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Titles that would vanish
The flip side: real champions who'd never have lifted the trophy at all.
A title only counts if you win every match on the way. These 32 championships don't survive best-of-three — somewhere in the draw, the actual champion was two sets down and rescued themselves across five. Take that escape route away and the title is gone (with no re-bracketing, it simply isn't awarded). The hardest hit: Novak Djokovic (8), Carlos Alcaraz (4), Rafael Nadal (3).
252025 French OpenCarlos Alcaraz loses the final to Jannik Sinner (4-6 6-7(4) 6-4 7-6(3) 7-6(2))Lost
252025 WimbledonJannik Sinner out in the Round of 16 v Grigor Dimitrov (3-6 5-7 2-2 RET)Lost
242024 Australian OpenJannik Sinner loses the final to Daniil Medvedev (3-6 3-6 6-4 6-4 6-3)Lost
242024 French OpenCarlos Alcaraz out in the Semi-final v Jannik Sinner (2-6 6-3 3-6 6-4 6-3)Lost
242024 WimbledonCarlos Alcaraz out in the Round of 32 v Frances Tiafoe (5-7 6-2 4-6 7-6(2) 6-2)Lost
232023 US OpenNovak Djokovic out in the Round of 32 v Laslo Djere (4-6 4-6 6-1 6-1 6-3)Lost
222022 Australian OpenRafael Nadal loses the final to Daniil Medvedev (2-6 6-7(5) 6-4 6-4 7-5)Lost
222022 WimbledonNovak Djokovic out in the Quarter-final v Jannik Sinner (5-7 2-6 6-3 6-2 6-2)Lost
222022 US OpenCarlos Alcaraz out in the Quarter-final v Jannik Sinner (6-3 6-7(7) 6-7(0) 7-5 6-3)Lost
212021 French OpenNovak Djokovic out in the Round of 16 v Lorenzo Musetti (6-7(7) 6-7(2) 6-1 6-0 4-0 RET)Lost
202020 Australian OpenNovak Djokovic loses the final to Dominic Thiem (6-4 4-6 2-6 6-3 6-4)Lost
202020 US OpenDominic Thiem loses the final to Alexander Zverev (2-6 4-6 6-4 6-3 7-6(6))Lost
162016 US OpenStan Wawrinka out in the Round of 32 v Daniel Evans (4-6 6-3 6-7(6) 7-6(8) 6-2)Lost
152015 WimbledonNovak Djokovic out in the Round of 16 v Kevin Anderson (6-7(6) 6-7(6) 6-1 6-4 7-5)Lost
142014 WimbledonNovak Djokovic out in the Quarter-final v Marin Cilic (6-1 3-6 6-7(4) 6-2 6-2)Lost
132013 WimbledonAndy Murray out in the Quarter-final v Fernando Verdasco (4-6 3-6 6-1 6-4 7-5)Lost
122012 Australian OpenNovak Djokovic out in the Semi-final v Andy Murray (6-3 3-6 6-7(4) 6-1 7-5)Lost
122012 WimbledonRoger Federer out in the Round of 32 v Julien Benneteau (4-6 6-7(3) 6-2 7-6(6) 6-1)Lost
112011 French OpenRafael Nadal out in the Round of 128 v John Isner (6-4 6-7(2) 6-7(2) 6-2 6-4)Lost
112011 US OpenNovak Djokovic out in the Semi-final v Roger Federer (6-7(7) 4-6 6-3 6-2 7-5)Lost
102010 WimbledonRafael Nadal out in the Round of 64 v Robin Haase (5-7 6-2 3-6 6-0 6-3)Lost
092009 French OpenRoger Federer out in the Round of 16 v Tommy Haas (6-7(4) 5-7 6-4 6-0 6-2)Lost
092009 US OpenJuan Martin del Potro loses the final to Roger Federer (3-6 7-6(5) 4-6 7-6(4) 6-2)Lost
052005 Australian OpenMarat Safin out in the Semi-final v Roger Federer (5-7 6-4 5-7 7-6(6) 9-7)Lost
042004 French OpenGaston Gaudio out in the Round of 128 v Guillermo Canas (6-2 2-6 4-6 6-3 6-2)Lost
032003 US OpenAndy Roddick out in the Semi-final v David Nalbandian (6-7(4) 3-6 7-6(7) 6-1 6-3)Lost
022002 Australian OpenThomas Johansson out in the Semi-final v Jiri Novak (7-6(5) 0-6 4-6 6-3 6-4)Lost
022002 French OpenAlbert Costa out in the Quarter-final v Guillermo Canas (7-5 3-6 6-7(3) 6-4 6-0)Lost
012001 Australian OpenAndre Agassi out in the Semi-final v Patrick Rafter (7-5 2-6 6-7(5) 6-2 6-3)Lost
012001 French OpenGustavo Kuerten out in the Round of 16 v Michael Russell (3-6 4-6 7-6(3) 6-3 6-1)Lost
012001 WimbledonGoran Ivanisevic out in the Semi-final v Tim Henman (7-5 6-7(6) 0-6 7-6(5) 6-3)Lost
012001 US OpenLleyton Hewitt out in the Round of 64 v James Blake (6-4 3-6 2-6 6-3 6-0)Lost