Oldest major winners

[Gary Duane]

I just updated my list of guys who who won majors in the Open era.

1. Nadal
2. Wawrinka
3. Ashe
4. Agassi
5. Gimeno
6. Federer
7. Rosewall

Nadal is now the 7th oldest man to win a slam in the Open era.

I should have done that list in reverse order, but you get the idea.

We are witnessing something really amazing this year.

Fed is now second only to Rosewall in age and has to wait another year and 1/2 or so to win another slam at the age of 37 and beat Rosewall's record.

 

[hoodjem]

Could happen.

(Rosewall was 37 years and 2 months old when he won the 1972 AO.)

 

[VolleyHelena]

Pre-Open era someone won Wimbledon at 41

 

[MichaelNadal]

Queen, when she wins Wimbledon next year

 

[vanioMan]

And so many people said Nadal won't be playing past 27

 

[Rafa the King]

Queen, when she wins Wimbledon next year

Don't get your love for Queenus, why do you root for her?

 

[TahoeTennis]

No Joke: Fed could win slams at 40+

No Joke: Nestor is 45 I believe and still competitive, albeit it in doubles.

 

[Gary Duane]

I think the main issue with Fed will be health. I believe his back cost him a reasonable chance at winning slam number three this year, although Nadal would have fought like a lion to win this one.

Unlike others, I still believe Nadal's back cost him the 2014 AO and sent him on a downward spiral.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Don't get your love for Queenus, why do you root for her?

Why not? You probably missed peak Venus. The most explosive and athletic game on the WTA at her peak, and always stayed humble, never got out of line on court, much like Nadal. Epic tennis without overconfidence, and always working hard.

slayyynusss

 

[Deleted member 743561]

Why not? You probably missed peak Venus. The most explosive and athletic game on the WTA at her peak, and always stayed humble, never got out of line on court, much like Nadal. Epic tennis without overconfidence, and always working hard.

slayyynusss

"C" is for "Classic."

I think maybe you have a sense of humor about these things, though, no?

 

[MichaelNadal]

"C" is for "Classic."

I think maybe you have a sense of humor about these things, though, no?

A maestronian will of course find problems with Rafa to distract the pain of the lasso forehand

 

[Deleted member 743561]

A maestronian will of course find problems with Rafa to distract the pain of the lasso forehand

Humble? Never out of line?

Sheesh, love you some Nadal Kool-Aid, eh?

 

[MichaelNadal]

Humble? Never out of line?

Sheesh, love you some Nadal Kool-Aid, eh?

I live with my mom and date a girl who wears little makeup and the world #460 is always a big big challenge, no? It's ok, you know Nadal is epic. im sure you sit still and don't crack a smile when he hits those shots only he can

 

[Deleted member 743561]

I live with my mom and date a girl who wears little makeup and the world #460 is always a big big challenge, no?

Not your most cogent response... required a few reads, and still didn't add up.

Anywho, see original reply.

 

[Gary Duane]

Why not? You probably missed peak Venus. The most explosive and athletic game on the WTA at her peak, and always stayed humble, never got out of line on court, much like Nadal. Epic tennis without overconfidence, and always working hard.

slayyynusss

I don't usually watch WTA, but I did watch Venus this year and was disappointed to see her lose. I could definitely get behind her. Serena is not so easy for me to back because of the drama.

 

[Mainad]

I don't usually watch WTA, but I did watch Venus this year and was disappointed to see her lose. I could definitely get behind her. Serena is not so easy for me to back because of the drama.

Must have been an agonising loss for Venus. She was so close to making the final and would almost certainly have beaten a nervous and error-prone Madison!

 

[Harry_Wild]

It all about beating records! Surely, Gonzales, Laver or even earlier era, Tillet or Bulge or someone else won GS in their 40s and maybe 50s?

 

[Rafa the King]

Why not? You probably missed peak Venus. The most explosive and athletic game on the WTA at her peak, and always stayed humble, never got out of line on court, much like Nadal. Epic tennis without overconfidence, and always working hard.

slayyynusss

I started to watch tennis just a bit before Rafa came up, he mad me get into it a lot and start playing myself, although tennis was in the family. Clijsters used to be my fave WTA player although I haven't cared too much about WTA ever. I did thouroughly enjoy Vinci beating Williams in 2015

 

[hoodjem]

It all about beating records! Surely, Gonzales, Laver or even earlier era, Tillet or Bulge or someone else won GS in their 40s and maybe 50s?

Tillet?
Bulge?


Tilden?
Budge?


(Oooops. Sorry, I am being pedantic again.)

 

[MichaelNadal]

I don't usually watch WTA, but I did watch Venus this year and was disappointed to see her lose. I could definitely get behind her. Serena is not so easy for me to back because of the drama.

Must have been an agonising loss for Venus. She was so close to making the final and would almost certainly have beaten a nervous and error-prone Madison!

Man, she was 2 points from beating Sloane, and would have definitely beast Madison, ugh!!! At least she was in 2 slam finals this year, I hope next is a continuation. Otherwise those 2 set points she had against Muguruza in the Wimbledon final, and being 2 points from the USO final will haunt me. She had too many chances in the AO final she didn't take, so I can't say anything about that one.

 

[Deleted member 716271]

Sureshs won the steak eating contest in Cincinnati at age 48 back in 2002

 

[Phoenix1983]

Oldest slam champs in Open Era are as per Gary's OP.

Youngest slam champs:

1. Chang 17 y, 4 m 1989 FO
2. Becker 17 y, 8 m 1985 W
3. Wilander 17 y, 10 m 1982 FO
4. Borg 18 y, 0 m 1974 FO
5. Nadal 19 y, 0 m 2005 FO
6. Sampras 19 y, 1 m 1990 US

Very impressive that Nadal is in both lists.

 

[Sport]

I think the main issue with Fed will be health. I believe his back cost him a reasonable chance at winning slam number three this year, although Nadal would have fought like a lion to win this one.

Unlike others, I still believe Nadal's back cost him the 2014 AO and sent him on a downward spiral.

Agree.

 

[Thundergod]

Oldest slam champs in Open Era are as per Gary's OP.

Youngest slam champs:

1. Chang 17 y, 4 m 1989 FO
2. Becker 17 y, 8 m 1985 W
3. Wilander 17 y, 10 m 1982 FO
4. Borg 18 y, 0 m 1974 FO
5. Nadal 19 y, 0 m 2005 FO
6. Sampras 19 y, 1 m 1990 US

Very impressive that Nadal is in both lists.

Geez, I would never be able to picture a 17 year old winning a slam now, especially against the likes of the Big 4. Even the 18/19 year olds look like kids compared to them.

 

[Phoenix1983]

Geez, I would never be able to picture a 17 year old winning a slam now, especially against the likes of the Big 4. Even the 18/19 year olds look like kids compared to them.

It's hard to picture anyone under 30 winning a slam these days.

 

[EdSWright]

And so many people said Nadal won't be playing past 27

They didn't count on his knee growing back.

 

[mike danny]

Why not? You probably missed peak Venus. The most explosive and athletic game on the WTA at her peak, and always stayed humble, never got out of line on court, much like Nadal. Epic tennis without overconfidence, and always working hard.

slayyynusss

The only downside of this year was Venus not winning a slam, despite reaching 2 major finals. to make matters worse, she didn't even win a set in her major finals.

I genuinely felt sorry for her at Wimb

 

[Nashvegas]

Oldest slam champs in Open Era are as per Gary's OP.

Youngest slam champs:

1. Chang 17 y, 4 m 1989 FO
2. Becker 17 y, 8 m 1985 W
3. Wilander 17 y, 10 m 1982 FO
4. Borg 18 y, 0 m 1974 FO
5. Nadal 19 y, 0 m 2005 FO
6. Sampras 19 y, 1 m 1990 US

Very impressive that Nadal is in both lists.

Everyone who has won a major is in both lists.

If Gary had stopped his listing of oldest champs at 6, Nadal wouldn't have made that list. I know I have a point here somewhere...

 

[Phoenix1983]

Everyone who has won a major is in both lists.

If Gary had stopped his listing of oldest champs at 6, Nadal wouldn't have made that list. I know I have a point here somewhere...

Point is that Nadal (and Sampras, for that matter) started winning slams aged 19, and continued until the age of 31.

Impressive....most impressive.

 

[merwy]

I just updated my list of guys who who won majors in the Open era.

1. Nadal
2. Wawrinka
3. Ashe
4. Agassi
5. Gimeno
6. Federer
7. Rosewall

Nadal is now the 7th oldest man to win a slam in the Open era.

I should have done that list in reverse order, but you get the idea.

We are witnessing something really amazing this year.

Fed is now second only to Rosewall in age and has to wait another year and 1/2 or so to win another slam at the age of 37 and beat Rosewall's record.

uhh yes, and you still could've changed it easily before posting it. Now it looks as if you're so keen (read: desperate) on putting Nadal at #1 that you're willing to reverse a list so that Nadal comes out on top. It makes absolutely no sense that you put it in this order.

 

[Nashvegas]

Point is that Nadal (and Sampras, for that matter) started winning slams aged 19, and continued until the age of 31.

Impressive....most impressive.

It certainly is. Perhaps a bit more impressive is Fed's age range of 21 to 35. Although he didn't make your list.

 

[mike danny]

Nadal being in both of the above lists is impressive.

 

[Gary Duane]

Point is that Nadal (and Sampras, for that matter) started winning slams aged 19, and continued until the age of 31.

Impressive....most impressive.

Youngest, without repeats for guys would did it more than once, up to Federer:

1. Chang 17y 03m 20d
2. Becker 17y 07m 15d
3. Wilander 17y 09m 15d
4. Borg 18y 00m 10d
5. Nadal 19y 00m 02d
6. Sampras 19y 00m 28d
7. Edberg 19y 10m 19d
8. Hewitt 20y 06m 16d
9. McEnroe 20y 06m 24d
10. Safin 20y 07m 14d
11. Djokovic 20y 08m 05d
12. Kuerten 20y 08m 29d
13. Courier 20y 09m 23d
14. Del Potro 20y 11m 22d
15. Roddick 21y 00m 08d
16. Connors 21y 03m 30d
17. Edmondson 21y 06m 11d
18. Moya 21y 09m 11d
19. Federer 21y 10m 28d

Pretty amazing that 19 guys won slams earlier than Roger...

 

[Mainad]

Youngest, without repeats for guys would did it more than once, up to Federer:

1. Chang 17y 03m 20d
2. Becker 17y 07m 15d
3. Wilander 17y 09m 15d
4. Borg 18y 00m 10d
5. Nadal 19y 00m 02d
6. Sampras 19y 00m 28d
7. Edberg 19y 10m 19d
8. Hewitt 20y 06m 16d
9. McEnroe 20y 06m 24d
10. Safin 20y 07m 14d
11. Djokovic 20y 08m 05d
12. Kuerten 20y 08m 29d
13. Courier 20y 09m 23d
14. Del Potro 20y 11m 22d
15. Roddick 21y 00m 08d
16. Connors 21y 03m 30d
17. Edmondson 21y 06m 11d
18. Moya 21y 09m 11d
19. Becker 21y 09m 19d
20. Federer 21y 10m 28d

Pretty amazing that 19 guys won slams earlier than Roger...

Roger was indeed a comparative slow starter compared to many other first time Slam winners. Now he can't seem to stop!!!

 

[BeatlesFan]

It certainly is. Perhaps a bit more impressive is Fed's age range of 21 to 35.

Pete retiring and winning his last major at 31 is nowhere near as impressive as any player winning two majors at 35. There is an enormous difference tennis-wise between 31 and 35, and Federer was two weeks short of 36 when he won Wimbledon. 31 is old in tennis terms but 35/36 is positively geriatric, as Agassi pointed out during the French Open, and he should know.

 

[buscemi]

Oldest players to hold the #1 ranking:

1. Agassi: 33 years, 5 months
2. Nadal: 31 years, 3+ months
3. Federer: 31 years, just under 3 months
4. Connors: 30 years, 10 months
5. Lendl: 30 years, 5 months
6. Newcombe: 30 years, 2 months​

 

[Nashvegas]

Youngest, without repeats for guys would did it more than once, up to Federer:

1. Chang 17y 03m 20d
2. Becker 17y 07m 15d
3. Wilander 17y 09m 15d
4. Borg 18y 00m 10d
5. Nadal 19y 00m 02d
6. Sampras 19y 00m 28d
7. Edberg 19y 10m 19d
8. Hewitt 20y 06m 16d
9. McEnroe 20y 06m 24d
10. Safin 20y 07m 14d
11. Djokovic 20y 08m 05d
12. Kuerten 20y 08m 29d
13. Courier 20y 09m 23d
14. Del Potro 20y 11m 22d
15. Roddick 21y 00m 08d
16. Connors 21y 03m 30d
17. Edmondson 21y 06m 11d
18. Moya 21y 09m 11d
19. Becker 21y 09m 19d
20. Federer 21y 10m 28d

Pretty amazing that 19 guys won slams earlier than Roger...

19 weak eras

 

[buscemi]

Youngest, without repeats for guys would did it more than once, up to Federer:

1. Chang 17y 03m 20d
2. Becker 17y 07m 15d
3. Wilander 17y 09m 15d
4. Borg 18y 00m 10d
5. Nadal 19y 00m 02d
6. Sampras 19y 00m 28d
7. Edberg 19y 10m 19d
8. Hewitt 20y 06m 16d
9. McEnroe 20y 06m 24d
10. Safin 20y 07m 14d
11. Djokovic 20y 08m 05d
12. Kuerten 20y 08m 29d
13. Courier 20y 09m 23d
14. Del Potro 20y 11m 22d
15. Roddick 21y 00m 08d
16. Connors 21y 03m 30d
17. Edmondson 21y 06m 11d
18. Moya 21y 09m 11d
19. Becker 21y 09m 19d
20. Federer 21y 10m 28d

Pretty amazing that 19 guys won slams earlier than Roger...

Just to note: You listed Becker twice, at #2 and #19.

 

[Gary Duane]

Just to note: You listed Becker twice, at #2 and #19.

Yes, I did. Fixed it...

 

[ShowStealer]

Pete retiring and winning his last major at 31 is nowhere near as impressive as any player winning two majors at 35. There is an enormous difference tennis-wise between 31 and 35, and Federer was two weeks short of 36 when he won Wimbledon. 31 is old in tennis terms but 35/36 is positively geriatric, as Agassi pointed out during the French Open, and he should know.

Age is not a big factor in tennis

 

[thrust]

I don't usually watch WTA, but I did watch Venus this year and was disappointed to see her lose. I could definitely get behind her. Serena is not so easy for me to back because of the drama.

Had Venus won that very close third set against Sloane, she probably would have won the tournament. That was a strange match, but even the two 1-6 and 0-6 sets had some long exciting rallies. IMO, Venus ran out of gas at the end of the grueling third set. Still, I am glad that Stephens won a slam, especially considering her 1 year injury absence.

 

[thrust]

Age is not a big factor in tennis

Nonsense, especially at 35! I agree that Roger's feat is far superior to Pete's, but IMO, Pete was not blessed with the stamina and physical ability that Roger had. But then, few have.

 

[BobbyOne]

Oldest players to hold the #1 ranking:

1. Agassi: 33 years, 5 months
2. Nadal: 31 years, 3+ months
3. Federer: 31 years, just under 3 months
4. Connors: 30 years, 10 months
5. Lendl: 30 years, 5 months
6. Newcombe: 30 years, 2 months​

Rosewall was Co.-No.1 at 36 and at 37.

 

[thrust]

Tillet?
Bulge?


Tilden?
Budge?

Tilden, like Rosewall, won slams at 36 and 37. Budge, according to the Collins Book, was only 23 when he won his last slam in 1938. He then turned pro. Probably one of the British players, pre 1920, won Wimbledon after turning 40.

 

[ShowStealer]

Nonsense, especially at 35! I agree that Roger's feat is far superior to Pete's, but IMO, Pete was not blessed with the stamina and physical ability that Roger had. But then, few have.

physically tennis is not very demanding sport

 

[Nashvegas]

physically tennis is not very demanding sport

Just a step above checkers if we're being generous.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Oldest slam champs in Open Era are as per Gary's OP.

Youngest slam champs:

1. Chang 17 y, 4 m 1989 FO
2. Becker 17 y, 8 m 1985 W
3. Wilander 17 y, 10 m 1982 FO
4. Borg 18 y, 0 m 1974 FO
5. Nadal 19 y, 0 m 2005 FO
6. Sampras 19 y, 1 m 1990 US

Very impressive that Nadal is in both lists.

Epic.

The only downside of this year was Venus not winning a slam, despite reaching 2 major finals. to make matters worse, she didn't even win a set in her major finals.

I genuinely felt sorry for her at Wimb

It really does suck, but 2 years ago I'd have killed to read a sentence like that about Venus, so perspective

Oldest players to hold the #1 ranking:

1. Agassi: 33 years, 5 months
2. Nadal: 31 years, 3+ months
3. Federer: 31 years, just under 3 months
4. Connors: 30 years, 10 months
5. Lendl: 30 years, 5 months
6. Newcombe: 30 years, 2 months​

Nadal better slay! Who in 2006 would have said Nadal would last long enough to be the second oldest #1 ever? !

Had Venus won that very close third set against Sloane, she probably would have won the tournament. That was a strange match, but even the two 1-6 and 0-6 sets had some long exciting rallies. IMO, Venus ran out of gas at the end of the grueling third set. Still, I am glad that Stephens won a slam, especially considering her 1 year injury absence.

The weird thing is I don't think Venus looked that tired at the end of the match tbh, Sloane just played one of the best rallies ever when Venus was 2 points from winning.