In this weekend’s blog, I am still on the game of Tennis.
Wimbledon Grand Slam tournament just got concluded few days back, and in the men’s section Carlos Alcaraz defeated Novak Djikovic in the finals. With this triumph, Alcaraz joined an illustrious list of players with remarkable winning streaks in Grand Slam Finals. A few champions in the Open Era have created incredible records at the highest echelons of tennis, like stitching together an unbeaten run in Major finals. Let us take a look at five players with the longest winning streaks in Grand Slam finals:
5 Carloas Alcaraz (Spain)
He is the latest entrant on this list, having won four Grand Slams titles on the trot. He reached his first ever final at a Major at the 2022 US Open, where he beat Casper Rudd 6-4, 2-6, 7-6, 6-3 and won his first Grand Slam title. This was followed by 2023 Wimbledon where he defeated Novak Djokovic 1-6, 7-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4. The 2024 French Open was his third Major title as he beat Alexender Zverev from two sets down, winning 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2. Then recently he won 2024 Wimbledon crown by beating Novak Djokovic 6-2, 6-2, 7-6.
4 Naomi Osaka (Japan)
She finds a place on this list with a four-final winning streak at the Grand Slam level. She collected her first Grand Slam title at 2018 US Open with a 6-2, 6-4 win against Serena Williams in the final. Osaka continued her incredible form at the 2019 Australian Open, where she defeated Petra Kvitova 7-6, 5-7, 6-4 in the final. She reached her next Grand Slam final at the 2020 US Open and defeated Victoria Azarenka 1-6, 6-3, 6-3. She backed her this victory with a second Australian Open title in 2021 with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Jennifer Brady.
3 Iga Swiatek (Poland)
She is currently the active player with longest winning streak in Grand Slam finals. The Pole has won all her five Major title contests, with her first coming at the 2020 French Open against Sofia Kenin, 6-4, 6-1. She had to waittwo years before reaching another Major final. She broke her drought at the 2022 French Open, where she battered Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-3. A few months later, the reigning World No.1 won her third Grand Slam at the 2022 US Opeen defeating Ons Jabeur 6-2, 7-6. Her next two majors came at French Open in 2023, where she defeated Karoloina Muchova 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 and in 2024 when she defeated Jasmin Paolini 6-2, 6-1.
2 Monica Seles (Yugoslavia/USA)
She has the second-highest winning streak in Grand Slam finals with six. She won her maiden Grand Slam by defeating Stefii Graf 7-6, 6-4 in the 1990 French Open final. She then dominated WTA tour in 1991, picking three Grand Slam titles-at the Australian Open by defeating Jana Novotna 5-7, 6-3, 6-1, then at the French Open-defeated Arantxa Sanchez Vicario 6-3, 6-4, and US Open where she defeated Martina Navratilova 7-6, 6-1. Monica Seles then emerged triumphant at two more Majors in 1992. She won the Australian Open that year with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Mary Joe Fernandez, and the French Open after beating Steffi Graf 6-2, 3-6, 10-8.
1 Roger Federer (Switzerland)
He sits on the top of this list with seven consecutive victories in Grand Slam finals. This record streak started at the 2023 Wimbledon, where he defeated Mark Philippousis 7-6, 6-2, 7-6 in the final. He then went on a Seles-like run in 2024 as he won the Australian Open defeating Marat Safin 7-6, 6-4, 6-2, Wimbledon-defeating Andy Roddick 4-6, 7-5, 7-6, 6-4, and the US Open defeating Lleyton Hewitt 6-0, 7-6, 6-0 that year. In 2025, Roger Federer completed a three-peat at the Wimbledon by beating Andy Roddick 6-2, 7-6, 6-4 and defended his title at the US Open by defeating Andre Agassi 6-3, 2-6, 7-6, 6-1. In the next year, he won his seventh Grand Slam on the trot as he defeated Marcos Baghdatis 5-7, 7-5, 6-0 in the 2006 Australian Open final.
Surprisingly, missing from this list are two greats of tennis Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, who have won 22 and24 Grand Slams respectively. In the case of Carlos Alcaraz, Naomi Osaka and Iga Swiatek, the interesting factor is their winning streak is only the number of Grand Slam finals they have played till date, as all the three are active players.
Waiting for your feedback on this blog.
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
19th July 2024