5 most lopsided rivalries in ATP history ft. Novak Djokovic vs Gael Monfils
Considering the level of competition on the ATP tour, especially in the last few years, it may seem unfathomable that one player can have complete mastery over another, especially a top-10 opponent.
However, there are many instances on the ATP tour in the Open Era where one player has never lost against a particular opponent. There can be several reasons for this, including bad match-ups, mental blocks or in some cases, plain bad luck.
On that note, here's a look at the five most lopsided rivalries in ATP history:
#5 Roger Federer 17-0 Mikhail Youzhny
Mikhail Youzhny was a fine competitor in his own right. The former top-10 player won nearly 500 singles matches on tour and bagged 10 titles but could never solve the Roger Federer riddle.
Youzhny locked horns with Federer 17 times across all three surfaces, but only managed to take six sets off the 20-time Grand Slam champion. Two of those sets came in the pair's last meeting in the second round of the 2017 US Open.
The Russian unexpectedly took a two-sets-to-one lead against an uncharacteristically error-prone Federer, plagued by cramps, on a balmy New York night.
Upset Alert!
Mikhail Youzhny is one set away from defeating Federer in R2. 1-6, 7-6, 6-4, 0-0.
ms.spr.ly/federer-vs-you… #USOpen https://t.co/NV0jYwkrT7
However, the Swiss recovered to take the next two sets to extend his perfect record against Youzhny.
Speaking after the match, Youzhny chose to focus on the positive aspects of his performance.
"I try to find positive things in this. I say OK, he's beaten me 17 times but today it was closer. I say I beat him - in three sets. I have never won two sets against Roger in Grand Slam matches. Today was a good match but I lost so I cannot be happy," he said.
Federer won two titles - 2007 Dubai and 2013 Halle - at the expense of the Russian, whom he beat at all four Grand Slams.
Note: Federer also has a perfect 17-0 record against David Ferrer.
#4 Rafael Nadal 17-0 Richard Gasquet
Like Federer against Youzhny and Ferrer, Rafael Nadal has a perfect head-to-head record against talented Frenchman Richard Gasquet.
Gasquet, a former World No. 7, is a 15-time titlist on the tour, winning 570 matches. But none of those wins have come against Nadal in 17 attempts spanning 17 years. So lopsided is the pair's rivalry that the Frenchman has failed to take a set off Nadal in their last 12 meetings after forcing a decider in four of their first five.
In their latest clash at the 2021 French Open, the 13-time champion reeled off a 6-0, 7-5, 6-2 victory over Gasquet in the second round.
Rafael Nadal beats Richard Gasquet for a 17th time, 6-0, 7-5, 6-2 to reach the 3rd round at #RolandGarros.
No French players left in singles in the end of the 2nd round.
[getty] https://t.co/gdZaknLKvo
The pair have never met in a title match but locked horns four times in semifinals. Interestingly, Nadal has never met Gasquet on grass.
#3 Ivan Lendl 17-0 Tim Mayotte
Tim Mayotte, like the others on this list, was a top-10 player, winning 340 matches and 12 titles. However, none of those match wins came against Ivan Lendl.
Lendl's 6-3, 6-0 victory over Mayotte in the 1990 Toronto final marked only the second instance of a player beating an opponent 17 times without losing even once. The pair clashed six times in Grand Slams but never on clay.
The Toronto triumph was Lendl's fourth victory over Mayotte in a tournament final. Mayotte came close to beating Lendl in the 1982 US Open second round, but lost 6-4 in the decider. In the 1986 Wimbledon quarterfinals, he lost 9-7 in the fifth after leading by two sets to one.
#2 Bjorn Borg 17-0 Vitas Gerulaitis
Vitas Gerulaitis won 535 matches and 26 titles, including the 1977 Australian Open, and rose to No. 3 in the world during his prime.
That makes it all the more befuddling that he never got the better of his good friend Bjorn Borg in 17 attempts.
Interestingly, all but three of these meetings were in a semifinal or final. Gerulaitis came close to beating Borg in the 1977 Wimbledon semifinals but lost to the eventual champion 8-6 in the decider.
Gerulaitis made a bold proclamation after beating Jimmy Connors for the first time in 17 attempts in January 1980, claiming that no one could beat him 17 times in a row.
"Nobody beats Vitas Gerulaitis 17 times in a row," he said
Alas, Borg didn't heed the call. In the pair's last meeting in the fourth round at Wimbledon in 1981, Borg beat Gerulaitis in straight sets, marking his 17th consecutive win over the American.
Also Check Out :- Tennis Results Today
#1 Novak Djokovic 18-0 Gael Monfils
Novak Djokovic came extremely close to not making this list. The Serb came back from the brink in his 16th meeting with Gael Monfils in the 2020 Dubai semifinals.
The World No. 1 trailed by a set and a break before finding himself three match points down in the second set tie-break. Miraculously, Monfils floundered as Djokovic pulled off another Houdini act to maintain his perfect record against the Frenchman.
Djokovic met Monfils for the 18th time on Tuesday in the second round of the ongoing Madrid Masters. As was widely expected, the Serb eased past the finish line without ever getting into top gear.
🏾 (Normalement à 3/0 on lâche la manette 🤣) On va essayer de ne pas prendre Fanny comme au ping-pong (21/0) 
#ontothenextone
Bravo Novak 🙌🏾 (Normalement à 3/0 on lâche la manette 🤣) On va essayer de ne pas prendre Fanny comme au ping-pong (21/0) 😅 #ontothenextone https://t.co/UrmiTmFJoA
In the process, Djokovic became the first player in ATP history to beat an opponent 18 times without losing even once.
Also Check Out :-Madrid Open 2022 Schedule