Shark Bites
DEUCE
by Greg Sharko
|24.05.2012
© Getty ImagesTo complete the career Grand Slam, Novak Djokovic may need to defeat six-time champion Rafael Nadal in the Roland Garros final.
ATP stats and information guru Greg Sharko looks at the numbers behind the stories of the ATP World Tour.
Djoker Looks to Make History
Novak Djokovic attempts to become the first man to win four consecutive Grand Slam singles titles since Rod Laver in 1969. Laver is the only player to accomplish the feat twice (1962, ’69). Since then, a player has won three titles in a row on five occasions:
| Player | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Novak Djokovic | 2011 Wimbledon | 2011 US Open | 2012 Aust. Open | |
| 4th GS Result: 2012 Roland Garros | ||||
| Rafael Nadal | 2010 Roland Garros | 2010 Wimbledon | 2010 US Open | |
| 4th GS Result: 2011 Aust. Open (QF, l. to Ferrer) | ||||
| Roger Federer | 2006 Wimbledon | 2006 US Open | 2007 Aust. Open | |
| 4th GS Result: 2007 Roland Garros (F, l. to Nadal) | ||||
| Roger Federer | 2005 Wimbledon | 2005 US Open | 2006 Aust. Open | |
| 4th GS Result: 2006 Roland Garros (F, l. to Nadal) | ||||
| Pete Sampras | 1993 Wimbledon | 1993 US Open | 1994 Aust. Open | |
| 4th GS Result: 1994 Roland Garros (QF, l. to Courier) | ||||
Big 3 Dominate Grand Slam Titles
Over the past 28 Grand Slam tournaments since 2005 Roland Garros when Rafael Nadal captured his first title, the current top three ranked players on the ATP World Tour have accounted for 27 of the past 28 titles. In the previous 28 Grand Slam tournaments prior to ’05 Roland Garros, there were 15 players who earned a Grand Slam crown.
Here is a comparison of the two eras:
2005 Roland Garros to 2012 Australian Open (4 players) |
|
|---|---|
| Player | Titles |
| Roger Federer | 12 |
| Rafael Nadal | 10 |
| Novak Djokovic | 5 |
| Juan Martin del Potro | 1 |
1998 Roland Garros to 2005 Australian Open (15 players) |
|
|---|---|
| Player | Titles |
| Andre Agassi | 5 |
| Roger Federer | 4 |
| Pete Sampras | 4 |
| Lleyton Hewitt | 2 |
| Gustavo Kuerten | 2 |
| Marat Safin | 2 |
| Albert Costa | 1 |
| Juan Carlos Ferrero | 1 |
| Gaston Gaudio | 1 |
| Goran Ivanisevic | 1 |
| Thomas Johansson | 1 |
| Yevgeny Kafelnikov | 1 |
| Carlos Moya | 1 |
| Patrick Rafter | 1 |
| Andy Roddick | 1 |
Nadal on a Roll Going into Roland Garros
For the seventh time in the past eight years, Rafael Nadal won three European clay court titles prior to Roland Garros. For the first time he didn’t drop a set during his three title run this spring, winning all 30 sets in Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Rome.
Here is a year-by-year look since 2005 of Nadal’s pre-Roland Garros results during the European clay court circuit:
| Year | Clay W-L (Titles) | Titles Sets W-L | RG Result (Sets W-L) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 16-1 (3) | 30-0 | ???? |
| 2011 | 17-2 (2) | 20-0 | Champion (21-3) |
| 2010 | 15-0 (3) | 30-2 | Champion (21-0) |
| 2009 | 17-1 (3) | 28-1 | Fourth Round (10-3) |
| 2008 | 15-1 (3) | 30-3 | Champion (21-0) |
| 2007 | 19-1 (3) | 30-1 | Champion (21-1) |
| 2006 | 17-0 (3) | 37-6 | Champion (20- 3), includes ret. win (2 sets) |
| 2005 | 19-1 (3) | 37-6 | Champion (21-3) |
Facebook Fans
Browse DEUCE
- Deuce 2013
- Barclays ATP World Tour Finals 2012
- Roland Garros - Wimbledon 2012
- Ferrero Retirement Tribute
- Barclays ATP World Tour Finals 2011
- Roddick Retirement Tribute
- US Open 2012
- Federer No1
- Nadal Roland Garros
- Nadal Grand Slam
- Nadal Masters 1000
- Australian Open 2012
- Nestor 800
- Federer 15 Quest
- Djokovic No1
- US Open 2011
- US Open 2010
- US Open 2009
- Roland Garros - Wimbledon 2011
- Roland Garros & Wimbledon 2010
- Barclays ATP World Tour Finals 2010
- Bryans Record Weeks At No 1
- Bryans Doubles Teams Record
- Barclays ATP World Tour Finals 2009
- DEUCE Australian Open 2011
- Australian Open 2010
- Roland Garros & Wimbledon 2009
- Australian Open 2009
- Finals 2008
- US Open 2008
- Roland Garros 2008
- Australian Open 2008
- Finals 2007
- US Open 2007
Advertisement
Delicious
Digg
Facebook
Mixx
Reddit
StumbleUpon