BGod
G.O.A.T.
Background
So Jimmy Connors holds the record of most consecutive semifinals or better at a Slam with 12 at the US Open. However this included 4 years where the tournament was Bo3 in the first 3 rounds, meaning 3 less sets needed to win it all and in 1977 it was Bo3 until the quarters. So in total Connors needed 13 less sets to maintain his 11 semifinal streak. You can say he makes up for it by winning 15 sets to make an extra semi but it doesn't erase him having easier earlier rounds for 3 tournaments. So keep that in mind.
Djokovic has currently made 11 consecutive semifinal or better at the USO. Some will say he missed 2017 due to injury and thus it's not a true consecutive streak but I believe that's silly logic as there's a massive difference between being injured and not playing well enough. Others will also point out his 2016 run having effectively 2 walkovers and a shortened match due to retirement.
Federer meanwhile has only made 10 total semifinals at the USO but that's why we'll be looking at his Aussie Open from 2004-2014 and indeed what makes it so impressive is how it outlived his collective streaks at the other Slams by 5 years. He failed to make the semifinals of Wimbledon 3 times, French 3 times and USO twice in that span. He continued pad his Aussie SF totals after his 2015 third round loss and is now on 3 meaning he's made it to the final four an astounding 14 of the last 15 editions. But we will only concentrate on his 11 in a row.
Beyond The SF
Connors made 7 Finals winning 5. This included a run of 5 straight finals from 74-78 and back to back titles 82-83.
Djokovic made a total of 8 Finals with 3 wins. He's had streaks of 4 and 3 consecutive Finals but no back to backs.
Federer hasn't made more than 2 consecutive Finals at the AO but he sports a 4-1 record and back to backs in 06-07 including a perfect run (zero sets dropped) in 07.
Who Beat Them
Connors lost his 2 Finals to Orantes in straights and Vilas in 4 when the tournament was held on clay. He lost his 5 semifinals to Borg, Lendl and McEnroe in straights and an additional 2 five set epics with McEnroe.
Djokovic lost his 5 Finals to Nadal on 2 occasions in 4, Wawrinka in 4, Murray in 5 and Federer in straights. His 3 semifinal losses were to Federer twice in a tight 3 set, 4 set and Nishikori in 4.
Federer's only Finals loss came to Nadal in 5. He also lost 4 consecutive Semifinals to Nadal and Novak in straights, to Nadal again in 4 and to Murray in 5. His 2 other semifinal losses came to Safin in 5 and Novak in straights.
So Jimmy Connors holds the record of most consecutive semifinals or better at a Slam with 12 at the US Open. However this included 4 years where the tournament was Bo3 in the first 3 rounds, meaning 3 less sets needed to win it all and in 1977 it was Bo3 until the quarters. So in total Connors needed 13 less sets to maintain his 11 semifinal streak. You can say he makes up for it by winning 15 sets to make an extra semi but it doesn't erase him having easier earlier rounds for 3 tournaments. So keep that in mind.
Djokovic has currently made 11 consecutive semifinal or better at the USO. Some will say he missed 2017 due to injury and thus it's not a true consecutive streak but I believe that's silly logic as there's a massive difference between being injured and not playing well enough. Others will also point out his 2016 run having effectively 2 walkovers and a shortened match due to retirement.
Federer meanwhile has only made 10 total semifinals at the USO but that's why we'll be looking at his Aussie Open from 2004-2014 and indeed what makes it so impressive is how it outlived his collective streaks at the other Slams by 5 years. He failed to make the semifinals of Wimbledon 3 times, French 3 times and USO twice in that span. He continued pad his Aussie SF totals after his 2015 third round loss and is now on 3 meaning he's made it to the final four an astounding 14 of the last 15 editions. But we will only concentrate on his 11 in a row.
Beyond The SF
Connors made 7 Finals winning 5. This included a run of 5 straight finals from 74-78 and back to back titles 82-83.
Djokovic made a total of 8 Finals with 3 wins. He's had streaks of 4 and 3 consecutive Finals but no back to backs.
Federer hasn't made more than 2 consecutive Finals at the AO but he sports a 4-1 record and back to backs in 06-07 including a perfect run (zero sets dropped) in 07.
Who Beat Them
Connors lost his 2 Finals to Orantes in straights and Vilas in 4 when the tournament was held on clay. He lost his 5 semifinals to Borg, Lendl and McEnroe in straights and an additional 2 five set epics with McEnroe.
Djokovic lost his 5 Finals to Nadal on 2 occasions in 4, Wawrinka in 4, Murray in 5 and Federer in straights. His 3 semifinal losses were to Federer twice in a tight 3 set, 4 set and Nishikori in 4.
Federer's only Finals loss came to Nadal in 5. He also lost 4 consecutive Semifinals to Nadal and Novak in straights, to Nadal again in 4 and to Murray in 5. His 2 other semifinal losses came to Safin in 5 and Novak in straights.
