The 6 shortest Grand Slam men’s singles finals: ft Nadal def Federer at French Open
Jimmy Connors, Bjorn Borg, and Rafael Nadal are among the tennis icons to win the most one-sided Grand Slam men’s singles finals of the Open Era.
Based on total games played (not on time) we look at the six shortest men’s singles major finals since 1968.
=5) 1978 French Open, Bjorn Borg def Guillermo Vilas 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 (23 Games)
Borg and Vilas were the two leading clay-courters of their era but their 1978 French Open clash proved to be one of the most one-sided finals in the tournament’s history.
In a battle between the two-time former champion and the defending champion, it was 1974 and 1975 victor Borg who was in control throughout, taking just 23 games to claim a 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 triumph.
It was the third of the Swede’s six triumphs at Roland Garros, and the third of four finals in Paris for Vilas.
=5) 2003 Australian Open, Andre Agassi def Rainer Schuttler 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 (23 Games)
Agassi sealed the eighth and final Grand Slam title of his career with the most emphatic major final victory of his career at the Australian Open in 2003.
The second seed was an overwhelming favourite against 30th seed Rainer Schuttler and dropped just five games as he eased to a 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 victory inside the Rod Laver Arena.
It was Agassi’s fourth title Down Under – making it his most successful Slam – while it was Schuttler’s only Grand Slam final.
=3) 1984 Wimbledon, John McEnroe def Jimmy Connors 6-1, 6-1, 6-2 (22 Games)
McEnroe and Connors were fierce rivals across their careers and their 1982 Wimbledon final (won by Connors) remains a classic, though their 1984 clash was less memorable.
The younger of the two Americans, McEnroe was at the peak of his powers this season and dropped just four games as she stormed to an easy 6-1, 6-1, 6-2 win over his fellow tennis great.
It was the third and final Wimbledon title for McEnroe, and a 15th and last Grand Slam final for tennis icon Connors.
=3) 2008 French Open, Rafael Nadal def Roger Federer 6-1, 6-3, 6-0 (22 Games)
Nadal and Federer’s rivalry was defined by epic matches and legendary battles, though their 2008 French Open final clash remains memorable for an entirely different reason.
The Spaniard was 14-0 in finals at Roland Garros and his most dominant display came against Federer here, the Swiss only winning four games as Nadal stormed to a 6-1, 6-3, 6-0 triumph.
It was the third of four finals between the two in Paris, with Nadal also victorious in 2006, 2007, and 2011.
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2) 1977 French Open, Guillermo Vilas def Brian Gottfried 6-0, 6-3, 6-0 (21 Games)
Vilas may have been the wrong side of a lopsided final loss at the 1978 French Open, though that only came after an emphatic final victory over America’s Brian Gottfried the previous year.
The Argentine had lost his first two Grand Slam finals but took just 21 games to beat former world No 3 Gottfried here, sealing a 6-0, 6-3, 6-0 triumph in Paris.
It was the first of his four majors, while it was the sole Grand Slam final for Gottfried.
1) 1974 US Open, Jimmy Connors def Ken Rosewall 6-1, 6-0, 6-1 (20 Games)
In terms of games dropped, former world No 1 Connors sealed the most dominant Grand Slam men’s singles final win of the Open Era at the US Open in 1974.
Having already beaten Aussie icon Rosewall, 39, in the Wimbledon final earlier that summer – in straight sets – the American was a big favourite to win his home major for the first time.
And Connors ultimately produced one of the best performances of his career, prevailing 6-1, 6-0, 6-1 to seal the title.
It was the first of a joint-record of five US Open men’s singles titles for the American.
