Longest Winning Streaks in Men’s Tennis – Open Era

With Novak Djokovic just a week from tying one of the greatest records in men’s tennis, it’s worth looking at the longest men’s winning streaks we’ve seen in the Open Era.

After his win today Djokovic moved past Roger Federer and Bjorn Borg who each maxed out at 41 straight wins. Federer put his streak together in 2006-2007 from the US Open through the Australian Open.

Borg compiled his from the end of 1979 until the Spring of 1980, and he did it without playing a Grand Slam.

And by reaching 42 Novak ties John McEnroe’s streak in 1984. That run ended in the French Open final when Lendl beat him in five sets.

The man to beat is Guillermo Vilas who went 46 consecutive matches without losing in 1977. Vilas began his win streak in July running through the US Open and into the fall until he meet Ilie Nastase in a controversial loss.

But Vilas did his on one single surface – clay. Djokovic is doing it on hard courts and on clay and against a far deeper men’s tennis field.

And if Djokovic breaks the record and reaches 47, he’ll need a win on grass!

Will he do it? Thankfully we’ll know very soon.

Here are the records for the longest win streaks in men’s tennis Open Era:
46 Guillermo Vilas 1977
44 Ivan Lendl 1981-82
42 Novak Djokovic 2010-11 **
42 John McEnroe 1984
41 Roger Federer 2006-07
41 Bjorn Borg 1979-80
35 Roger Federer 2005
35 Thomas Muster 1995
32 Rafael Nadal 2008
31 Ivan Lendl 1985

** Through Saturday, May 28