Five ATP records that could soon be broken
Since its inception in 1972, the ATP has seen some astonishing records set over 50 years of the highest quality competition.
While records are interesting to pore over, it is more exciting to see them broken. Here, Tennishead highlights five tennis records that could be broken within the next few seasons.
5. Most ATP finals on clay – Guillermo Vilas – 77
Argentina’s Guillermo Vilas was prolific in his day. He became the second man in the Open Era with more than 900 career match wins, ultimately claiming 951. The majority of those came on clay, 659 or just over 69% of them.
He claimed 49 tour level clay titles including the 1977 French Open and US Open, the latter of which was the last of three US Slams played on clay. Vilas further reached 28 finals on the surface, totalling 77 final appearances on clay.
While his match wins on clay might be untouchable, his record of finals is not. Rafael Nadal has surpassed Vilas in terms of titles with 63. However, he has only lost eight finals on the surface, taking his appearance total to 71. Though his prime seasons of reaching every clay final on offer are past him, Nadal might reach the tally in two seasons if he remains fit.
4. ATP titles won in the most different countries – Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic – 19
Tennis truly is a global sport, particularly on the professional tours. With 193 titles between them, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic have both claimed trophies in 19 different countries.
Over his 24-year career, Federer claimed titles in: Italy, Australia, Germany, Austria, France, the UAE, the USA, the UK, Switzerland, Canada, Thailand, Qatar, the Netherlands, Japan, Spain, China, Portugal, Sweden and Turkey.
Djokovic trailed Federer at 17 at the time of the Swiss’ retirement in September 2022. However, after claiming his first titles in Tel Aviv and Astana in October 2022, he drew level with his rival. Djokovic has won titles in: the Netherlands, France, Australia, the USA, Portugal, Canada, Austria, Italy, China, the UAE, Serbia, Switzerland, Spain, the UK, Monaco, Qatar, Japan, Israel and Kazakhstan.
He has in the past reached finals in Croatia and Thailand. Countries with ATP events that Djokovic could also win include Argentina, India, Brazil, Mexico and Sweden to name a few.
3. Most Wimbledon match wins – Roger Federer – 105
With 105 match wins over 22 consecutive tournament appearances, Federer is the winningest man ever at Wimbledon. He claimed eight titles there in his career, a record many thought might not be broken for generations. But since his first title in 2011, Novak Djokovic has been bearing down on the Swiss. After 2022, he now has seven crowns at SW19.
In terms of match wins, Djokovic is also second to Federer, with 86 including 2022. Fitness permitting, the Serb could play as long as Federer, to the age of 40. That gives him four Wimbledons before turning 40 to claim 20 wins. In other words, that is an average of reaching the semi-finals each time. Two titles and another final would do it in three. So will Federer stay the king of Wimbledon for long?
2. Oldest Slam champion (Open Era) – Ken Rosewall – 37 years, 2 months
Ken Rosewall had an astonishing career spanning the Amateur and Open Eras, winning eight Majors in that time, four as a pro. He won his first at the age of 18 at the 1953 Australasian Championships (pre-cursor to the Australian Open). The Australian won his last nearly 19 years on at the 1972 Australian Open.
Roger Federer came within seven months of that record. He won the 2018 Australian Open aged 36 years and five months. However, Rafael Nadal and particularly Novak Djokovic are in with a strong chance of their own.
Nadal turns 37 in June 2023, meaning a win at the 2023 US Open onwards would see him break the record. Djokovic will be 37 in May 2024. The Serb has stated that he intends to fight for Olympic glory at Paris 2024, by which time he will be 37 years and three months old.
A Slam triumph from the 2024 US Open onwards would see the current 21-time Slam champion break the record himself.
1. Youngest ATP pro to reach all four Slam finals (Open Era) – Jim Courier – 22 years, 10 months
Carlos Alcaraz is expected to do big things in the sport moving forward. Scratch, huge things are expected of the young talent. He has already broken the record of the youngest ATP number one ever as the first man to top the rankings at the age of 19.
While many expect the Spaniard could well win double digit Slams, he only has the one so far. However, given his ability at such a young age, he may well have a record in his sights. In eight Slam main draw appearances he has two quarter-finals at the French Open and US Open, a Slam title and a fourth round appearance at Wimbledon.
That gives him a base of the fourth round at three of the four Slams. With his ranking now at number one and the 2023 Australian Open on the horizon, he may well match that base there too, or improve it.
The youngest man to reach the final of all four Slams is Jim Courier. He completed the set at Wimbledon 1993 before turning 23. For Alcaraz to get there younger, he has until the 2025 Australian Open. That’s three Melbourne appearances and two appearances at the French Open and Wimbledon.
If we are expecting the Career Slam from Alcaraz he has more time to become the youngest. Rafael Nadal completed the feat aged 24 years and 3 months when he won the 2010 US Open.
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