Alexander Zverev recently won his maiden Grand Slam title at the French Open.
The German had been widely regarded as the best player to have never won a major title, having reached three Grand Slam finals, won the ATP Finals twice, won seven Masters 1000 titles, and been ranked as high as world number two.
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But with Zverev winning Roland Garros, who takes his place as the greatest player without a Grand Slam?
Former American ATP stars John Isner, Steve Johnson, and Sam Querrey have now answered that very question.
John Isner and Steve Johnson claim Casper Ruud is the best active player without a Grand Slam
During the latest episode of ‘Nothing Major‘, Johnson was the first to make his pick.
“It’s not that obvious. I think, current player, it’s Casper [Ruud],” he said.
“He has three Slam finals, a couple of Masters series.
“Although those three finals that he did play, he was a heavy underdog against Novak [Djokovic], Rafa [Nadal], and Carlos [Alcaraz].
“But three finals, a staple in the top 10 or five for the last five years.
“I think he’s there. It is tricky to pick at the moment.”
Casper Ruud’s Grand Slam final record (0-3)
- 2022 French Open [LOSS] vs Rafael Nadal, 3-6, 3-6, 0-6
- 2022 US Open [LOSS] vs Carlos Alcaraz, 4-6, 6-2, 6-7, 3-6
- 2023 French Open [LOSS] vs Novak Djokovic, 6-7, 3-6, 5-7
Ruud lost three Grand Slam finals within the space of a year, missing out on the top prize against Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz, and Novak Djokovic.
When the Norwegian lost to Alcaraz in the US Open final, he also surrendered the chance to become world number one for the first time in his career.
The former world number two hasn’t hit those heights for several years now, although he remains a contender at the Masters 1000 level.
Casper Ruud’s Masters 1000 final record (1-3)
- 2022 Miami Open [LOSS] vs Carlos Alcaraz, 5-7, 4-6
- 2024 Monte Carlo Masters [LOSS] vs Stefanos Tsitsipas, 1-6, 4-6
- 2025 Madrid Open [WIN] vs Jack Draper, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4
- 2026 Italian Open [LOSS] vs Jannik Sinner, 4-6, 4-6
Ruud won his maiden Masters 1000 title a year ago in Madrid and reached another final this year, at the Italian Open.
Now ranked 13th in the world, Ruud hasn’t won a title in 2026, but that could well change this week in Gstaad, as he prepares for his quarter-final match.
Isner agrees that with such an impressive resume, the 27-year-old has earned the right to be called the best current player never to have won a Grand Slam.
“I think Stevie is right, actually. If we are talking right now, Casper is not a top-five player, and he’s not playing at that level, but if you look at the entirety of his career, three finals,” he said.
“Obviously, losing to Rafa, Novak, and Carlos, there’s no shame in that.
“So I agree it’s Casper.”
Querrey offered up two other players worth considering.
“You maybe would have said [Stefanos] Tsitsipas“, he suggested.
“[Taylor] Fritz is in the conversation now.”
Ruud, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Taylor Fritz have all played Grand Slam finals without winning one, but who really is the best active player without a major title?
Casper Ruud is statistically the best active ATP player never to have won a Grand Slam
Seven active male players have contested Grand Slam finals without winning a title.
- Casper Ruud – 3 (2022 French Open, 2022 US Open, 2023 French Open)
- Stefanos Tsitsipas – 2 (2021 French Open, 2023 Australian Open)
- Matteo Berrettini – 1 (2021 Wimbledon)
- Nick Kyrgios – 1 (2022 Wimbledon)
- Taylor Fritz – 1 (2024 US Open)
- Flavio Cobolli – 1 (2026 French Open)
- Kei Nishikori – 1 (2014 US Open)
Of the seven, Ruud has played the most major finals, and has been ranked the highest.
Comparing the best active players without a Grand Slam
| Player | Grand Slam final defeats | Career-high ranking | Masters 1000 titles | ATP Titles |
| Casper Ruud | 3 | 2nd | 1 | 14 |
| Stefanos Tsitsipas | 2 | 3rd | 3 | 12 |
| Taylor Fritz | 1 | 4th | 1 | 10 |
| Kei Nishikori | 1 | 4th | 0 | 12 |
| Matteo Berrettini | 1 | 6th | 0 | 10 |
| Flavio Cobolli | 1 | 9th | 0 | 3 |
| Nick Kyrgios | 1 | 13th | 0 | 7 |
It is hard to make a strong case for anyone other than Ruud and Tsitsipas, the two active players with multiple major final defeats without winning a title.
Unfortunately for both players, unlike Zverev, they don’t look to be playing well enough to challenge for Grand Slams.
Ruud hasn’t reached the quarter-finals of any of the last eight major tournaments he’s played, and Tsitsipas hasn’t been past the second round during the same period.
If they are to remove themselves from the sport’s most unwanted debate, they’ll need to turn things around in a serious way.
Perhaps they can find some of the momentum they need this week in Switzerland.
Ruud will play Juan Manuel Cerundolo, and Tsitsipas will play Arthur Rinderknech in the quarter-finals on Friday, July 17.
