The most incredible statistic in men's tennis?

[Winner Sinner]

It doesn't necessarily have to be an absolute record, but something to give food for thought.

I'll throw out a few that may also be closely related;

- McEnroe's 82-3 record in 1984

-Djokovic's 40 consecutive victories at the beginning of 2011

- Nadal's 14 Roland Garros

- Nadal's W /L record at RG 112-4

-Nadal's record in Roland Garros finals at 14-0

- Nadal's 81 consecutive victories on clay

- The Connors-Lendl retaliation, first 5 matches 5-0 Connors, last 17 matches 17-0 Lendl

- Djokovic's 2015 season with 13 finals reached in the most important tournaments out of the 13 played, of which 10 won

- The number of slams won by players born in the 90s, only 2

- The big three who win from Wimbledon 2003 to the US Open 2023 66 grand slam tournaments out of the 81 available in that period of time


For now I'll stop here, if anyone wants to add other statistical data it's obviously welcome.

However, among all these that I have listed, although they are all impressive, on reflection the most absurd is that of the only 2 slams won so far by players born in the 90s.
If we consider that already around 2010 a player born in the early 90s could be a theoretical contender, it means that we have about 15 potential years to win just 2 slams.
An entire decade of players arriving from every part of the globe which, sportingly speaking, turned out to be a decade of losers.
It's a scary fact.

 

[Winner Sinner]

Another incredible fact is the drought of American tennis players which has continued since the 2003 US Open with 83 tournaments without a victory after having dominated far and wide in the Open era with different representatives.

So absurd that I think that if after Roddick's victory at the 2003 US Open, a person had been told that you will die the same day an American men's tennis player wins a major, I think that same person would have thought, out of desperation , of having very little time available to enjoy life.

And here too, exactly as with the data on players born in the 90s, all of this was influenced, negatively, by 3 players.

It's incredible how 3 players have managed to overturn every type of usual parameter for over 20 years intermittently.

 

[fedfan24]

4 ocean slams in a row between 2004-2007 for Federer. Complete dominance of the big 2 slams never seen before or after.

 

[FD3S]

Fed's 237 consecutive weeks at world no. 1 was absolutely ludicrous. 10 straight major finals (followed by another streak of 8) and 23 straight major semifinals weren't too shabby either.

EDIT: Also his 105 points without a single unforced error against Isner at the 2007 USO, and while this one isn't really a stat per se it's still nuts he played for as long as he did and wound up with more career retirements (one) than match retirements (zero).

 

[AO13]

The Rafa Nadal Roland Garros package.

 

[Garro]

Fed winning two different slams 5 times in a row stands out to me - something I probably won't see again in my life time.

 

[FreeJannik]

Nadal RG records, they can name the tournament after him...

 

[Tennfan123]

Stats don’t mean anything

 

[Hitman]

Federer 23 straight semi finals. Also 18 out of 19 slam finals.

 

[jimmy0slams]

Some lad has 24 slams and 400+ weeks at #1 ... his name escapes me tho, and everyone else on this thread it appears.

 

[ChrisRF]

Federer playing 194 matches in a row without a straight-set loss, over a span of 27 months (May 2004 - August 2006).

Even back then by far the majority of matches was Best of 3, which makes it more impressive in this case.

 

[thrust]

Fed's 237 consecutive weeks at world no. 1 was absolutely ludicrous. 10 straight major finals (followed by another streak of 8) and 23 straight major semifinals weren't too shabby either.

EDIT: Also his 105 points without a single unforced error against Isner at the 2007 USO, and while this one isn't really a stat per se it's still nuts he played for as long as he did and wound up with more career retirements (one) than match retirements (zero).

Ken Rosewall, who turned 90 the other day, being ranked 12 at age 43. Ken won 6 titles after turning 40, beating Nastase in 2 finals, one in 5 sets when Ille was the #3 ranked player.

 

[Winner Sinner]

Nadal's tournament in Monte Carlo 2010;

R32 vs de Bakker 6-1 6-0
R16 vs Berrer 6-0 6-1
QF vs Ferrero 6-4 6-2
SF vs Ferrer 6-2 6-3
F vs Verdasco 6-0 6-1

 

[vokazu]

 

[GoatNo1]

16950 points and DCGM most difficult but most underrated. GOD peak and GOD level and versatility

 

[MichaelNadal]

Gotta be Nadal's record of BO5 on clay. He has only lost 4 best of 5 matches on clay in his entire LIFE. That includes plenty of Davis Cup matches on top of RG. He had only lost 3 in his entire life until he played RG at 38 this year, playing the finalist in R1.

 

[Hitman]

16950 points and DCGM most difficult but most underrated. GOD peak and GOD level and versatility

Most difficult is probably winning all the big titles at least once....only one player, male or female has ever done it.

 

[vokazu]

Most difficult is probably winning all the big titles at least once....only one player, male or female has ever done it.

Djokovic for LA Gold. Wow just imagine.

 

[Hitman]

Gotta be Nadal's record of BO5 on clay. He has only lost 4 best of 5 matches on clay in his entire LIFE. That includes plenty of Davis Cup matches on top of RG. He had only lost 3 in his entire life until he played RG at 38 this year, playing the finalist in R1.

The more impressive record is that despite playing so many matches on clay, he has only ever been pushed to a fifth set five times in his whole career, and he won all five of them. Just getting two sets off of him was a monstrous task, let alone trying to beat this guy.

 

[Hitman]

Djokovic for LA Gold. Wow just imagine.

He's crazy enough to do it also.

 

[thrust]

AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENTS BY DJOKOVIC!

 

[MichaelNadal]

The more impressive record is that despite playing so many matches on clay, he has only ever been pushed to a fifth set five times in his whole career, and he won all five of them. Just getting two sets off of him was a monstrous task, let alone trying to beat this guy.

Rome 06, Felix 2022, Novak 13, Isner 2011, drawing a blank on the last?

 

[Hitman]

Rome 06, Felix 2022, Novak 13, Isner 2011, drawing a blank on the last?

Surely you haven't forgotten Rome 2005!

 

[MichaelNadal]

Surely you haven't forgotten Rome 2005!

Oh my goodness lol. I haven't had my green tea yet even wilder how epic all 5 matches are.

 

[Rosstour]

4 ocean slams in a row between 2004-2007 for Federer. Complete dominance of the big 2 slams never seen before or after.

Sorry...the OP didn't list any Federer achievements for a reason

 

[NatF]

Only two slams won by players born in the 90's.

 

[Hitman]

Oh my goodness lol. I haven't had my green tea yet even wilder how epic all 5 matches are.

All five of them should be given a plaque - I took Nadal to five sets on clay. LMAO

 

[RS]

Nadal's tournament in Monte Carlo 2010;

R32 vs de Bakker 6-1 6-0
R16 vs Berrer 6-0 6-1
QF vs Ferrero 6-4 6-2
SF vs Ferrer 6-2 6-3
F vs Verdasco 6-0 6-1

Oh yes.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Oh yes.

In an epic kit

 

[GoatNo1]

Most difficult is probably winning all the big titles at least once....only one player, male or female has ever done it.

How many players has achieved DCGM or 16950 points?

 

[Hitman]

How many players has achieved DCGM or 16950 points?

Of course Djokovic has many incredible records, but the fact it took Djokovic until he was 37 because the Olympics happens every four years, means it was a more difficult mountain for him to climb, it was the highest peak, the tougher achievement. No one has shown complete mastery of the sport in mens and womens except him.

 

[SpinWizard]

Many of the incredible stats have already been mentioned. I will add something as well:

Federer played 24 years on tour, more than 1,500 matches. Yet he never retired during a match due to injury

 

[thrust]

Many of the incredible stats have already been mentioned. I will add something as well:

Federer played 24 years on tour, more than 1,500 matches. Yet he never retired during a match due to injury

That is amazing!

 

[RS]

In an epic kit

Nearly 15 friggin years ago.

 

[Lleytonstation]

Fed winning two different slams 5 times in a row stands out to me - something I probably won't see again in my life time.

That and NEVER retiring form a match with thousands played.

That has to be the statistical one that stands out. Not an accomplishment but definitely a stat.

 

[Berrettini_Fan]

Berrettini winning the first set of 2021 Wimbledon. What a set!

 

[gamelovergold]

Novak NCYGS is criminally underrated

 

[Nappa]

- Nadal's 14 Roland Garros

- Nadal's W /L record at RG 112-4

-Nadal's record in Roland Garros finals at 14-0

- Nadal's 81 consecutive victories on clay

 

[Sport]

4 ocean slams in a row between 2004-2007 for Federer. Complete dominance of the big 2 slams never seen before or after.

"Ocean Slams"? Wth is that is an Ocean Slam?

RG is more prestigious than the USO. Always has been, always will be.

The USO shares surface with the AO (hard courts), maning it less unique.

RG is on the heavenly prestigiuous domain of W, as it possesses surface's specificty. RG is the only Slam being played on clay, just like W is the only Slam played on grass, making these two the most unique Slams and thus, the Big 2 Slams.

 

[Rosstour]

"Ocean Slams"? Wth is that is an Ocean Slam?

US+Wimbledon

There's an argument there, particularly if you want to argue for PETE in the Mt Rushmore of GOATs

 

[NatF]

"Ocean Slams"? Wth is that is an Ocean Slam?

RG is more prestigious than the USO. Always has been, always will be.

The USO shares surface with the AO (hard courts), maning it less unique.

RG is on the heavenly prestigiuous domain of W, as it possesses surface's specificty. RG is the only Slam being played on clay, just like W is the only Slam played on grass, making these two the most unique Slams and thus, the Big 2 Slams.

You're so ignorant lol.

 

[FedForGOAT]

You're so ignorant lol.

Easier said than done, but…
Don’t feed the troll. Sport is, how shall I say this…
“A very objective and honest poster”

You’re absolutely right though, the US open historically has been the most prestigious after Wimbledon.

 

[Cobra Tennis]

only two players have ever held the #1 ranking in both singles and doubles at the same time. Johnny Mac and Edberg

 

[NatF]

Easier said than done, but…
Don’t feed the troll. Sport is, how shall I say this…
“A very objective and honest poster”

You’re absolutely right though, the US open historically has been the most prestigious after Wimbledon.

Nowadays aside from a slight edge to Wimbledon all the slams are valued essentially to the same degree but the USO was absolutely unequivocally number two in the 70's to 90's.

 

[Winner Sinner]

These conversations about the different prestige of slams are truly timeless.
The difficulty coefficient is not given by the prestige but by the quality of the participants, and in modern slams the quality of the participants is always the same.
No player, except perhaps some specialized on a certain surface, sets up their season thinking;

"The priority is on Wimbledon even to the detriment of the other 3 slams because it is the most prestigious tournament"

It doesn't work like that, slams have been equally important for some time now.
We are no longer in the days of the Open era between the 70s and the first half of the 80s where, for example, the Australian Open was snubbed by the best players.

 

[Carax]

4 ocean slams in a row between 2004-2007 for Federer. Complete dominance of the big 2 slams never seen before or after.

Username checks out.

 

[FedForGOAT]

Nadal’s accomplishments on clay have already been mentioned and they are astounding. What I have not seen mentioned:

- Rafa Nadal, 81 consecutive matches won on clay
- Roger Federer, 56 consecutive matches won on hard-courts
- Roger Federer, 65 consecutive matches won on grass (this one I find somewhat less impressive, given the dearth of grass courts, but still)

Sampras winning 7/8 wimbledons is also nuts.

 

[Shaolin]

Federer 24 straight finals won. Incredible stat.

Also had 24 straight wins vs top 10 players.

 

[Pheasant]

Ok. I will try to give this one a try. Note. these ones really have to stand out, IMHO. For example, as cool as Fed's record of winning 5 straight slam titles at 2 different events is, it doesn't stand out. Borg had 4 x 5 and 5 x 5. And the surfaces that Borg did this on were far more polarized. And the 4 x 5 streak at the FO didn't end with a loss. He simply ended on a 4 title winning streak. And as much as I love Mac's 82-3 record for winning percentage that still stands, Federer came within 1 set of tying it during his very last match of the 2005 season. Also, Connors 93-4, .959 in 1974 barely trails Mac's 82-3, .965 in 1984. This one is out.

Here are some that stand out; but in no particular order of greatness

Laver's 3 CYGS: Amateur CYGS, Pro Slam(1967), and his Open Era Grand Slam. Nice work, Rod
Djoker's 428 weeks at #1. Next best is 310 by Fed, followed by 286 by Sampras
Fed's 237 consecutive weeks at #1. The next best is 160 by Connors, followed by 157 by Lendl.
Fed's 65 straight wins on grass courts. Next best is 41 by Borg, followed by 34 by Djoker.
Mac's 65 straight wins on carpet. The next best is 51 by Lendl, followed by 30(Lendl and Connors)
Nadal's 81 straight wins on clay. The next best is 53 by Vilas, followed by 48 by Borg
Fed's 24 straight finals wins. The next best is 19 by laver.
Fed's 24 straight wins vs top-10. The next best is 17 by Federer and Djoker
Djoker's 72 big titles. The next best is 59 by Nadal, followed by 54 by Federer.
Lendl's 7 consecutive wins vs world #1. The next best is 5 by both Djoker and Nadal
Fed's 23 straight slam semis. Next best is 14 by Djoker, followed by 10 by Lendl
Djoker's 10 finals reached at 3 different slam events. Only Nadal and Federer have reached 10 finals at a slam event. And they only did it at 1 event.
Nadal's 14 titles at a slam event. The next best is 10 by Djoker, followed by 8 by Federer.
Borg's 3 consecutive channel slams. Nobody else did 2 straight.
Djoker's 2 career boxed sets of masters events. Nobody else has done it once.
Connors 659 consecutive week staying in the top-5. The next best is 558 by Lendl, followed by 548 by Federer
Nadal's 912 consecutive weeks in in the top-10. The next best is 788 by Connors, followed by 734 by Federer
Ken Rosewall's #2 ranking on his 41st birthday. I don't have a list of others here. But this is bonkers.
Nadal's 50 consecutive sets won on clay. The next best is 35 by Coria, followed by 34 by Nastase
Federer's 36 consecutie sets won on grass. The next best is 30 by Federer, followed by 29 by Federer

 

[Winner Sinner]

Ok. I will try to give this one a try. Note. these ones really have to stand out, IMHO. For example, as cool as Fed's record of winning 5 straight slam titles at 2 different events is, it doesn't stand out. Borg had 4 x 5 and 5 x 5. And the surfaces that Borg did this on were far more polarized. And the 4 x 5 streak at the FO didn't end with a loss. He simply ended on a 4 title winning streak. And as much as I love Mac's 82-3 record for winning percentage that still stands, Federer came within 1 set of tying it during his very last match of the 2005 season. Also, Connors 93-4, .959 in 1974 barely trails Mac's 82-3, .965 in 1984. This one is out.

Here are some that stand out; but in no particular order of greatness

Laver's 3 CYGS: Amateur CYGS, Pro Slam(1967), and his Open Era Grand Slam. Nice work, Rod
Djoker's 428 weeks at #1. Next best is 310 by Fed, followed by 286 by Sampras
Fed's 237 consecutive weeks at #1. The next best is 160 by Connors, followed by 157 by Lendl.
Fed's 65 straight wins on grass courts. Next best is 41 by Borg, followed by 34 by Djoker.
Mac's 65 straight wins on carpet. The next best is 51 by Lendl, followed by 30(Lendl and Connors)
Nadal's 81 straight wins on clay. The next best is 53 by Vilas, followed by 48 by Borg
Fed's 24 straight finals wins. The next best is 19 by laver.
Fed's 24 straight wins vs top-10. The next best is 17 by Federer and Djoker
Djoker's 72 big titles. The next best is 59 by Nadal, followed by 54 by Federer.
Lendl's 7 consecutive wins vs world #1. The next best is 5 by both Djoker and Nadal
Fed's 23 straight slam semis. Next best is 14 by Djoker, followed by 10 by Lendl
Djoker's 10 finals reached at 3 different slam events. Only Nadal and Federer have reached 10 finals at a slam event. And they only did it at 1 event.
Nadal's 14 titles at a slam event. The next best is 10 by Djoker, followed by 8 by Federer.
Borg's 3 consecutive channel slams. Nobody else did 2 straight.
Djoker's 2 career boxed sets of masters events. Nobody else has done it once.
Connors 659 consecutive week staying in the top-5. The next best is 558 by Lendl, followed by 548 by Federer
Nadal's 912 consecutive weeks in in the top-10. The next best is 788 by Connors, followed by 734 by Federer
Ken Rosewall's #2 ranking on his 41st birthday. I don't have a list of others here. But this is bonkers.
Nadal's 50 consecutive sets won on clay. The next best is 35 by Coria, followed by 34 by Nastase
Federer's 36 consecutie sets won on grass. The next best is 30 by Federer, followed by 29 by Federer

It's all very subjective.
I don't think that the uniqueness of a statistical data should necessarily have precedence over other statistical data just because the latter may have been brought closer together before or after.
I mean, taking the concept to the extreme, if one day a player arrives capable of winning 14 Roland Garros himself, it won't take away the value of Nadal's feat of 14, they would both be two memorable feats.