All Time Greats - Grand Slams Won without losing a set in semifinals/finals

[McEnroeisanartist]

Federer - 7 Grand Slams - 04 Australian, 07 Australian, 10 Australian, 03 Wimbledon, 05 Wimbledon, 04 US Open, 07 US Open
Sampras - 4 Grand Slams - 94 Australian, 97 Australian, 97 Wimbledon, 93 US Open,
Borg - 4 Grand Slams - 78 French Open, 80 French Open, 76 Wimbledon, 78 Wimbledon
Lendl - 3 Grand Slams - 86 French Open, 85 US Open, 86 US Open
Nadal - 3 Grand Slams - 08 French Open, 10 French Open, 10 Wimbledon
McEnroe - 3 Grand Slams - 83 Wimbledon, 84 Wimbledon, 79 US Open
Connors - 2 Grand Slams - 74 US Open, 78 US Open
Djokovic - 1 Grand Slam - 11 Australian Open,
Agassi - 1 Grand Slam - 03 Australian Open
Edberg - 1 Grand Slam - 91 US Open
Wilander - Never Did It
Becker - Never Did It

 

[DreddyTennis45]

Do you also have stats for any of the following:
-Players who won a slam without dropping a set
-Fewest amount of times a player was broken on the way to winning a slam
- Fewest amount of games won by a player on the way to winning a slam
- Most amount of comebacks (losing 2-0 or 2-1 in sets) a player has made on the way to winning a slam

 

[CYGS]

Federer - 7 Grand Slams - 04 Australian, 07 Australian, 10 Australian, 03 Wimbledon, 05 Wimbledon, 04 US Open, 07 US Open

Weak Era.

 

[Maestroesque]

Weak Era.

Give up.

 

[BGod]

So confused by OP. Do you mean without losing a set until a Slam Semi or Final?

If so, Roger didn't lose a set in last year's US Open until Djokovic in the final yet that's not there. Same for 2008 Wimbledon. Meanwhile he did lost sets on his way to USO 04 as he lost 2 to Agassi in the quarters. So is the OP just not fact checking?

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

So confused by OP. Do you mean without losing a set until a Slam Semi or Final?

If so, Roger didn't lose a set in last year's US Open until Djokovic in the final yet that's not there. Same for 2008 Wimbledon. Meanwhile he did lost sets on his way to USO 04 as he lost 2 to Agassi in the quarters. So is the OP just not fact checking?

without losing a set in semifinals/finals

 

[metsman]

Lendl did it twice at the USO off the top of my head...why did you leave him out?

He did it once at the french too...total of 3.

 

[metsman]

Do you also have stats for any of the following:
-Players who won a slam without dropping a set
-Fewest amount of times a player was broken on the way to winning a slam
- Fewest amount of games won by a player on the way to winning a slam
- Most amount of comebacks (losing 2-0 or 2-1 in sets) a player has made on the way to winning a slam

well just off the top of my head...
WIthout dropping a set: Fed 07 AO, Nadal 08/10 RG, Borg 76 Wimby, 78/80 RG
Fewest breaks: Would hazard maybe Sampras at one of 94/95 or 97 Wimby. Mac at 84 Wimby and Fed in 03/09 would be up there too I am guessing

Fewest amount of games I have no idea

Most comebacks...well Fed 09 FO had 2. Edberg at the 92 USO played like 3 straight 5 setters but I think he was ahead in all. Courier had 2 at the 91 French. Agassi had 2 in 99. Guga had 2 in 00, Gaudio had 2 in 04. Is there anyone with 3?

 

[Fiero425]

Lendl did it twice at the USO off the top of my head...why did you leave him out?

He did it once at the french too...total of 3.

Thank you; beat me to it! Thanks! His win at '86 USO solidified his #1 ranking after '85 USO win over Connors and McEnroe in straights!

 

[BGod]

Ah okay. Then yeah, Lendl 85-86 USO and 86 French.

Also: Laver 1968 WMB, Rosewall 1971 AO, Hewitt in both Slams (although I get you don't think he's ATG) and Safin at 2000 USO. I mean, both Hewitt & Safin are Hall of Famers after all.

 

[BGod]

Most comebacks...well Fed 09 FO had 2. Edberg at the 92 USO played like 3 straight 5 setters but I think he was ahead in all. Courier had 2 at the 91 French. Agassi had 2 in 99. Guga had 2 in 00, Gaudio had 2 in 04. Is there anyone with 3?

Rafter also came back down 0-2 in the 1st and then 1-2 in the semifinal at 1998 USO.
Agassi in 1999 FO had a 1-2 hole to Clement in the 2nd round and then 0-2 in the Final.
Chang in his 89 French Open run had an 0-2 hole against Lendl in the 4th and 1-2 against Edberg in the Final.


Agassi in his 05 run had three consecutive 5 setters (at 35!) but only one comeback from 0-2 down on his way to losing the Final.

 

[metsman]

Rafter also came back down 0-2 in the 1st and then 1-2 in the semifinal at 1998 USO.
Agassi in 1999 FO had a 1-2 hole to Clement in the 2nd round and then 0-2 in the Final.
Chang in his 89 French Open run had an 0-2 hole against Lendl in the 4th and 1-2 against Edberg in the Final.


Agassi in his 05 run had three consecutive 5 setters (at 35!) but only one comeback from 0-2 down on his way to losing the Final.

to be fair in 05 the blake and ginepri matches were basically the length of a normal, slightly long, 4 setter. Federer-Hewitt took longer than the first semi.

 

[Moose Malloy]

@DreddyTennis45
Sampras holds the record for fewest times being broken while winning a Slam - 2, at 1997 Wimbledon

 

[NonP]

@DreddyTennis45
Sampras holds the record for fewest times being broken while winning a Slam - 2, at 1997 Wimbledon

Yes, 116 out of 118 games, or a whopping 98.31%. Pete also came close in '94, 103/106 or 97.17%. (For those wondering, Fed's highest ratio came in '09, with 130/135 or 96.30%.) Do you know if that's the 2nd highest on record?

BTW I plan to look at Pete's '97 run in more depth sometime. Some of his numbers I got from the old Wimby site are pretty ridiculous.

 

[DreddyTennis45]

well just off the top of my head...
WIthout dropping a set: Fed 07 AO, Nadal 08/10 RG, Borg 76 Wimby, 78/80 RG
Fewest breaks: Would hazard maybe Sampras at one of 94/95 or 97 Wimby. Mac at 84 Wimby and Fed in 03/09 would be up there too I am guessing

Fewest amount of games I have no idea

Most comebacks...well Fed 09 FO had 2. Edberg at the 92 USO played like 3 straight 5 setters but I think he was ahead in all. Courier had 2 at the 91 French. Agassi had 2 in 99. Guga had 2 in 00, Gaudio had 2 in 04. Is there anyone with 3?

@DreddyTennis45
Sampras holds the record for fewest times being broken while winning a Slam - 2, at 1997 Wimbledon

Thanks

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

Yes, 116 out of 118 games, or a whopping 98.31%. Pete also came close in '94, 103/106 or 97.17%. (For those wondering, Fed's highest ratio came in '09, with 130/135 or 96.30%.) Do you know if that's the 2nd highest on record?

BTW I plan to look at Pete's '97 run in more depth sometime. Some of his numbers I got from the old Wimby site are pretty ridiculous.

Sampras played more games in 1997 because it was his weakest win actually - he only lost sets in TBs, but he lost three sets that way (including losting two TBs to Korda from two sets to love up), ending up with a negative TB record (2-3) for the first and only time since his early 1989-1991 losses.

 

[buscemi]

Yes, 116 out of 118 games, or a whopping 98.31%. Pete also came close in '94, 103/106 or 97.17%. (For those wondering, Fed's highest ratio came in '09, with 130/135 or 96.30%.) Do you know if that's the 2nd highest on record?

BTW I plan to look at Pete's '97 run in more depth sometime. Some of his numbers I got from the old Wimby site are pretty ridiculous.

Do we how many times Borg was broken in winning the French Open in 1978 and 1980?

 

[NonP]

Sampras played more games in 1997 because it was his weakest win actually - he only lost sets in TBs, but he lost three sets that way (including losting two TBs to Korda from two sets to love up), ending up with a negative TB record (2-3) for the first and only time since his early 1989-1991 losses.

FYI Korda usually handled the Sampras serve better than most. As @slice serve ace has pointed out Pete usually had 40+% of his serves unreturned by his opponents regardless of his 1st-serve %, but Petr would keep him under that % or close to it by standing 2 meters towards the T on the ad court to cover Sampras' favorite serve but when Pete tried to serve out wide Korda would somehow get it back too. And the fact that Korda won those 2 TBs despite allowing 52.2% (82/157) in their '97 meeting suggests that he did hold his own on return despite Pete serving exceptionally well.

And that was in fact the start of an otherworldly run by Sampras. I'll just quote another post by slice:

Just before Korda-Sampras match in usopen they showed stat that is just:shock:
Sampras held 232 of his last 238 service games; he also held first 8 in Korda match so that is 240 of 246 ( 97.6%) :shock:
Sampras was obviously having the best serving streak of his life, so i wouldn't be too critical of Korda not being able to break at Wimbledon; in fact, i see he won one tiebreak 7-1, that is some achievement right there

This was when players were holding serve less often, the widespread moaning about today's "slow" courts notwithstanding. Quite possibly the single greatest serving streak by any player ever.

Do we how many times Borg was broken in winning the French Open in 1978 and 1980?

Afraid not, or at least not me anyway. We do know Borg's historic game W/L% in those two events and it's possible to calculate these numbers (@krosero has put together a template just for that purpose), but to get the service/return breakdown you do need more info.

 

[metsman]

@DreddyTennis45
Sampras holds the record for fewest times being broken while winning a Slam - 2, at 1997 Wimbledon

yes I knew that was it!

 

[Tenez!]

- Fewest amount of games won by a player on the way to winning a slam

Wait for Sunday, you shouldn't be disappointed. Joker is currently at an average of 11.5 games won per match. Which should barely be possible even in a BO3...

But IMO it's not a very useful metric. Fewest games LOST would be much better, and then I have no clue.

 

[Moose Malloy]

@buscemi
Borg was broken twice in the 78 final and twice in the 80 final. Maybe krosero has some news articles involving his earlier matches, but considering players overall held serve at a much lower rate in the 70s(that is something that has steadily increased) it seems rather unlikely anyone could win the French without being broken several times, even if they have a great w/l record in games. I've seen both finals, borg was just spinning in serves to get the point started, there were virtually no aces.

 

[metsman]

Wait for Sunday, you shouldn't be disappointed. Joker is currently at an average of 11.5 games won per match. Which should barely be possible even in a BO3...

But IMO it's not a very useful metric. Fewest games LOST would be much better, and then I have no clue.

fewest games lost without a doubt has to be borg in 78/80 RG.

 

[Tenez!]

fewest games lost without a doubt has to be borg in 78/80 RG.

FO 1978 : 32 (1.5 games / set) best Borg
FO 1980 : 38
FO 2008 : 41 (2 games / set) best Nadal
WB 1976 : 70
FO 2010 : 71
AO 2007 : 73 (3.5 games / set) best Fed

Now I'm wondering what the highest number of games lost in a winning run might be. With 5 setters, that could reach over 150 games.

 

[buscemi]

FO 1978 : 32 (1.5 games / set) best Borg
FO 1980 : 38
FO 2008 : 41 (2 games / set) best Nadal
WB 1976 : 70
FO 2010 : 71
AO 2007 : 73 (3.5 games / set) best Fed

Now I'm wondering what the highest number of games lost in a winning run might be. With 5 setters, that could reach over 150 games.

Ivanisevic at the Wimbledon 2001 jumped to mind. He lost 139 games. I wonder whether anyone can "top" that.

 

[buscemi]

deleted

 

[QuentinFederer]

Weak Era.

Strong era dominated by the GOAT. 2011- present a weak era with two pushers at 1 and 2 in the world.

 

[Tenez!]

Ivanisevic at the Wimbledon 2001 jumped to mind. He lost 139 games. I wonder whether anyone can "top" that.

Ha, nice find. He lost over 3 sets worth of games per match on average, madness.

 

[krosero]

Do we how many times Borg was broken in winning the French Open in 1978 and 1980?

@buscemi
Borg was broken twice in the 78 final and twice in the 80 final. Maybe krosero has some news articles involving his earlier matches, but considering players overall held serve at a much lower rate in the 70s(that is something that has steadily increased) it seems rather unlikely anyone could win the French without being broken several times, even if they have a great w/l record in games. I've seen both finals, borg was just spinning in serves to get the point started, there were virtually no aces.

This is all I have for Borg at RG

1978 in R16 and in last two rounds, held in 32 of 37 games

1979 in last two rounds, held in 26 of 30

1980 in last two rounds, held in 21 of 23

1981 final, 16 of 21

I presume but have not confirmed that he dropped serve 3 times in the 1975 final, 3 times in the '81 semis, and was unbroken in the R16 in '81

 

[Moose Malloy]

@NonP
I'm pretty sure the 103/106 by Sampras is the 2nd highest on record. I know for sure that the 85, 86, 87, 88, 90 Wimbledon champions were broken more than 3 times. And Becker in 86, cash in 87 were sort of considered unbreakable in those events. Maybe krosero has more information on
Mac in 84.

 

[underground]

I think both Roddick (2003) and Nadal's (2013) USO runs ended up with only 4 service games broken. Nadal wasn't broken until the SF against Gasquet, then 3 more times in the final.

I remember this because at that time NSK was drilling it in like a broken record.

 

[ollinger]

Also: Laver 1968 WMB, Rosewall 1971 AO, Hewitt in both Slams (although I get you don't think he's ATG) and Safin at 2000 USO. I mean, both Hewitt & Safin are Hall of Famers after all.

It seems like the OP sometimes cites "facts" that are simply garbage. Yes, Rosewall at the very least is an all time great (he also won his quarterfinal in straight sets at that 1971 AO) and should be on the list, perhaps others as well.

 

[Fiero425]

It seems like the OP sometimes cites "facts" that are simply garbage. Yes, Rosewall at the very least is an all time great (he also won his quarterfinal in straight sets at that 1971 AO) and should be on the list, perhaps others as well.

You know how it is for some people; if it happened before they were born, it didn't happen or at least they're excused for not knowing!

 

[Tenez!]

How about updating this list?

Nadal - RG 2016, RG 2017
Djokovic - USO 2018, AO 2019
Federer - WB 2018

and even Murray - WB 2016

 

[Eren]

How about updating this list?

Nadal - RG 2016, RG 2017
Djokovic - USO 2018, AO 2019
Federer - WB 2018

and even Murray - WB 2016

Federer WB 2017

Nadal 17 and 18 lol