The last 7 men to win an ATP title without dropping serve: Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard emulates Djokovic, Federer

Oli Dickson Jefford 28 Oct 2024 4:59 PM

Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.

Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard impressed many with his run to the Swiss Indoors title last week.

However, it was the manner of his triumph – his first at ATP 500 level – was most striking, with the big-serving 21-year-old not being broken once in Basel.

Here, we look at the last seven men to win an ATP title without dropping serve; it’s fair to say Mpetshi Perricard finds himself in exceptional company.

Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard – Swiss Indoors 2024

Mpetshi Perricard has cemented his place as one of the ATP’s hottest prospects thanks to his extraordinary run in Basel.

The 21-year-old was unseeded but sent out a statement of intent early on, beating eighth seed and two-time defending champion Felix Auger-Aliassime in straight sets in round two.

He would then beat another seed – fourth seed Holger Rune – in the semi-final to reach his second ATP final, where he downed Ben Shelton 6-4, 7-6(4) to win the biggest title of his promising career.

Felix Auger-Aliassime – Swiss Indoors 2022

Auger-Aliassime did not have the rub of the green in Basel this season, but his 2022 run to the title at the ATP 500 event was similarly emphatic to Mpetshi Perricard’s last week.

The Canadian largely breezed through to the semi-finals, where the third seed thrashed top seed and then world No 1 Carlos Alcaraz, dropping just five games to reach the final.

He backed that up to beat Rune 6-3, 7-5 in the final, picking up one of the biggest titles of his career without dropping serve.

Nick Kyrgios – Washington Open 2022

The 2022 Washington Open remains the most recent title in Kyrgios’ collection, and arguably his most impressive.

Unseeded, the Australian knocked out three seeds – 14th seed Tommy Paul, fourth seed Reilly Opelka, and 10th seed Frances Tiafoe – on his way to an 11th ATP Final.

Having not been broken once, Kyrgios continued his fine form with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Yoshihito Nishioka in the final.

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Andrey Rublev – Vienna Open 2020

Rublev has consistently found success at ATP 500 tournaments across his career, and the former world No 5 was at his very best with an emphatic run in Vienna four years ago.

The Russian breezed through to the final without dropping a set, most notably taking down second seed, defending champion, and recent US Open winner Dominic Thiem in the last eight.

He was a heavy favourite against lucky loser Lorenzo Sonego in the final and prevailed 6-4, 6-4 to finish off one of the most impressive title runs of his career.

Novak Djokovic – Shanghai Masters 2018

The Shanghai Masters has been one of the most successful tournaments of Djokovic’s career, and his run to the title in 2018 was arguably the most impressive of them all.

Seeded second, Djokovic faced little trouble in making the final, seeing off the likes of seventh seed Kevin Anderson and fourth seed Alexander Zverev.

Djokovic faced 13th seed Borna Coric in the final and calmly sealed his fourth Shanghai title with a 6-3, 6-4 victory.

Alexander Zverev – Madrid Open 2018

Zverev has proven a consistent force on the ATP Tour ever since breaking through towards the top of the game, and his serve was in full flight on his way to a first Madrid title six years ago.

The second seed saw off fellow big-server and seventh seed John Isner in the quarter-finals, before ending the surprise run of Denis Shapovalov in the last four.

Close friend and fifth seed Dominic Thiem was his opponent in the final, but a 6-4, 6-4 win saw the German lift the title without really ever being tested.

Roger Federer – Cincinnati Open 2015 + 2012

Impressively, Federer twice won the Cincinnati Open without losing serve.

The first such occasion came in 2012, weeks after the Swiss had returned to form by winning his seventh Wimbledon title.

Federer dispatched compatriot and close friend Stan Wawrinka in the semi-final, before an untouchable serving display saw him down Novak Djokovic 6-0, 7-6(7) in the final.

Three years later, he won the Cincinnati title for the seventh time – again without being broken.

He defeated third seed Andy Murray in the last four before a 7-6(1), 6-3 victory over Djokovic handed him his final title at the event.