: Stan Smith def. Tom Leonard (6-2, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3)
R16: Stan Smith def. Milan Holecek (7-5, 3-2 ret.)
QF: Stan Smith def. Marty Riessen (7-6, 6-2, 7-6)
SF: Stan Smith def. Tom Okker (7-6, 6-3, 3-6, 2-6, 6-3)
FR: Stan Smith def. Jan Kodes (3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 7-6)

1972 Wimbledon
R128: Stan Smith def. Hans-Joachim Ploetz (6-1, 6-1, 6-3)
R64: Stan Smith def. Hank Irvine (6-4, 9-8, 6-3)
R32: Stan Smith def. Sandy Mayer (6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 9-7)
R16: Stan Smith def. Ian Fletcher (8-6, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4)
QF: Stan Smith def. Alex Metreveli (6-2, 8-6, 6-2)
SF: Stan Smith def. Jan Kodes (3-6, 6-4, 6-1, 7-5)
FR: Stan Smith def. Ilie Nastase (4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5)

Ilie Nastase
1972 US Open
R128: Ilie Nastase def. Jairo Velasco Sr. (6-0, 6-2, 6-0)
R64: Ilie Nastase def. Roger Taylor (7-5, 6-2, 6-7, 2-6, 7-6)
R32: Ilie Nastase def. Patrice Dominguez (6-3, 5-7, 6-2, 6-3)
R16: Ilie Nastase def. Bob Hewitt (6-4, 6-4, 6-2)
QF: Ilie Nastase def. Fred Stolle (6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2)
SF: Ilie Nastase def. Tom Gorman (4-6, 7-6, 6-2, 6-1)
FR: Ilie Nastase def. Arthur Ashe (3-6, 6-3, 6-7, 6-4, 6-3)

1973 French Open
R128: Ilie Nastase def. Jaime Pinto-Bravo (6-1, 6-4)
R64: Ilie Nastase def. Jiri Hrebec (6-2, 6-4)
R32: Ilie Nastase def. Jurgen Fassbender (6-2, 6-1, 6-3)
R16: Ilie Nastase def. Francois Jauffret (6-4, 6-2, 6-4)
QF: Ilie Nastase def. Roger Taylor (6-0, 6-2, 7-6)
SF: Ilie Nastase def. Tom Gorman (6-3, 6-4, 6-1)
FR: Ilie Nastase def. Nikola Pilic (6-3, 6-3, 6-0)

Johan Kriek
1981 Australian Open
R64: Johan Kriek def. Drew Gitlin (6-2, 7-5, 6-1)
R32: Johan Kriek def. Thomas Hogstedt (6-2, 6-4, 7-6)
R16: Johan Kriek def. Chris Lewis (7-5, 7-5, 3-6, 2-6, 6-4)
QF: Johan Kriek def. Tim Mayotte (7-6, 6-3, 7-5)
SF: Johan Kriek def. Mark Edmondson (6-0, 7-6, 7-5)
FR: Johan Kriek def. Steve Denton (6-2, 7-6, 6-7, 6-4)

1982 Australian Open
R64: Johan Kriek def. Mike De Palmer (6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 7-6)
R32: Johan Kriek def. Eric Sherbeck (6-1, 7-6)
R16: Johan Kriek def. Charlie Fancutt (6-2, 6-2)
QF: Johan Kriek def. Drew Gitlin (6-0, 6-4, 6-1)
SF: Johan Kriek def. Paul McNamee (7-6, 7-6, 4-6, 3-6, 7-5)
FR: Johan Kriek def. Steve Denton (6-3, 6-3, 6-2)

Sergi Bruguera
1993 French Open
R128: Sergi Bruguera def. Henri Leconte (7-6, 6-1, 6-0)
R64: Sergi Bruguera def. Thierry Champion (6-0, 6-0, 6-0)
R32: Sergi Bruguera def. Magnus Larsson (6-1, 6-3, 6-1)
R16: Sergi Bruguera def. Fernando Meligeni (6-3, 6-1, 7-5)
QF: Sergi Bruguera def. Pete Sampras (6-3, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4)
SF: Sergi Bruguera def. Andrei Medvedev (6-0, 6-4, 6-2)
FR: Sergi Bruguera def. Jim Courier (6-4, 2-6, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3)

1994 French Open
R128: Sergi Bruguera def. Martin Damm (6-1, 6-1, 7-6)
R64: Sergi Bruguera def. Christian Ruud (6-2, 6-2, 7-6)
R32: Sergi Bruguera def. Ronald Agenor (6-3, 6-3, 6-3)
R16: Sergi Bruguera def. Patrick Rafter (6-4, 6-3, 6-1)
QF: Sergi Bruguera def. Andrei Medvedev (6-3, 6-2, 7-5)
SF: Sergi Bruguera def. Jim Courier (6-3, 5-7, 6-3, 6-3)
FR: Sergi Bruguera def. Alberto Berasategui (6-3, 7-5, 2-6, 6-1)

Yevgeny Kafelnikov
1996 French Open
R128: Yevgeny Kafelnikov def. Galo Blanco (6-1, 6-3, 6-3)
R64: Yevgeny Kafelnikov def. Thomas Johansson (6-2, 7-5, 6-3)
R32: Yevgeny Kafelnikov def. Felix Mantilla (6-4, 6-2, 6-2)
R16: Yevgeny Kafelnikov def. Francisco Clavet (6-4, 6-3, 6-3)
QF: Yevgeny Kafelnikov def. Richard Krajicek (6-3, 6-4, 6-7, 6-2)
SF: Yevgeny Kafelnikov def. Pete Sampras (7-6, 6-0, 6-2)
F: Yevgeny Kafelnikov def. Michael Stich (7-6, 7-5, 7-6)

1999 Australian Open
R128: Yevgeny Kafelnikov def. Jonas Bjorkman (6-3, 6-2, 6-4)
R64: Yevgeny Kafelnikov def. Jason Stoltenberg (7-5, 3-6, 7-6, 7-6)
R32: Yevgeny Kafelnikov def. Jim Courier (5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 3-0 ret.)
R16: Yevgeny Kafelnikov def. Andrei Pavel (6-3, 7-6, 6-7, 3-6, 6-4)
QF: Yevgeny Kafelnikov def. Todd Martin (6-2, 7-6, 6-2)
SF: Yevgeny Kafelnikov def. Tommy Haas (6-3, 6-4, 7-5)
F: Yevgeny Kafelnikov def. Thomas Enqvist (4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 7-6)

Patrick Rafter
1997 US Open
R128: Patrick Rafter def. Andrei Medvedev (6-3, 6-4, 7-5)
R64: Patrick Rafter def. Magnus Norman (6-2, 6-1, 6-2)
R32: Patrick Rafter def. Lionel Roux (6-1, 6-1, 6-2)
R16: Patrick Rafter def. Andre Agassi (6-3, 7-6, 4-6, 6-3)
QF: Patrick Rafter def. Magnus Larsson (7-6, 6-4, 6-2)
SF: Patrick Rafter def. Michael Chang (6-3, 6-3, 6-4)
FR: Patrick Rafter def. Greg Rusedski (6-3, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5)

1998 US Open
R128: Patrick Rafter def. Hicham Arazi (4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-1)
R64: Patrick Rafter def. Hernan Gumy (6-4, 6-1, 6-2)
R32: Patrick Rafter def. David Nainkin (6-1, 6-1, 6-1)
R16: Patrick Rafter def. Goran Ivanisevic (6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 6-1)
QF: Patrick Rafter def. Jonas Bjorkman (6-2, 6-3, 7-5)
SF: Patrick Rafter def. Pete Sampras (6-7, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3)
FR: Patrick Rafter def. Mark Philippoussis (6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 6-0)

Marat Safin
2000 US Open
R128: Marat Safin def. Thierry Guardiola (7-5, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4)
R64: Marat Safin def. Gianluca Pozzi (6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4)
R32: Marat Safin def. Sebastien Grosjean (6-4, 7-6, 1-6, 3-6, 7-6)
R16: Marat Safin def. Juan Carlos Ferrero (6-1, 6-2, 6-2)
QF: Marat Safin def. Nicolas Kiefer (7-5, 4-6, 7-6, 6-3)
SF: Marat Safin def. Todd Martin (6-3, 7-6, 7-6)
FR: Marat Safin def. Pete Sampras (6-4, 6-3, 6-3)

2005 Australian Open
R128: Marat Safin def. Novak Djokovic (6-0, 6-2, 6-1)
R64: Marat Safin def. Bohdan Ulihrach (6-4, 6-1, 6-3)
R32: Marat Safin def. Mario Ancic (6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4)
R16: Marat Safin def. Olivier Rochus (4-6, 7-6, 7-6, 7-6)
QF: Marat Safin def. Dominik Hrbaty (6-2, 6-4, 6-2)
SF: Marat Safin def. Roger Federer (5-7, 6-4, 5-7, 7-6, 9-7)
FR: Marat Safin def. Lleyton Hewitt (1-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4)

Lleyton Hewitt
2001 US Open
R128: Lleyton Hewitt def. Magnus Gustafsson (6-3, 6-2, 7-5)
R64: Lleyton Hewitt def. James Blake (6-4, 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-0)
R32: Lleyton Hewitt def. Albert Portas (6-1, 6-3, 6-4)
R16: Lleyton Hewitt def. Tommy Haas (3-6, 7-6, 6-4, 6-2)
QF: Lleyton Hewitt def. Andy Roddick (6-7, 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4)
SF: Lleyton Hewitt def. Yevgeny Kafelnikov (6-1, 6-2, 6-1)
FR: Lleyton Hewitt def. Pete Sampras (7-6, 6-1, 6-1)

2002 Wimbledon
R128: Lleyton Hewitt def. Jonas Bjorkman (6-4, 7-5, 6-1)
R64: Lleyton Hewitt def. Gregory Carraz (6-4, 7-6, 6-2)
R32: Lleyton Hewitt def. Julian Knowle (6-2, 6-1, 6-3)
R16: Lleyton Hewitt def. Mikhail Youzhny (6-3, 6-3, 7-5)
QF: Lleyton Hewitt def. Sjeng Schalken (6-2, 6-2, 6-7, 1-6, 7-5)
SF: Lleyton Hewitt def. Tim Henman (7-5, 6-1, 7-5)
FR: Lleyton Hewitt def. David Nalbandian (6-1, 6-3, 6-2)

[pc1]

Originally Posted by timnz

Nastase
Smith
Hewitt
Safin
Rafter
Kafelnikov
Brugera
Kriek

Now before anyone gives Kriek too hard a time, you have to remember that he beat McEnroe 5 times, four times of which on indoor carpet which was McEnroes best surface.

It's stunning to me that Nastase only won two majors. Nastase is about as talented as any majors winner ever. Stan Smith and Nastase for a short time was such a great rivalry and you would have thought it would be THE rivalry of the 1970's. Never turned out that way.

Of course Nastase did win a ton of the Year End Championships with four championships in five tournaments.

[timnz]

Originally Posted by pc1

It's stunning to me that Nastase only won two majors. Nastase is about as talented as any majors winner ever. Stan Smith and Nastase for a short time was such a great rivalry and you would have thought it would be THE rivalry of the 1970's. Never turned out that way.

Of course Nastase did win a ton of the Year End Championships with four championships in five tournaments.

The year end championship wins breaks the tie break between Nastase and Smith putting Nastase ahead.

[robow7]

Originally Posted by pc1

It's stunning to me that Nastase only won two majors.

What an amazing talent it was to see him live, but he just couldn't consistently over come those demons within.

[Dan Lobb]

Originally Posted by timnz

The year end championship wins breaks the tie break between Nastase and Smith putting Nastase ahead.

Is the year-end such a big deal? It didn't seem like much this year.

[kiki]

Originally Posted by Dan Lobb

Is the year-end such a big deal? It didn't seem like much this year.

It was the 4 th slam back then, along WCT.

Smith has two indoor majors and two official slam titles, Nastase won 4 indoor majors and two official slams.

Smith equalizes, however, by virtue of his two DC final wins over Nastase.DC was huge back then.