Historical Context

In a real numbers sense, 20 titles have been handed out at each of the Grand Slams over a 20 year period of time.  Of course, the Australian Open was held twice in 1977 and was not held in 1986.  In 1967, Wimbledon held a professional tournament 2 weeks after the amateur event concluded.  This Wimbledon Professional tournament helped to dampen fears that professionals would not compete honorably, and Open Tennis was born in 1968.  Still, from 1992-2011 each slam has awarded 20 titles.  I am leaving out the 2012 Australian and French Open results as 2011 was the last completed Grand Slam season.

Here is the numerical breakdown:

Australian Open Men’s Champions 1992-2011

1. Jim Courier 1992, 1993
2. Pete Sampras 1994, 1997
3. Andre Agassi 1995, 2000, 2001, 2003
4. Boris Becker 1996
5. Petr Korda 1998
6. Yevgeny Kafelnikov 1999
7. Thomas Johanss0n 2002
8. Roger Federer 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010
9. Novak Djokovic 2008, 2010
10. Rafael Nadal 2009

French Open Men’s Champions 1992-2011

1. Jim Courier 1992
2. Sergi Bruguera 1993, 1994
3. Thomas Muster 1995
4. Yevgeny Kafelnikov 1996
5. Gustavo Kuerten 1997, 2000, 2001
6. Carlos Moya 1998
7. Andre Agassi 1999
8. Albert Costa 2002
9. Juan Carlos Ferrero 2003
10. Gaston Gaudio 2004
11. Rafal Nadal 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011
12. Roger Federer 2009

Wimbledon Men’s Champions 1992-2011

1. Andre Agassi 1992
2. Pete Sampras 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
3. Richard Krajicek 1996
4. Goran Ivanisevi 2001
5. Lleyton Hewitt 2002
6. Roger Federer 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
7. Rafael Nadal 2008, 2010
8. Novak Djokovic 2011

US Open Men’s Champions 1992-2011

1. Stefan Edberg 1992
2. Pete Sampras 1993, 1995, 1996, 2002
3. Andre Agassi 1994, 1999
4. Patrick Rafter 1997, 1998
5. Marat Safin 2000
6. Lleyton Hewitt 2001
7. Andy Roddick 2003
8. Roger Federer 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
9. Juan Martin del Potro 2009
10. Rafael Nadal 2010
11. Novak Djokovic 2011

Quick Math: It Is Hard to Join the Wimbledon Club

The numerically typical Australian Open champion of the past 20 years won 2 titles.  The French Open champions of the past 20 years averaged 1.67 crowns.  The composite US Open champion of the past two decades collected 1.82 titles.  At Wimbledon, the titlists averaged 2.5 titles.  That leaves less oxygen and opportunities for players attempting to that elite circle.

Deeper Look: Federer and Sampras Skew the Numbers

Having two players collect 65% of the Wimbledon titles over the past 2 decades makes winning a Wimbledon title appear more rare than the other 3 slams.  If by 2021, another great clay court champion emerges winning 5-6 French Open titles, the 30 year numbers will undoubtedly make Roland Garros titles appear to be more rare.

Conclusions?

• Wimbledon Could Use These Numbers to Say, “Yes, We Are the Most Prestigious Title.”
• Someone Skilled at Math Might Retort that the 1992 Starting Date Dictates the Outcome i.e. not including 1991 (Michael Stich) helps Wimbledon’s case, 2012’s results help the French and Australian Open case yet they are not included, 1978-1987 saw only 3 men win the US Open …
• Rain Delays Make Tennis Writers Ponder Odd Things that May or May not be Indicative of Something Significant