5 players with the longest unbeaten streaks in Grand Slam finals, ft. Carlos Alcaraz & Monica Seles
Carlos Alcaraz defeated Novak Djokovic to defend his title at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships on July 14. With this triumph, Alcaraz joined an illustrious list of players with remarkable winning streaks in Grand Slam finals.
A few champions in the Open Era have created incredible records at the highest echelons of tennis, like stitching together an unbeaten run in Major finals. On that note, let's take a look at five players with the longest winning streaks in Grand Slam finals.
#5 Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz is the latest entrant on this list, having won four Grand Slam titles on the trot.
The Spaniard reached his first-ever final at a Major at the 2022 US Open, beating Casper Ruud 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (1), 6-3. This was followed by his triumph at the 2023 Wimbledon Championships, where he defeated Novak Djokovic 1-6, 7-6 (6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4.
The 2024 Roland Garros Championships was the destination for Carlos Alcaraz's third Major title as he beat Alexander Zverev from two sets to one down, winning 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2. The 21-year-old recently won his fourth straight Grand Slam final at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships against Novak Djokovic, 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4).
#4 Naomi Osaka
Naomi Osaka finds a place on this list with a four-final winning streak at the Grand Slam level. The Japanese collected her first Grand Slam title at the 2018 US Open with a 6-2, 6-4 win against Serena Williams in the final. Osaka continued her incredible form at the 2019 Australian Open, where she defeated Petra Kvitova 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-4 in the final.
Naomi Osaka reached her next Grand Slam final at the 2020 US Open and picked her second title in New York by besting Victoria Azarenka 1-6, 6-3, 6-3. The former World No. 1 backed her victory in New York with a second Australian Open title in 2021 with a 6-4, 6-3 over Jennifer Brady.
#3 Iga Swiatek
Iga Swiatek is currently the active player with the longest winning streak in the Grand Slam finals. The Pole has won all her five Major title contests, with her first coming at the 2020 French Open against Sofia Kenin, 6-4, 6-1.
Swiatek had to wait two years before reaching another Major final. She broke her drought at the 2022 French Open, where she bettered Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-3.
A few months later, the reigning World No. 1 won her third Grand Slam title at the 2022 US Open, defeating Ons Jabeur 6-2, 7-6 (5).
Swiatek's next two Majors came at the French Open in 2023 (d. Karolina Muchová 6-2, 5-7, 6-4) and 2024 (d. Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 6-1).
#2 Monica Seles
American tennis legend Monica Seles has the second-longest winning streak in Grand Slam finals, with six. She won her maiden Grand Slam by beating Steffi Graf 7-6 (6), 6-4 in the 1990 French Open final.
Seles dominated the WTA tour in 1991, picking three Grand Slam titles - at the Australian Open (d. Jana Novotná, 5-7, 6-3, 6-1), the French Open (d. Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, 6-3, 6-4), and the US Open (Martina Navratilova 7-6 (1), 6-1).
Monica Seles then emerged triumphant at two more Majors in 1992. She won the Australian Open that year with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Mary Joe Fernandez, and the French Open after besting Steffi Graf 6-2, 3-6, 10-8.
#1 Roger Federer
Swiss maestro Roger Federer sits on top of this list with seven consecutive victories in Grand Slam finals. This record streak started at the 2003 Wimbledon Championships, where Federer bettered Mark Philippoussis 7-6 (5), 6-2, 7-6 (3) in the summit clash.
He then went on a Seles-like run in 2004 as he won the Australian Open (def. Marat Safin, 7-6 (3), 6-4, 6-2), Wimbledon (def. Andy Roddick, 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (3), 6-4), and US Open (def. Lleyton Hewitt, 6-0, 7-6 (3), 6-0) that year.
In 2005, Roger Federer completed a three-peat at the Wimbledon Championships by beating Andy Roddick 6-2, 7-6 (2), 6-4, and defended his title at the US Open by bettering Andre Agassi 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (1), 6-1. A year later, Federer won his seventh Grand Slam on the trot as he defeated Marcos Baghdatis 5-7, 7-5, 6-0, 6-2 in the 2006 Australian Open final.