“Zverev was my No. 1”: Patrick Mouratoglou reveals who now tops his list of best players without a Grand Slam
ATPThursday, 16 July 2026 at 04:30
Alexander Zverev's long-awaited Grand Slam breakthrough has changed one of tennis' longest-running debates. After lifting the Roland Garros title earlier this year, the German removed himself from the list of the greatest players never to win a major, prompting renowned coach Patrick Mouratoglou to revisit his own rankings.
Speaking in a recent video, Mouratoglou admitted that Zverev had previously occupied the top spot on his list. With the German now a Grand Slam champion after defeating Carlos Alcaraz in the Roland Garros final, the French coach turned his attention to three former stars whose careers ended without one of tennis' biggest prizes.
The discussion revisits a group of players often regarded as some of the greatest talents never to capture a major despite reaching the top of the game. Mouratoglou ultimately ranked three historic South American players: Marcelo Ríos, Guillermo Coria and David Nalbandian.
Each of the three reached at least one Grand Slam final during their careers, but none managed to complete the final step despite periods in which they were among the world's most feared opponents.
Nalbandian tops Mouratoglou's list
Mouratoglou began with former world No. 1 Marcelo Ríos, highlighting both his ranking and his run to the 1998 Australian Open final. "I would say number three, Marcelo Rios, because he was number one in the world, because he played a final against Korda, but never won a Slam."
Second on the list was Guillermo Coria, whose heartbreaking loss in the 2004 Roland Garros final remains one of the sport's biggest missed opportunities. "Number two, Guillermo Coria. At his time, he was dominating so much on clay, played a final at Roland Garros, had two match points, seemed like the match was his, ended up losing it, never ever was in a final of a Grand Slam after that."
For Mouratoglou, however, the standout choice was David Nalbandian. While the Argentine reached only one Grand Slam final, losing to Lleyton Hewitt at Wimbledon in 2002, his performances against the game's greatest champions convinced Mouratoglou that no player without a major achieved more.
"Number one, David Nalbandian. He played a final of a Grand Slam at Wimbledon against Hewitt, but more than that, he won so many tournaments. He beat all the best players in the world, and actually is the only one who won a Masters 1000 beating number one, number two, and number three in the same tournament. And those three guys were no more than Federer, Nadal and Djokovic."
Nalbandian accomplished that remarkable feat at the 2007 Paris Masters, defeating Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer in consecutive matches to lift the title. Nearly two decades later, Mouratoglou believes that achievement — combined with his overall level throughout his career — still makes the Argentine the greatest player never to win a Grand Slam.
Ríos vs Coria vs Nalbandian – Career Comparison
| Statistic | Marcelo Ríos | Guillermo Coria | David Nalbandian |
| Highest ATP Ranking | No. 1 (1998) | No. 3 (2004) | No. 3 (2006) |
| ATP singles titles | 18 | 9 | 11 |
| ATP finals Reached | 31 | 17 | 24 |
| Grand Slam Finals | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Best Grand Slam Result | Australian Open 1998 – Runner-up | Roland Garros 2004 – Runner-up | Wimbledon 2002 – Runner-up |
| Grand Slam Final Lost To | Petr Korda | Gastón Gaudio | Lleyton Hewitt |
| Masters 1000 Titles | 5 | 1 | 2 |
| Masters 1000 Finals | 9 | 4 | 6 |
| ATP Finals / Masters Cup | Runner-up (1998) | Runner-up (2004) | Champion (2005) |
| Olympic Best Result | — | — | Quarterfinal (2004) |
| Career Win Percentage | ~66% | ~66% | ~62% |
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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