10 players who have beaten Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, but not Rafael Nadal
Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal have become the yardsticks for tennis achievements in recent years, and very few players have managed to prevail over all three.
Because of their contrasting styles of play, a player who is successful against one of the Big 3 is not necessarily guaranteed to be successful against the other two. Sometimes, a player might have even succeeded in beating two of the three, but never gotten past the third.
10 Players have beaten Djokovic & Federer but NEVER Nadal
Richard Gasquet
Tommy Robredo
Marat Safin
Kevin Anderson
Ivo Karlovic
Radek Stepanek
Ernests Gulbis
Tommy Haas
Filippo Volandri
Fabrice Santoro
As it turns out, there are 10 players who have scored a win over both Federer and Djokovic but failed to unlock the secret to beating Nadal. Here's a look at them all:
#1 Fabrice Santoro
Former World No. 1 Fabrice Santoro defeated Roger Federer twice in 11 attempts, beating the Swiss in the 1999 Open de Toulouse and the 2002 Madrid Masters. Against Novak Djokovic, the Frenchman has triumphed once in two meetings -- at the 2007 Paris Masters.
Against Rafael Nadal, however, Santoro played only once and ended up losing comprehensively. The duo faced off in the 2007 Qatar Open, where the 21-time Grand Slam champion raced to a quick 6-0, 6-1 win.
#2 Filippo Volandri
Filippo Voladri took on Roger Federer at the Rome Masters in the 2003 and 2007 editions, losing the former and winning the latter. The Italian won his only meeting against Novak Djokovic, beating the Serb at the 2004 Croatia Open.
The Mallorcan, on the other hand, won all three meetings against the former World No. 25, besting him at the 2006 Rome Masters and the 2007 Paris Masters as well as their Davis Cup meeting in 2006.
#3 Ernests Gulbis
Ernests Gulbis and Roger Federer have met five times on the ATP tour and the Swiss leads their head-to-head 3-2. His two losses came at the 2010 Rome Masters and the 2014 French Open. Novak Djokovic has lost to the Latvian only once in their eight meetings till date, at the 2009 Brisbane International.
Possibly contrarian opinion no.1 of 9999
Ernest Gulbis played Nadal harder on clay, and was generally a tougher matchup on that surface, than Soderling.
Recommended viewing: Gulbis vs Nadal in Rome 2010 & 2013
(Related note: Gulbis’ IMO = one of biggest ‘what could have been’)
But against Rafael Nadal, the former World No. 10 never prevailed in seven attempts. Barring two matches (2011 and 2013 Qatar Open), Gulbis managed to win at least one set but could never go all the way.
#4 Ivo Karlovic
Ivo Karlovic's sole victory against Roger Federer in 14 attempts came at the 2008 Cincinnati Masters, where the Croat upset the top seed in three sets. Interestingly, Novak Djokovic trails the head-to-head against Karlovic 1-2, losing in the 2008 Madrid Masters and the 2015 Qatar Open.
Rafael Nadal, however, remained unbeaten against the former World No. 14 in five matches, beating him in two Masters 1000 events (2011 Indian Wells Masters and 2015 Shanghai Masters) and one Grand Slam (2010 Australian Open).
#5 Richard Gasquet
In 21 encounters against Roger Federer, Richard Gasquet has only two wins, both on clay -- the 2005 Monte-Carlo Masters and the 2011 Rome Masters. Against Novak Djokovic, the Frenchman has just one win to show for, at the 2007 year-end championships.
Rafael Nadal really made 3 return winners IN A ROW against Karlovic once. https://t.co/KrZjokuuSP
But despite taking on the Spaniard 17 times till date, Gasquet is yet to outclass him even once. The former World No. 1 has defeated the Frenchman nine times on hardcourt and eight times on claycourt, including thrice at Roland Garros and twice at the US Open.
#6 Radek Stepanek
Both of Radek Stepanek's victories over Roger Federer (16 meetings) came on clay, at the 2002 Swiss Open and the 2008 Rome Masters. The Czech's only victory against Novak Djokovic came on hardcourt, at the 2006 Rotterdam Open.
Rafael Nadal, on the other hand, has beaten the former World No. 8 on all surfaces, including carpet. The two have never met in a Grand Slam, but the World No. 4 has bested Stepanek in four Masters 1000 tournaments.
#7 Tommy Robredo
In 12 matches against Roger Federer, Tommy Robredo has won only once -- at the 2013 US Open. Novak Djokovic has lost to the Spaniard twice in nine meetings, in straight sets at the 2005 Paris Masters and the 2014 Cincinnati Masters.
2006 Barcelona Final:
(1)Rafael Nadal def. (6)Tommy Robredo 6-4, 6-4, 6-0
Nadal won his 2nd title in Barcelona and his 11th career title on clay. His record in finals improved to 15-2.
Robredo was the Barcelona champion in 2004. https://t.co/kcdygYuwT8
Nadal, though, has won all seven meetings against the former World No. 5. The 34-year-old has lost only one set -- at the 2009 Paris Masters, and has bagelled his compatriot twice so far.
#8 Kevin Anderson
Kevin Anderson has only one win each against Roger Federer (seven meetings) and Novak Djokovic (11 meetings), prevailing over the Swiss in 2018 Wimbledon and the Serb at the 2008 Miami Masters.
Also Check Out :-Roger Federer Net Worth
youtube.com/watch?v=wYNT3W…
2017 US Open final between Rafael Nadal and Kevin Anderson. The Spaniard had incredible 52 winners and 23 errors, matching Kevin's numbers in the shortest range up to four strokes and dominating in the more extended exchanges to seal the deal in straights https://t.co/L93jbwC2RX
Rafael Nadal, however, has come out the victor in all five clashes against the South African, losing only one set along the way. The Spaniard has beaten the former World No. 5 twice in Grand Slams and twice at Masters 1000 tournaments.
#9 Tommy Haas
Tommy Haas has defeated Roger Federer four times in 17 meetings, twice on grasscourt and twice on hardcourt. Against Novak Djokovic, the German has three wins in nine clashes, two on grasscourt and one on hardcourt.
The 21-time Grand Slam champion, meanwhile, faced Haas five times on hardcourt and won every single one of those meetings in straight sets.
#10 Marat Safin
Marat Safin has a perfect record against Novak Djokovic, beating the Serb at the 2005 Australian Open and 2008 Wimbledon in straight sets. Against Roger Federer, the Russian triumphed twice in 12 attempts -- the 2002 Kremlin Cup and the 2005 Australian Open.
But the former World No. 1 was on the losing side both times he took on Rafael Nadal. Safin fell in straight sets to the Mallorcan at the 2007 Canada Masters and the 2009 China Open, the latter of which came in his final year on the ATP tour.
Also Check Out :-Barcelona Open 2022 Results