Serena, Sharapova, Borg, Djokovic - the greatest non-rivalries in tennis history
Rivalries are characterized by the fact that the winners of the matches take turns. However, we did pick out a few pairings where this was not the case at all.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: May 02, 2020, 10:57 am
Serena Williams vs. Maria Sharapova - Head to Head 20-2
How did Julia Görges put it in 2019 after Serena Williams' 6: 1 and 6: 1 against Maria Sharapova in the first round of the US Open: If Serena is concerned about winning against someone, she can still do it to go into gear. And against Sharapova, the 23-time major winner since 2004 seems to be a very serious matter. Because Sharapova won her only two games - first in the Wimbledon final, then at the WTA Finals. After that, however, Maria Sharapova, who announced her retirement at the Australian Open earlier this year, was only able to win three sets in 19 matches. The last one in Miami in 2013.
Jimmy Connors vs. Vitas Gerulaitis - Head-to-Head 19: 5
Bjorn Borg vs. Vitals Gerulaitis - Head-to-Head 17-0
The complaints of Tomas Berdychs, David Ferrers or Jo-Wilfried Tsongas about the dominance of the Big Three may be justified. But things weren't easier in the past. Check with Vitas Gerulaitis, the elegant American who died far too early, who had to deal with Jimmy Connors and Björn Borg in the 1970s. Gerulaitis won 26 titles on the ATP tour, the largest in Australia in December 1977. Absent from Borg and Connors, who did not make their way down under. Against his compatriot Connors, Gerulaitis won the very first meeting in 1974 in New York City, but then had to wait until 1979 for the next sporting victory (once Connors could not compete). Connors has 16 wins in a row. What brought Gerulaitis to the legendary remark after beating his (non-) rival at the Masters in 1979: “Let it all be a lesson. Nobody hits a Vitas Gerulaitis 17 matches in a row. ”However, against Björn Borg it was not enough to win one.
Novak Djokovic vs. Gael Monfils - Head-to-Head 17-0
If you don't take advantage of opportunities presented on the serving tray, like Gael Monfils in the semifinals of the ATP Tour 500 tournament in Dubai this year, then a 0:17 result should come as no surprise. Well, Novak Djokovic is a grand master in coping with difficult situations. And there were some of them despite the clear record against Monfils. For example, a tie break had to decide twice in the third set on the winner: 2009 in Paris-Bercy, 2014 in Toronto. And the very first encounter at ATP level in 2005 at the Australian Open Djokovic won 7: 5 in the third set. And yes: the official ATP statistics even make Monfils a success in their perpetual list. However, this happened at a future tournament in 2004.
Ivan Lendl vs. Brad Gilbert - Head-to-Head 16-0
Ivan Lendl also offers several players who have been tortured by the native Czech to the blood. Tim Mayotte, for example, against whom Lendl even has a 17-0 record. But to succeed against the author of "Winning Ugly" must not have been a special pleasure for Lendl, who is not free of humor. And also demonstrates the exceptional class of Lendl, who could not be solved even with the large toolbox from Gilbert. And only three sets won in 16 games speak a clear language.
Roger Federer vs. Philipp Kohlschreiber - Head-to-Head 14-0
Well, Federers' record against Mikhail Youzhny could also have been mentioned in this context: it is even 17-0 wins. The Russian has retired well deserved, just like David Ferrer (also here: 0:17 against Federer), Philipp Kohlschreiber can pursue the dream of the first success against the Maestro. Kohli, who usually plays particularly well at home, was really close in 2015 in Halle / Westphalia when he only had to admit defeat in the tiebreak of the third set. And even at the last game in Dubai in 2019, the German kept up much better than the clear conclusion in the third round.
Rafael Nadal vs. Tomas Berdych - Head-to-Head 20: 4
Tomas Berdych is definitely one of the favorites for the title "Best player who has never won a Grand Slam tournament". And Rafael Nadal is the man who took the Czech's greatest chance to do so: in the 2010 Wimbledon final. However, this was not the only occasion when Rafa proved to be a fun brake for Berdych as part of majors. The balance, based only on the four largest tournaments in the tennis year, is 4: 1 for the Spaniard, who only had to surrender Berdych at the 2015 Australian Open. Not to be scoffed at: Nadal has won all 16 matches so far against Richard Gasquet.