10 great players who have a crucial element missing in their resume

Some of the best players in the world have faltered when it came to winning that one (or more) titles that forever eluded them. For a few, it would have been a perfect career had they won them. For others, it was more about proving that they were capable of winning that tournament despite all the odds that were stacked in front of them.This list contains 10 such players who have all had remarkable careers, but missed out on winning one crucial trophy:

#10 Mats Wilander

Mats Wilander won seven Grand Slam titles, but failed to lift the Wimbledon Championships where he was the quarterfinalist on three successive occasions – 1987, 1988 and 1989. The Swede never won the tour finals either. His best result was being the runner-up in 1987.

He, however, did help Sweden clinch the Davis Cup in 1984, 1985 and 1987.

#9 Ivan Lendl

Ivan Lendl won a total of eight Grand Slams. The former coach of Andy Murray won five World Tour finals in 1981, 1982, 1985, 1986 and 1987. He also tasted Davis Cup success in 1980. The Czech is second on the list of most titles won, with 94 titles to his name.

But Lendl missed out on capturing the Wimbledon title twice – in 1986 and 1987 – where he finished as the runner-up.

#8 Bjorn Borg

Bjorn Borg was the greatest clay court player from the mid 70s to the early 80s. He won six French Open titles, a record at the time which was later broken by Rafael Nadal.

The Swede won five Wimbledon titles as well. He was the chief architect in Sweden lifting the Davis Cup trophy in 1975. He also won the Tour Finals in 1979 and 1980 and the World Championship Tennis (WCT) final in 1976.

Despite all that though, he could never win the US Open, where he was the runner up on four occasions. He also struggled in Australia, where his best effort was a third round appearance in 1974.

#7 John McEnroe

John McEnroe was known for his fiery temperament on the court. The former World No. 1 won seven Grand Slam titles and helped USA win the Davis Cup on five occasions – 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982 and 1992.

However, he could not add the Australian Open or the French Open to his collection.

#6 Jimmy Connors

During his impressive career, Connors won 109 titles – a record in the Open era – which included eight Grand Slams. He also holds the record for most matches won – a remarkable 1,253 match wins. He won the Davis Cup too, in 1981.

However, the American could never win a major on the clay courts of Roland Garros.

#5 Novak Djokovic

The Serb has been one of the most consistent players in the world over the last few years. He has won seven Grand Slams so far along with 20 ATP Masters 1000 titles. He also won the Davis Cup for his nation in 2010.

However, Djokovic is yet to win the French Open. Also, his best effort at the Olympic Games has been a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Games.

#4 Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal is tied at 14 Grand Slam victories with Pete Sampras. He has a Golden Slam (all four majors + Olympic gold medal). The Spaniard has also won a record 27 ATP Masters 1000 titles. He was part of the Spanish Davis Cup winning team in 2004, 2008, 2009 and 2011.

The only thing missing from Nadal’s list of titles is the World Tour Finals trophy.

#3 Pete Sampras

Pete Sampras was the first to beat Roy Emerson’s Grand Slam tally of 12 and ended up with a total of 14 Majors. He was subsequently overtaken by Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal is tied with him at 14 Grand Slam wins at the moment.

Sampras is the only player to have finished as year-end number one for six consecutive years in the Open era. He has also won Wimbledon seven times, a record he shares with Federer. His five US Open wins is also an Open era record that he shares with Federer and Jimmy Connors. Moreover, Sampras helped USA win the Davis Cup in 1992 and 1995.

However, the American could not add the French Open to his impressive list of 64 singles titles. His best effort at Roland Garros was reaching the semifinals in 1996.

Sampras doesn’t have an Olympic medal either. His best result was reaching the third round in the 1992 Barcelona Games.

#2 Roger Federer

With 17 Grand Slams, Roger Federer is most successful player in the history of men’s tennis. He completed his Career Slam (winning all four Majors) when he won the French Open in 2009.

He has also won the year end World Tour finals six times – 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011.

However, the Swiss maestro has not been able to win singles gold at the Olympics or the Davis Cup for his country.

#1 Rod Laver

Rod Laver is one of the greatest players in the modern era, if not the greatest. He is the only man to win the Calendar Grand Slam (win all four majors in the same year) twice. He achieved this feat in 1962 and 1969.

He helped Australia lift the Davis Cup trophy in 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962 and 1973.

However, Laver never managed to win the Tour Finals, or the World Championship Tennis finals, as it was known those days.