Hardest ATP draw for any title winner?

[SirCraigoryy]

After watching Shapovalov (ranked 54 at the time) beat...

R32 Miomir Kecmanovic (Ranked 56)
R16 Taylor Fritz (Ranked 4)
QF Tomas Machac (Ranked 24)
SF Tommy Paul (Ranked 9)
F Casper Ruud (Ranked 5)

...on his way to the 500 Dallas Open title I started to think, "what is the hardest draw faced by a player who WON the title in ANY ATP event?" I think in my opinion it would have to be Nalbandian's 2007 Madrid Masters Title where he beat...

R1 (5-7, 6-2, 6-4) Arnaud Clement
R2 (4-6, 6-4, 7-6) Tomas Berdych (9 seed)
R3 (6-2, 6-4) Juan Martin Del Potro
QF (6-1, 6-2) Rafael Nadal (2 seed)
SF (6-4, 7-6) Novak Djokovic (3 seed)
F (1-6, 6-3, 6-3) Roger Federer (1 seed)

What do you all think? If you think it's another/different title run make sure to include the draw they went through as well!

 

[nolefam_2024]

Nadal rg 2013 is a good contender
Brands Klizan
Fognini
Nishikori
Wawrinka
Djokovic
Ferrer

 

[Nappa]

Nadal RG 2022

 

[dking68]

Djokovic USO 2011
Del Potro USO 2009

Madi Keys 2025

 

[ibbi]

I think it is hard to argue with Nalbandian, tbh, love the mention of Nadal 2013 RG too, not facing anyone outside the top 60. Some others I love (and feel like I mention a lot), though less based on seeding.

Kuerten, RG97
beats Muster (RG95 champion), Kafelnikov (RG96 champion), Bruguera (RG93 & 94 champion), also Medvedev (Hamburg '97 champion).

Borg, RG78
Tanner (#9) - 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (no sets dropped in first 3 rounds)
Ramirez (#6) - 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 (no sets dropped in first 4 rounds, Monte Carlo champ)
Barazzutti (#7) - 6-0, 6-1, 6-0
Vilas (#2) - 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 (Hamburg champ, defending champ)

 

[nolefam_2024]

Ok here is another one although just 5 matches

Alcaraz 2022 Madrid
Basilashvili 20
Norrie 9
Nadal 4
Djokovic 1
Zverev 3

 

[Moose Malloy]

on paper Enqvist at '99 Stuttgart Masters looks pretty cool - Chang, Kuerten, Rios, Agassi, Krajicek. Beat 4 players who won majors and a former #1(Rios). And 4 players who were top 10 at the time.

 

[ibbi]

Nalbandian's Paris Bercy win, while nothing compared to the Madrid one, is also damn impressive. The guy beat 5 (FIVE) top 15 players in a row - Moya, Federer, Ferrer, Gasquet, Nadal. Ferrer the only one to get a set off of him.

Federer's 2017 Aussie Open with his 4 top 10 wins coming back from knee surgery, including (admittedly, his pigeon, but also the US Open champion) Wawrinka, and his daddy Rafa (3-0 at the AO) is also surely up there too.

 

[Moose Malloy]

Ok here is another one although just 5 matches

Alcaraz 2022 Madrid
Basilashvili 20
Norrie 9
Nadal 4
Djokovic 1
Zverev 3

Does UTS have a hardest draw based on ELO list?

 

[nolefam_2024]

Does UTS have a hardest draw based on ELO list?

Yes

https://www.ultimatetennisstatistics.com/record?recordId=HardestGrandSlamTitle.

Ultimate Tennis Statistics - Hardest Tour Finals Title

Hardest Tour Finals Title at Ultimate Tennis Statistics

www.ultimatetennisstatistics.com

Ultimate Tennis Statistics - Hardest Masters Title

Hardest Masters Title at Ultimate Tennis Statistics

www.ultimatetennisstatistics.com

Ultimate Tennis Statistics - Hardest Olympics Title

Hardest Olympics Title at Ultimate Tennis Statistics

www.ultimatetennisstatistics.com

 

[Moose Malloy]

Yes

https://www.ultimatetennisstatistics.com/record?recordId=HardestGrandSlamTitle.

Ultimate Tennis Statistics - Hardest Tour Finals Title

Hardest Tour Finals Title at Ultimate Tennis Statistics

www.ultimatetennisstatistics.com

Ultimate Tennis Statistics - Hardest Masters Title

Hardest Masters Title at Ultimate Tennis Statistics

www.ultimatetennisstatistics.com

Ultimate Tennis Statistics - Hardest Olympics Title

Hardest Olympics Title at Ultimate Tennis Statistics

www.ultimatetennisstatistics.com

thanks! Certainly wasn't expecting to see Brian Gottfried on the list.

His 1976 Los Angles win wasn't too shabby.
Dibbs
Connors
Nastase
Ashe

 

[tudwell]

Ok here is another one although just 5 matches

Alcaraz 2022 Madrid
Basilashvili 20
Norrie 9
Nadal 4
Djokovic 1
Zverev 3

Dang. I’d forgotten (or maybe never even realized) he faced all top-20 players there.

 

[Third Serve]

Hard to watch this thread go by without mentioning the 1992 US Open.

Edberg took out Krajicek, Lendl, Chang, and Sampras in immediate succession, winning all but the last one in five sets. And the Chang match was more than five hours long.

 

[Rosstour]

AO17 when you consider how much better Nadal is than Federer

 

[Pmasterfunk]

I think Goran needs at least an honorable mention. Moya, Roddick, Rusedski, Safin, Henman, Rafter.

 

[buscemi]

Tsonga at the 2014 Canadian Open is often mentioned alongside Nalbandian at Madrid in 2007 as the other toughest Masters Series draw ever:

1R: Roger-Vasselin​

R32: Chardy​

R16: Djokovic​

QF: Murray​

SF: Dimitrov​

F: Federer​

I think Nalbandian's draw was a bit tougher from top to bottom, but both of these were terrific efforts.

 

[Third Serve]

Hamburg 2008 for Nadal was pretty tough. Faced Murray and Moya in earlier rounds, then squared off against Djokovic in one of the pair’s very best clay matches (for what it’s worth I think it’s their highest-quality clay match start to finish) and against Federer in another solid match.

 

[dking68]

Sinner ATP Finals 2024

 

[Im(moral) Winner]

Davydenko beat Fedal back-to-back at Doha and that was just a 250 tournament lol

 

[inflation_era]

W2022.

 

[Berrettini_Fan]

Michael Chang 1989 FO

 

[Shaolin]

Goran Wimbledon 2001.

R1: Jonsson
R2: Moya
R3: Roddick
R4: Rusedski
QF: Safin
SF: Henman
F: Rafter

 

[nolefam_2024]

Goran Wimbledon 2001 draw forgotten, AS ALWAYS.

R1: Jonsson
R2: Moya
R3: Roddick
R4: Rusedski
QF: Safin
SF: Henman
F: Rafter

But no Sampras or Agassi !!

 

[Cabeza del Demonio]

After watching Shapovalov (ranked 54 at the time) beat...

R32 Miomir Kecmanovic (Ranked 56)
R16 Taylor Fritz (Ranked 4)
QF Tomas Machac (Ranked 24)
SF Tommy Paul (Ranked 9)
F Casper Ruud (Ranked 5)

...on his way to the 500 Dallas Open title I started to think, "what is the hardest draw faced by a player who WON the title in ANY ATP event?" I think in my opinion it would have to be Nalbandian's 2007 Madrid Masters Title where he beat...

R1 (5-7, 6-2, 6-4) Arnaud Clement
R2 (4-6, 6-4, 7-6) Tomas Berdych (9 seed)
R3 (6-2, 6-4) Juan Martin Del Potro
QF (6-1, 6-2) Rafael Nadal (2 seed)
SF (6-4, 7-6) Novak Djokovic (3 seed)
F (1-6, 6-3, 6-3) Roger Federer (1 seed)

What do you all think? If you think it's another/different title run make sure to include the draw they went through as well!

Can't go without mentioning the legendary 2001 Wimbledon run by Goran Ivanišević:
1R: Jonsson (Qualifier, only easy match)
2R: Moyá (Major champ, former #1)
3R: Roddick (Major champ, future #1)
4R: Rusedski (Major finalist)
QF: Safin (Major champ, former #1)
SF: Henman (#4 seed and longtime contender)
F: Rafter (Major champ, former #1)

 

[Cabeza del Demonio]

But no Sampras or Agassi !!

That is true, but he went through 6 elite players at a Slam. I can't even think of anyone else who's done that.

 

[Shaolin]

But no Sampras or Agassi !!

Still a legendary draw.

 

[duaneeo]

Federer 2010 ATP finals

#7 Ferrer
#5 Murray
#4 Soderling
#3 Djokovic
#1 Nadal

 

[Hitman]

Some good ones here, but no such thread can ever be complete without Sampras USO 1990

Muster
Lendl
McEnroe
Agassi

 

[Hitman]

Djokovic Montreal 2007

Kiefer
Nalbandian
Roddick
Nadal
Federer

 

[nolefam_2024]

Some good ones here, but no such thread can ever be complete without Sampras USO 1990

Muster
Lendl
McEnroe
Agassi

All 7?

 

[Turning Pro]

Fed Ao 2004

Bogomolov
Hewitt
Nalbandian
Ferrero
Safin

Nadal 2011

Isner
Andujar
Ljubicic
Soderling (2 time finalist)
Murray (1 time finalist and many semis)
Fed (5 time finalist and 1 time winner)

 

[Hitman]

Agassi in Wimbledon 1992 took on three grass court specialists in a row on fast grass, all Wimbledon champions.

Becker
McEnroe
Ivanisevic

 

[Hitman]

All 7?

First three rounds

Goldie
Lundgren - Federer's coach, RIP.
Hlasek

 

[Hitman]

Going to give a shout out to Henman for his Paris 2003 masters win

Grosjean
Kuerten
Federer
Roddick
Pavel

And with the exception of Grosjean, he straight set everyone on his path, Federer and Roddick had just won the last two slams at that point.

 

[Shaolin]

Going to give a shout out to Henman for his Paris 2003 masters win

Grosjean
Kuerten
Federer
Roddick
Pavel

And with the exception of Grosjean, he straight set everyone on his path, Federer and Roddick had just won the last two slams at that point.

Good call, I forgot about that run.

 

[Hitman]

Good call, I forgot about that run.

Henman played like a beast that week. It was totally un-Henman like.

 

[Hitman]

Federer Miami 2017 was pretty solid also

Tiafoe
Del Potro
Bautista Agut
Berdych
Kyrgios
Nadal

 

[buscemi]

First three rounds

Goldie
Lundgren - Federer's coach, RIP.
Hlasek

Pretty solid first three rounds for Sampras. Goldie reached a career-high #27 in 1989, Hlasek reached a career-high #7 in 1989, and Lundgren came into the U.S. Open on the heels of making the finals of the RCA Championships, beating Agassi before losing to Becker.

 

[Hitman]

Pretty solid first three rounds for Sampras. Goldie reached a career-high #27 in 1989, Hlasek reached a career-high #7 in 1989, and Lundgren came into the U.S. Open on the heels of making the finals of the RCA Championships, beating Agassi before losing to Becker.

Agree. Incredible run.

 

[Hitman]

And some love for Ljubicic

Indian Wells 2010

Harrison
Dabul
Djokovic
Monaco
Nadal
Roddick

Not bad for his only big title win. He caught fire that week.

 

[Third Serve]

For some unusually tough 500 wins, Roddick’s Dubai 2008 and Davydenko’s Doha 2010 were very strong.

 

[Moose Malloy]

Agassi in Wimbledon 1992 took on three grass court specialists in a row on fast grass, all Wimbledon champions.

Becker
McEnroe
Ivanisevic

also beat Rostagno in 3R, who was no slouch on grass (beat Connors, Mac, and Sampras at Wimbledon)

 

[Im(moral) Winner]

For some unusually tough 500 wins, Roddick’s Dubai 2008 and Davydenko’s Doha 2010 were very strong.

They weren’t unusual for the tournaments themselves since they could afford playing the big four and other top players with many title runs being more impressive than a good chunk of masters runs.

 

[buscemi]

also beat Rostagno in 3R, who was no slouch on grass (beat Connors, Mac, and Sampras at Wimbledon)

And should have beaten Becker at the U.S. Open before the gods* intervened.

*net cord.

 

[Im(moral) Winner]

Goran Wimbledon 2001.

R1: Jonsson
R2: Moya
R3: Roddick
R4: Rusedski
QF: Safin
SF: Henman
F: Rafter

Can't go without mentioning the legendary 2001 Wimbledon run by Goran Ivanišević:
1R: Jonsson (Qualifier, only easy match)
2R: Moyá (Major champ, former #1)
3R: Roddick (Major champ, future #1)
4R: Rusedski (Major finalist)
QF: Safin (Major champ, former #1)
SF: Henman (#4 seed and longtime contender)
F: Rafter (Major champ, former #1)

Looks good on paper but Moyá and Safin weren’t good on grass (besides in the strong era), Rusedski vultured grass tournaments in Nottingham and at the Hall of Fame but didn’t do much elsewhere and Roddick was young and injured

 

[Third Serve]

They weren’t unusual for the tournaments themselves since they could afford playing the big four and other top players with many title runs being more impressive than a good chunk of masters runs.

Agree that those 500s tended to attract strong draws, but even with that consideration those two draws were uniquely difficult.

 

[buscemi]

Rusedski vultured grass tournaments in Nottingham and at the Hall of Fame but didn’t do much elsewhere

In fairness, winning the Grand Slam Cup, winning Bercy by straight setting Sampras in a BO5 final, and making the U.S. Open final isn't too shabby.

 

[Im(moral) Winner]

In fairness, winning the Grand Slam Cup, winning Bercy by straight setting Sampras in a BO5 final, and making the U.S. Open final isn't too shabby.

Yes he was a good on hard

 

[Im(moral) Winner]

Agree that those 500s tended to attract strong draws, but even with that consideration those two draws were uniquely difficult.

Doha was a 250 before this year

 

[madhavan]

Hard to watch this thread go by without mentioning the 1992 US Open.

Edberg took out Krajicek, Lendl, Chang, and Sampras in immediate succession, winning all but the last one in five sets. And the Chang match was more than five hours long.

And Edberg was down a break in the fifth set in every one of those 3 matches! Most amazing GS run