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Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Jimmy Connors are among the players who won two Grand Slams in a year and were yet unable to finish the season as the World No. 1. Alcaraz is the most recent addition to the list after Jannik Sinner was confirmed to be at the top of the ATP rankings until at least the end of 2024.
The Spaniard produced a string of impressive performances in 2024 but so did the Italian, who recently won the Shanghai Masters. Alcaraz cannot end any higher than World No. 2, which is his current ranking.
The 21-year-old is not the only player who will miss out on the year-end World No. 1 ranking, as seven other players have done the same since the inception of the ATP rankings. On that note, let us take a look at all the eight players who have endured this fortune.
#8. Carlos Alcaraz - 2024
Carlos Alcaraz had a remarkable 2024 season, that saw him win 51 out of 61 matches, clinching four titles. These included winning two Grand Slams at French Open and Wimbledon. The Spaniard won his maiden title at the clay-court Major by beating Alexander Zverev 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 in the final.
He then successfully defended his title at Wimbledon after beating Novak Djokovic 6-2, 6-2, 7-6(4) in what was a rematch of the 2023 title clash. Additionally, Alcaraz also won the China Open and the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.
However, the Spaniard's performances will not be enough to see him finish at the year-end World No. 1 due to the exploits of another player who won two Grand Slams in 2024, Jannik Sinner. The Italian is set to finish the season at the top of the ATP rankings after beating Novak Djokovic to win the Shanghai Masters.
#7. Rafael Nadal - 2022
Rafael Nadal's 2021 season was cut short due to an injury he suffered during the clay season and he returned to action in 2022. The Spaniard had a remarkable start to the season as he won the Australian Open and French Open that year.
Nadal won his first title at the Melbourne Major since 2009 after recording a terrific comeback to beat Daniil Medvedev 2-6, 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 in the final. He also won the Mexican Open in Acapulco while reaching the final of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.
Nadal won his 22nd Grand Slam title at the 2022 French Open by defeating Casper Ruud 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 in the final. Apart from the Norwegian, the Spaniard also beat three other top-10 players to win the tournament, defeating Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev and Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Nadal, however, could not replicate his performances in the second half of the 2022 season, and he ended the year as the World No. 2 behind Carlos Alcaraz after suffering a round-robin elimination at the WTA Finals.
#6. Roger Federer- 2017
Roger Federer missed the remainder of the 2016 season after that year's Wimbledon Championships as he underwent surgery on his knee. As a result, his ranking fell below the Top 10.
The Swiss returned to action in 2017 and had an incredible run at the that year's Australian Open, which he won after beating rival Rafael Nadal in five sets in a thrilling final. Federer also triumphed at that year's Wimbledon Championships without dropping a set, defeating Marin Cilic in the final.
The Swiss also won the Sunshine Double in 2017, clinching the titles at the Indian Wells and Miami Masters. While he did rise in the ATP rankings, he finished the year as the World No. 2, a little over a 1000 points behind Rafael Nadal, who also won two Grand Slams.
#5. Novak Djokovic - 2016 and 2019
Novak Djokovic is the only male player who was unable to finish two years as the World No. 1 after winning a couple of Grand Slams in each. The first instance of this came in 2016, to which, Djokovic had an incredible start, as he won the Australian Open and the French Open, beating Andy Murray in both finals.
The Serb's triumph at Roland Garros saw him complete the Career Grand Slam. Later in 2016, he also won the Canadian Open and reached the finals of the US Open and the ATP World Tour Finals. However, Andy Murray had a remarkable 2016 as well, that saw him win Wimbledon and the year-end championships. The Scot thus edged out Djokovic to finish as the year-end World No. 1.
In 2019, Djokovic won the Australian Open and Wimbledon, beating Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer in the respective finals. Djokovic also won the Madrid Open and Paris Masters that year. However, he eventually finished 840 points behind Nadal.
#4. Boris Becker - 1989
Boris Becker had an impressive 1989 season, winning 64 out of 72 matches, including two Grand Slams. The German won his third title at Wimbledon by beating Stefan Edberg 6-0, 7-6(1), 6-4 in the final. He also triumphed at that year's US Open by beating Ivan Lendl 7-6(2), 1-6, 6-3, 7-6(4) in the title clash.
The German also won another three titles in 1989. Becker was the most successful player in Grand Slams in 1989 but he ended the year as the World No. 2 behind Lendl, who won that year's Australian Open.
#3. Jimmy Connors - 1982
1982 was one of the best years of Jimmy Connors' illustrious career, as he won 78 out of 88 matches, clinching seven titles. These included two Grand Slams at Wimbledon and US Open.
Connors won the grass-court Major by beating John McEnroe 3-6, 6-3, 6-7, 7-6, 6-4 in the final. This was his first Grand Slam singles title since 1978. The American then won the US Open after securing a 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 win over Ivan Lendl in the title clash.
Connors was the only man who won two singles Majors in 1982 but this was not enough for him to secure the year-end World No. 1 ranking. He finished as World No. 2 behind John McEnroe.
#2. Bjorn Borg - 1978
Bjorn Borg is one of the greatest tennis players of all time and had some impressive years on the ATP Tour in his heyday. One of these was 1978, where he won both the French Open and Wimbledon. Borg won the clay Major after beating Guillermo Vilas 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 in the final.
The Swede won his third successive title at Wimbledon after triumphing 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 over Jimmy Connors in the title clash. Borg ended up winning 79 out of 86 matches in 1978, with seven titles to his name.
However, he was unable to finish the year as the World No. 1 as Jimmy Connors beat him to the ranking.
#1. Guillermo Vilas - 1977
Guillermo Vilas is one of the greatest players never to be World No. 1. The Argentine won his maiden Grand Slam in 1977 at the Australian Open, where he beat Roscoe Tanner in the final.
That year, he also won the US Open after beating Jimmy Connors 2-6, 6-3, 7-6, 6-0 in the title clash. Vilas ended up winning 136 out of 150 matches he played in 1977.
However, this was not enough to see him finish as the year-end World No. 1 as he was ranked No. 2 behind Jimmy Connors.
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