Casper will be the first...

Goof

Professional
player to make 3 Major finals and never eventually win one, no? I remember reading back when Thiem finally won one that every single player who has made it to 3 Grand Slam finals has eventually won one. Is that true? If so, Casper will make history. Amazing though that someone as limited as him has made 3!
 

Kralingen

Bionic Poster
I mean, I wouldn't think so, but then again, I wouldn't have thought he could reach one GS final let alone 3.

All it takes is one upset to Djokovic or Alcaraz and the field is wide open. And once Djokodal finally do retire who knows.

Everything is possible in the Tsitsipas era.
 

Goof

Professional
Djokovic is upset-proof now unfortunately. No more Istomins and Cecchinatos
Is there a Chung out there though? He was different, a clear future top 10 player derailed by injury. (I vote no, there isn't a Chung out there at the moment).

I do not like it, but we can already consider Djokovic a 24 Slam winner, as none of the current opposition can touch him at Wimbledon. Rafa would have had about a 45% chance last year if he hadn't hit that ill-fated overhead vs Fritz, but that ship has sailed. Djokovic will have 24 or 25 before Rafa even returns to the court. Slam race is over.
 

sometennisdot

Professional
It is true that Casper Ruud is the only player in the men's singles open era to have played at least 3 slams finals, and is still trophyless
 

Goof

Professional
I mean, I wouldn't think so, but then again, I wouldn't have thought he could reach one GS final let alone 3.

All it takes is one upset to Djokovic or Alcaraz and the field is wide open. And once Djokodal finally do retire who knows.

Everything is possible in the Tsitsipas era.
Would you pick Ruud over Tsitsipas in a Grand Slam final? (I wouldn't)
 

dking68

Legend
Now Djoker is a mentalist, the only day he shall lose is when he is tired and beyond a win, otherwise no upsets, he has the calmness of buddha in his thoughts.
Sinner will tame him on The lawn courts of the championships and Medvedev will ruin his parade at flushing meadows once again.
 

Goof

Professional
Sinner will tame him on The lawn courts of the championships and Medvedev will ruin his parade at flushing meadows once again.
One can dream. I want Rafa to have a chance to hang in there with an RG24 win, but I can't see Djoker not getting to 24 before then (most likely 25, with W23 and AO24).
 

Mike Sams

G.O.A.T.
player to make 3 Major finals and never eventually win one, no? I remember reading back when Thiem finally won one that every single player who has made it to 3 Grand Slam finals has eventually won one. Is that true? If so, Casper will make history. Amazing though that someone as limited as him has made 3!
I don't know if Casper is limited. He looks like a good player and solid. He MAYBE could've given Djokovic a huge fight if they had played in the first week of RG before Djokovic got into his best form in the business end. And perhaps if the weather had hit 90 degrees which might've helped to make Djokovic wilt a bit under the intense heat where he often loses some focus or feels some struggle.
 

Terenigma

G.O.A.T.
You sure? Tsitsipas actually has earned his GS finals. Ruud has only faced 1 top ten player in his 3 runs

What are you talking about? Even if you only consider the actual finals, he's played 3 top 10 players in them alone.

Roland Garros 2022 = Played Nadal. Ranked 5th
US open 2022 = Played Alcaraz. Ranked 3rd but was world number 1 because of the win.
Roland Garros 2023 = Played Djokovic. Ranked 3rd

The rest of his draws included other top 10 players too. What even is this comment? Am I missing something?
 
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heavyD

Professional
Ruud was hit for hit with Djokovic in the first set, then the tiebreaker happened. After that it seemed like he just lost his confidence and it was game over. He's clearly got mental issues when it comes to playing Djokovic in particular. Defeating Djokovic in a grand slam takes a monumental effort but if you lack the confidence you can beat him you have no chance. It appeared he was feeling pretty good in the first set but after that tiebreaker he just felt like he's never going to beat Novak and the rest of the match was a mere formality.
 
Whats scary about this.. When Djoker retires, Ruud could dominate the tour or at least hards and clay. . LOL. Look at how he breezed through to the final. . I bet he wins the French if Cramparaz got through Nole
 

heavyD

Professional
What are you talking about? Even if you only consider the actual finals, he's played 3 top 10 players in them alone.

Roland Garros 2022 = Played Nadal. Ranked 5th
US open 2022 = Played Alcaraz. Ranked 3rd but was world number 1 because of the win.
Roland Garros 2023 = Played Djokovic. Ranked 3rd

The rest of his draws included other top 10 players too. What even if this comment? Am I missing something?
I'm pretty sure Rune is top 10, Jarry was red hot going into the FO, and Zverev on clay isn't an easy out. Not exactly sure how anyone could say Ruud didn't earn his way into the final especially considering how easily he dispatched Rune and Zverev.
 

ojo rojo

Legend
There’s someone named Dominic Thiem, Andy Murray and Ivan Lendl young sir
In mens singles in the open era, there are 11 players who have reached finals at least twice and never won, after Ruud now on 3, followed by Tsitsipas on 2, then Kevin (fistpump) Anderson who reached the finals at the US Open 2017 and Wimbledon 2018. Others are -
Alex Corretja
Cedric Pioline
Kevin Curren
Mark Philippoussis
Miloslav Mecir
Robin Soderling
Steve Denton
Todd Martin
Tony Roche reached 3 open era finals without winning, but had won Roland Garros in 1966, in the ‘amateur’ era.
For the most finals reached before eventually winning one, Ivan Lendl and MuryGOAT share the record at 4
 
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Mike Sams

G.O.A.T.
What are you talking about? Even if you only consider the actual finals, he's played 3 top 10 players in them alone.

Roland Garros 2022 = Played Nadal. Ranked 5th
US open 2022 = Played Alcaraz. Ranked 3rd but was world number 1 because of the win.
Roland Garros 2023 = Played Djokovic. Ranked 3rd

The rest of his draws included other top 10 players too. What even if this comment? Am I missing something?
He's talking about the number of top 10 players Casper Ruud played in order to reach the finals.
Zverev was outside the top 20 when Casper beat him in the SF. But Casper did beat Holger in the QF who was #6.
Tsitsipas didn't beat any top 10 players to reach the AO final.
But Tsitsipas did beat two top 10 players to reach RG finals in 2021 in Zverev and Medvedev.

I think the finals were deserved for both Tsitsipas and Ruud. They played strong players, on paper at least, to reach those finals.
 

Rosstour

G.O.A.T.
One can dream. I want Rafa to have a chance to hang in there with an RG24 win, but I can't see Djoker not getting to 24 before then (most likely 25, with W23 and AO24).

Djoker could be at 26 before Rafa has a chance at #23

The Slam Race is pretty much over now, all the suspense is gone
 

Goof

Professional
In mens singles in the open era, there are nine players who have reached finals twice and never won, the most recent being Kevin (fistpump) Anderson who reached the finals at the US Open 2017 and Wimbledon 2018. Others are -
Alex Corretja
Cedric Pioline
Kevin Curren
Mark Philippoussis
Miloslav Mecir
Robin Soderling
Steve Denton
Todd Martin
Tony Roche reached 3 open era finals without winning, but had won Roland Garros in 1966, in the ‘amateur’ era.
For the most finals reached before eventually winning one, Ivan Lendl and MuryGOAT share the record at 4
Tsitsipas as well is 0-2.
 

Robert F

Hall of Fame
Ruud was hit for hit with Djokovic in the first set, then the tiebreaker happened. After that it seemed like he just lost his confidence and it was game over. He's clearly got mental issues when it comes to playing Djokovic in particular. Defeating Djokovic in a grand slam takes a monumental effort but if you lack the confidence you can beat him you have no chance. It appeared he was feeling pretty good in the first set but after that tiebreaker he just felt like he's never going to beat Novak and the rest of the match was a mere formality.
It seems many player can do a set or two with djoker and then just shut down fall apart after that.
It's amazing how clutch he is in tiebreaks. Was super sneaky with how solid he was in his TBs vs. Federer.
 
Others have lost three or four finals but they ended up winning one eventually. He (and Tsitsipas) could break that mould.

In women’s tennis, some players ended their careers with three or four losing finals and no wins: Sukova (AO 84 and 90, USO 86 and 93), Mary-Joe Fernandez (AO 90 and 92, RG 93), Safina (AO 2009, RG 2008 and 2009).
 
It is true that Casper Ruud is the only player in the men's singles open era to have played at least 3 slams finals, and is still trophyless

There’s someone named Dominic Thiem, Andy Murray and Ivan Lendl young sir
Yeah someone asked thiem before the uso final what if he loses yet another final. Thiem said he would have to get on a call and talk to Murray. Thiem totally froze with nerves, but luckily for him zverev choked and he was able to post a comeback win.
 

Goof

Professional
Yeah someone asked thiem before the uso final what if he loses yet another final. Thiem said he would have to get on a call and talk to Murray. Thiem totally froze with nerves, but luckily for him zverev choked and he was able to post a comeback win.
The worst match I've ever seen. Glad Thiem got one though!
 

merwy

G.O.A.T.
I mean, I wouldn't think so, but then again, I wouldn't have thought he could reach one GS final let alone 3.

All it takes is one upset to Djokovic or Alcaraz and the field is wide open. And once Djokodal finally do retire who knows.

Everything is possible in the Tsitsipas era.
Yeah but everything being possible also means it’s possible Ruud never gets this close again. Let’s be fair, there are so many players who seem like they should be up there more than him. Alcaraz, Rune, Sinner to name a few. Doesn’t matter if Ruud beats them now, they have more talent and better prospects ahead of them.
 

Ray Mercer

Hall of Fame
It seems many player can do a set or two with djoker and then just shut down fall apart after that.
It's amazing how clutch he is in tiebreaks. Was super sneaky with how solid he was in his TBs vs. Federer.

He becomes an ultra pusher in tiebreaks and doesn’t give any errors. You need to play like Wawrinka and just blast him off the court with power and take the racquet out of his hands.
 

DSH

Talk Tennis Guru
He becomes an ultra pusher in tiebreaks and doesn’t give any errors. You need to play like Wawrinka and just blast him off the court with power and take the racquet out of his hands.
Nadal won the tiebreaker in the fourth set of RG 2022 against him.
:D
 

Fabresque

Legend
He has to win one eventually, it’s almost a guarantee at this point.

He’s made 3 slam finals in the past year and played the best possible opponent in all 3. Eventually he’ll get a Tsitsipas, Zverev, Rune, Medvedev, etc which will make it winnable. He’ll do it, it’s a matter of time with him.
 

Aussie Darcy

Bionic Poster
Just not true. He will not be the first to make 3 slam finals and never win one (and that's assuming he never does win one).

Helena Sukova made 4 slam finals and never won a slam.

Runner up at the 1984 and 1989 Australian Open as well as the 1986 and 1993 US Open

Mary Joe Fernandez also made 3 slam finals and never won a slam.

Runner up at the 1990 and 1992 Australian Open as well as the 1993 French Open

Dinara Safina likewise made 3 slam finals and never won a slam.

Runner up at the 2008 and 2009 French Open as well as the 2009 Australian Open.
 

Aussie Darcy

Bionic Poster
Ruud will be looking to follow Simona Halep who lost her first 3 slam finals (2014 French Open to Sharapova, 2017 French Open to Ostapenko and 2018 Australian Open to Wozniacki) before winning on her 4th attempt (defeating Sloane at the 2018 French Open). She's since gone on to win 2 more slams as well!

Ruud is still young, hard to already rule him out from ever winning one.
 
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