Patrick Rafter
Back to back US Open titles in 1997 and 1998
Overview
The affable Australian serve volleyer won the US Open in 1997 and 1998 and reached Wimbledon finals in 2000 and 2001, losing both in five sets. His net rushing and sportsmanship made him universally liked, and his charity work earned him Australian of the Year in 2002. Two majors undersell his popularity and his 1997 rise from outside the top 50.
Related Entries
Pete Sampras
Sampras won Wimbledon seven times in eight years from 1993 and finished with 14 majors, the record until Federer passed it in 2009...
Andre Agassi
The Las Vegan with the return of the decade completed the career Grand Slam at Roland Garros 1999 and won Olympic gold in Atlanta ...
Steffi Graf
Graf won 22 major singles titles and held number one for 377 weeks, the most of any player. In 1988 she swept all four majors and ...
Monica Seles
The two handed thunderclap from Novi Sad won eight majors between 1990 and 1993, three straight French and three straight Australi...