Who is the best player that never won a tour title?

[pabloJD]

This question has always haunted me. Who is the best player that has never won an official tour title?
We have a former top 10 on the women's side that retired with no wins (Kournikova). Maybe it was her. What about the ATP? I can just think of second tier players like Eduardo Bengoechea, Christian Bergstrom, Fernando Luna, Oliver Delaitre. Anyone has any candidate?

 

[Rhino]

Brett Steven.

World number 32, Australian Open quarter finalist (beaten by Sampras).

Had wins against Sampras, Agassi, Courier, Becker, etc.

 

[morten]

Christian Ruud back in the 90s. He was ATP 39 at some point.

 

[FedSampras]

Anna Kournokova

 

[babolat15]

Anna K. doesnt need a title

 

[pabloJD]

Brett Steven.

World number 32, Australian Open quarter finalist (beaten by Sampras).

Had wins against Sampras, Agassi, Courier, Becker, etc.

Great wins! And he was in 3 finals. Very strong candidate

 

[Rhino]

Great wins! And he was in 3 finals. Very strong candidate

Yeah he was awesome. He also had a 2-1 winning record against Marcelo Rios, beating him in straight sets in Dubai '98 - a month later Rios was #1 in the world.

 

[RoddickistheMan]

Roddick...oh wait he won one grandslam like 12 years ago.
________
Zoloft prilosec nexium

 

[scineram]

Roddick...oh wait he won one grandslam like 12 years ago.

He won a title this year, moron.

 

[MEAC_ALLAMERICAN]

He won a title this year, moron.

He actually won two titles, but apparently nobody is counting, even his so-called fans. Plus the thead asked for tour tiles, not grand slams.

 

[Jack the Hack]

Karlovic had never won a tour level singles title until this year, but he's got three now. There have got to be a bunch of other guys like him who were inside the top 50 and recognizable names, but didn't make a breakthrough (until late for him).

Just inside the current top 50, #31 Potito Starace does not have a career singles title. Neither do up and comers #43 Tsonga, #44 Del Potro, #45 Mahut, or veterens #46 Montanes, and #50 Seppi.

There historically has to be a player that got inside the top 20 that didn't win a title... but it's going to take some research to find him.

(The first name that came to my mind was Derrick Rostagno, who reached #13 in the world... but it looks like he won 1 title.)

Kournikova wins it hands down for the women.

 

[Nadal_Freak]

Anna Kournokova

Let me be your ball boy now. Love that song.

 

[Heavy Metal Tennis Star]

feliciano lopez, oh wait, he has 1 lol

 

[Hops]

Steve Denton
career high rank: #12
record in finals: 0-6, including two slam finals (lost to Kriek AO 81-82)

 

[Tennis-Chris]

Me.:mrgreen:

 

[pabloJD]

Steve Denton
career high rank: #12
record in finals: 0-6, including two slam finals (lost to Kriek AO 81-82)

That will be hard to beat!
I found that he has victories over Boris Becker, John McEnroe and Stan Smith.
He also set the world record for fastest serve at 138 miles per hour in 1984. What is surprising is that he has a losing career win/loss record: 108-117.

 

[GS]

Actually, Kournikova won 2 ITF singles titles years ago, but no WTA titles. I'm surprised she hasn't brought this up in press conferences, but then, she's very rich and probably doesn't care.

 

[Jack the Hack]

Steve Denton
career high rank: #12
record in finals: 0-6, including two slam finals (lost to Kriek AO 81-82)

That's got to be the winner!

Good call...

 

[Bogie]

highest ranked player on tour right now who has never won a title is tsonga at #43....just fyi

 

[lacoster]

Francesca Shciavone got to #11 a few years ago without a career title. She finally won a small clay event after The French this year.

 

[anointedone]

For the women I think it is Anna Kournikova or Lori McNeil. Or did Lori get a title later in her career?