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Major Misses: Top Players who Never Won a Slam
Grand Slam titles are the measuring stick of greatness. But who rose the highest without a major to stand on?
By Doug Robson - From the October 2003 issue of TENNIS Magazine
Winning your first major isn't easy. The first half of 2003 saw three young tennis players--Juan Carlos Ferrero, Roger Federer, and Justine Henin-Hardenne--get the monkey off their backs before being tagged with the dreaded best-player-not-to-win-a-major label. That got us to thinking about who does deserve that distinction. Limiting ourselves to retired Open-era players, here are our picks for the 10 best players (five men, five women) to finish their careers without a Grand Slam singles title.
Jose-Luis Clerc - This Argentine's record on fast surfaces was mediocre, but on clay, Clerc had a .772 winning percentage, and he could grind with the best. He won 25 titles (21 on dirt), placing him 23rd on the all-time list, compiled a 365-145 win-loss record, and finished in the Top 10 four times. He even had a 7-7 record against Ivan Lendl. Clerc's best chance at a major was at Roland Garros, of course, and he reached the semis there twice, in 1981 and '82, but lost tight matches to Lendl and Mats Wilander.
Mary Joe Fernandez (...)
Brian Gottfried - The Maryland native squeezed as much out of his talent as any player. He won 25 titles, tying him with Clerc for 23rd on the all-time list, reached another 26 finals, and finished in the Top 10 three times (with a high of No. 5). Having made the 1977 French final and '80 Wimbledon semis, Gottfried is one of the few male Open-era players who excelled on both fast and slow surfaces.
Andrea Jaeger (...)
Manuela Maleeva-Fragniere (...)
Miloslav Mecir - The quick, clever "Big Cat" was one of the most talented players of the 1980s, with an ability to mix speeds, spins, and angles. But Mecir too often came up clawless in big matches: His record in finals was 11-13. Still, before a bad back ended his career in 1990, he finished in the Top 10 three times, reached the '86 U.S. Open and '89 Australian finals, losing to countryman Ivan Lendl both times, and won the Olympic gold medal in 1988.
Tom Okker - He earned the nickname "The Flying Dutchman" for his foot speed. That, along with his windmill forehand and solid volleys, helped Okker net 31 singles titles. In 1968, he lost a five-setter to Arthur Ashe in the final of the U.S. Open, but perhaps more impressive is that Okker, a former No. 2, reached the semifinals at all four Grand Slams.
Cedric Pioline - He was a gifted if streaky all-courter with a beautiful one-handed topspin backhand. During his 14-year career, Pioline won five of 12 finals, attained a high of No. 5, and finished 1993 in the Top 10. His crowning achievements, reaching the U.S. Open and Wimbledon finals in 1993 and '97, respectively, ended in blowouts at the hands of Pete Sampras.
Pam Shriver(...)
Wendy Turnbull
Grand Slam titles are the measuring stick of greatness. But who rose the highest without a major to stand on?
By Doug Robson - From the October 2003 issue of TENNIS Magazine
Winning your first major isn't easy. The first half of 2003 saw three young tennis players--Juan Carlos Ferrero, Roger Federer, and Justine Henin-Hardenne--get the monkey off their backs before being tagged with the dreaded best-player-not-to-win-a-major label. That got us to thinking about who does deserve that distinction. Limiting ourselves to retired Open-era players, here are our picks for the 10 best players (five men, five women) to finish their careers without a Grand Slam singles title.
Jose-Luis Clerc - This Argentine's record on fast surfaces was mediocre, but on clay, Clerc had a .772 winning percentage, and he could grind with the best. He won 25 titles (21 on dirt), placing him 23rd on the all-time list, compiled a 365-145 win-loss record, and finished in the Top 10 four times. He even had a 7-7 record against Ivan Lendl. Clerc's best chance at a major was at Roland Garros, of course, and he reached the semis there twice, in 1981 and '82, but lost tight matches to Lendl and Mats Wilander.
Mary Joe Fernandez (...)
Brian Gottfried - The Maryland native squeezed as much out of his talent as any player. He won 25 titles, tying him with Clerc for 23rd on the all-time list, reached another 26 finals, and finished in the Top 10 three times (with a high of No. 5). Having made the 1977 French final and '80 Wimbledon semis, Gottfried is one of the few male Open-era players who excelled on both fast and slow surfaces.
Andrea Jaeger (...)
Manuela Maleeva-Fragniere (...)
Miloslav Mecir - The quick, clever "Big Cat" was one of the most talented players of the 1980s, with an ability to mix speeds, spins, and angles. But Mecir too often came up clawless in big matches: His record in finals was 11-13. Still, before a bad back ended his career in 1990, he finished in the Top 10 three times, reached the '86 U.S. Open and '89 Australian finals, losing to countryman Ivan Lendl both times, and won the Olympic gold medal in 1988.
Tom Okker - He earned the nickname "The Flying Dutchman" for his foot speed. That, along with his windmill forehand and solid volleys, helped Okker net 31 singles titles. In 1968, he lost a five-setter to Arthur Ashe in the final of the U.S. Open, but perhaps more impressive is that Okker, a former No. 2, reached the semifinals at all four Grand Slams.
Cedric Pioline - He was a gifted if streaky all-courter with a beautiful one-handed topspin backhand. During his 14-year career, Pioline won five of 12 finals, attained a high of No. 5, and finished 1993 in the Top 10. His crowning achievements, reaching the U.S. Open and Wimbledon finals in 1993 and '97, respectively, ended in blowouts at the hands of Pete Sampras.
Pam Shriver(...)
Wendy Turnbull
... maybe we can add Todd Martin and Alex Corretja to that list too... 
