5 tennis greats who never won the ATP Finals – ft. Rafael Nadal
One of the biggest titles to win in tennis, several tennis greats have triumphed at the ATP Finals since the event launched in 1970.
But, while the likes of Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer have won the tournament multiple times, a few tennis legends have just missed out on lifting the title.
Here, we look at five of the best ATP Tour stars who never won the ATP Finals.
Rafael Nadal
Nadal won 14 French Open titles, four US Open titles, two Wimbledon titles, two Australian Open titles, and Olympic singles gold – but never won the ATP Finals.
The Spaniard played the year-end championships 11 times – withdrawing pre-event a further six times – and did record some good results at the tournament.
He was beaten in the final twice, losing to Roger Federer in 2010 and Novak Djokovic in 2013.
Nadal also reached further semi-finals in 2007, 2007, 2015, and 2020, though tricky indoor hard conditions, arguably his weakest surface, contributed to why he was unable to triumph.
He holds the unfortunate record of the most tournaments without lifting the title.
Jim Courier
A four-time Grand Slam singles champion who spent 58 weeks as the world No 1, Courier was one of the greatest players of the 1990s.
The American was twice a champion at both the Australian Open and Roland Garros while also making Wimbledon and US Open finals, though never prevailed at the year-end championships.
Courier lost the 1991 final to long-term rival and compatriot Pete Sampras in four sets, while he was beaten by home favourite Boris Becker in Frankfurt the following season.
He made further appearances at the event in 1993 and 1995, falling in the group stage.
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Mats Wilander
One of the most successful players of the 1980s, Wilander won seven Grand Slam singles titles and was the year-end No 1 in 1988.
The Swede won three titles at the Australian Open and French Open, alongside his 1988 US Open victory, and qualified for the year-end championships for seven straight seasons.
Wilander was beaten in the 1987 final by five-time winner Ivan Lendl, a result which proved to be his best result at the ATP Finals.
The Swede was beaten in the semi-finals in 1983, 1984, and 1986, and never quite got his hands on the trophy.
Dominic Thiem
Thiem called time on his career last month after reaching a career-high of world No 3, most famously lifting the US Open title in 2020.
However, the Austrian was also twice a finalist at Roland Garros and an Australian Open runner-up, proving a formidable foe for the ‘Big Three’ at the peak of his powers.
Thiem made five appearances at the ATP Finals and came close to winning the title in 2019 and 2020, though ultimately lost in the final in both years.
He was beaten by Stefanos Tsitsipas in three sets in 2019, before also falling to Daniil Medvedev in three sets the following year.
Yevgeny Kafelnikov
Former world No 1 Kafelnikov was one of the most successful players of the late 1990s and early 2000s, winning two Grand Slam singles titles and Olympic gold.
The Russian was the 1996 French Open and 1999 Australian Open champion and came close to ATP Finals success during his career.
Kafelnikov reached the final in 1997, losing to defending champion and tennis great Sampras in straight sets.
He was also a semi-finalist in 1999 and 2001, qualifying for the year-end championships for seven consecutive years.
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