If you're not top 20 as a teenager, you won't win multiple majors.

Of the 18 multiple majors winners who were teens in the ATP era,

-12 of them made the top 20 as teens
-Another 4 did it at the age of 20 (Kuerten, Kafelnikov, Safin, and Bruguera)
-Only Pat Rafter won multiple majors, but did not make the top 20 until he was 21 years old.

(and I can't find ranking info on Johan Kriek)


Making the year-end top 20 as a teen doesn't necessarily mean you will win a major tournament, but it is a good indicator.

Of the 22 men who made the year-end top 20 as teens, 5 retired without winning a major. 10 of them won multiple majors. 4 of them won just one major.

Good news for Gasquet, Djokovic, and Murray, who could all use some good news this week.

I've already cornered you on this. Check out the "21 Rule" thread.

I think my cutoff is more relevant. You could also say, if you don't win a match by the time you're 65 you won't win 572 majors. :p

And I thought TF has another user name! :tape:

(and I can't find ranking info on Johan Kriek)


I think it's safe to say that Kriek didn't crack the Top 20 as a teenager. He finished 1977 (at age 19) at rank 278; 1978 (at age 20) at rank 27; 1979 (age 21) ranked 35. In 1980 at age 22 he finally finished ranked 18. His Australian Open titles came in 1981 and 1982. :)