Top five most successful tennis players who failed to win Wimbledon

Roger Federer is the most successful player in Wimbledon history, having won eight titles.

Wimbledon was first held in 1877 and is considered the oldest tennis tournament in history. The most important tournament of the short grass season each year, this tournament is a test of resilience as well as the ability to adapt for all tennis stars.

Multiple stars such as Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Bjorn Borg, Boris Becker, Pete Sampras, Rafael Nadal, and more have won the titles more than once. However, numerous top players have failed to succeed at the All England Lawn Tennis Club.

The names of David Nalbandian, Juan Martín del Potro, Marat Safin, and Ilie Năstase have never won a singles Wimbledon title. However, the list is much bigger than one can expect.

Successful tennis players who failed to win Wimbledon-

5. Guillermo Vilas

Guillermo Vilas was known for his prowess on the red dirt. The former Argentine tennis star was a menace on clay, but his success on the red surface was limited. He won the French Open in 1977, the same year when he also won the US Open. In 1978 and 1979, he won two consecutive Australian Open titles.

However, Vilas failed to complete the career Grand Slam as he never won Wimbledon. The former Argentine tennis star reached the quarterfinals of the Wimbledon Championships in 1975 and 1976. Still, it ended up losing against one-time finalist Roscoe Tanner and five-time champion Bjorn Borg, respectively.

Also Read: Top five youngest players to win men’s singles title at Wimbledon in Open Era

4. Mats Wilander

A man of multiple records, Mats Wilander loved playing on clay and enjoyed an illustrious career, winning seven singles Grand Slam titles. He won the Australian Open and the French Open three times each, while he succeeded at Flushing Meadows only once.

Wilander showcased his prowess at the top of his potential in 1988. He won the Australian Open, the French Open, and the US Open in the same year. He also reached the quarterfinals of the Wimbledon Championships in 1988 but was defeated by Miloslav Mecir.

The former Swedish tennis star reached the quarterfinals of the grass Grand Slam three times. Interestingly, Wilander won the grass Grand Slam title in 1986, but in the men’s singles event.

3. Jim Courier

As compared to other tennis players, Jim Courier’s tennis career at the top level was slightly shorter. He retired from competitive tennis in 2000 at the age of 29 as a four-time Grand Slam champion. Courier won the French Open (1991, 1992) and the Australian Open (1992, 1993) twice in addition to two Davis Cup titles.

However, he was in the top ranks for nearly five to seven years before falling back in the rankings. He went past the fourth round of the Wimbledon Championships only twice. In 1991, he lost in the quarterfinals, while in 1993, Courier came up short against countryman Pete Sampras.

Also Read: Wimbledon: Full list of title winners

2. Andy Roddick

Andy Roddick’s story of agony at Wimbledon is also quite infamous. With a strong serve, Roddick was one of the hardest hitters on the tour. An aggressive baseliner, the former American tennis star enjoyed playing on hardcourts, and his biggest success came in 2003, when he won the US Open, beating Spain’s Juan Carlos Ferrero.

However, it remained his only Major success. He reached the semifinals of the Australian Open four times, always failing to secure a berth in the final. In the Wimbledon Championships, he played the final in 2004, 2005, and 2009, losing to Roger Federer on all three occasions.

1. Ivan Lendl

With eight singles Grand Slam titles in his kitty, Ivan Lendl is regarded as one of the greatest tennis stars of all time. The former Czech-American tennis star won his first Major title in 1984, when he defeated John McEnroe for the French Open title. Lendl continued to dominate the circuit with his power and produced multiple top-notch performances.

He won the US Open for three consecutive years between 1985 and 1987. Lendl also won the French Open in 1986 and 1987 before succeeding twice in Melbourne in 1989 and 1990. However, Lendl always lacked a feather of grass on his illustrious hat.

Between 1983 and 1990, he reached the final of the grass Grand Slam in addition to five semifinal appearances. However, he never found success in lifting the title. Lendl played a total of 19 Grand Slam finals, losing 11.

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