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Winners that never were

The cruellest twist: lead a major final two sets to love, lose in five — and best-of-three still won't hand you the title.

It's tempting to think the men who lost finals from winning positions would be best-of-three's big winners. They aren't — because the rule has to apply to everyone. A final only changes hands if both finalists would still have reached it under best-of-three. Replay the whole draw and the trophy these players "win" is, almost always, a final that never happens.

Of the 2 finals where a titleless man led and lost in five, 0 would actually have become a maiden major under a consistent best-of-three.

Guillermo Coria · 2004 French Open

042004 French OpenLed Gaston Gaudio in the final (0-6 3-6 6-4 6-1 8-6), but Gaston Gaudio is knocked out in the Round of 128 under best-of-three — so the final never happens. No title.Lost

Stefanos Tsitsipas · 2021 French Open

212021 French OpenLed Novak Djokovic in the final (6-7(6) 2-6 6-3 6-2 6-4), but Novak Djokovic is knocked out in the Round of 16 under best-of-three — so the final never happens. No title.Lost

Applied honestly, best-of-three doesn't mint new champions from the runners-up — it mostly just deletes titles. The drama of a two-sets-to-love final lead cuts both ways.