5 Most Unexpected Tennis Grand Slam Winners

Grand Slams are to Tennis what World Cups are to Cricket and Football. Grand Slams are the pinnacle of tennis and every year, we get to witness multiple of them. Only the best can withstand the pressures of the event as the competition is fierce. However, there are the occasional surprises with unexpected names winning a Grand Slam.

Here are the most unexpected Grand Slam winners in Tennis:

1. Emma Raducanu (US Open 2021) 

Emma Raducanu's story is quite unbelievable to say the very least. In 2021, the 18-year-old entered the US Open as a qualifier, meaning she had to win three matches just to reach the main draw. Ranked a lowly 150th in the world, it seemed a difficult proposition. She qualified but even then, the main draw was going to be a different ball game altogether.

However, Raducanu kept going with the same intensity to destroy the hopes of some proven performers and favourites. She won the Grand Slam, cementing her name in the sport’s history and there is no doubt that she will rack up more such achievements in the future.

Also Read: Top 10 players with most wins in US Open 

2. Goran Ivanisevic (Wimbledon 2001) 

Goran Ivanisevic, the flamboyant Croatian was known as a respected figure in the sport but by the time Wimbledon 2001 started, he was written off as he had faced a few injuries leading into the event. However, Ivanisevic proved all of them wrong as he turned back the clock, displaying his magical game, much to the delight of fans.

However, it was not all that great for his opponents who had no answers to his tactics and game. He ended up winning the tournament and the final game is deemed a classic by admirers of the game.

3. Gustavo Kuerten (French Open 1997)

Before 1997, no Brazilian man had ever won a Grand Slam title. Then came Gustavo Kuerten, a 21-year-old with his dazzling skills on the court and an infectious smile. Kuerten did a remarkable job as he caused major upsets and took home the title to leave fans and pundits alike shocked and in awe. He proved that it was not a fluke as he won two more titles and also attained the number-one ranking later on.

4. Mark Edmondson (Australian Open 1976) 

This Australian player, Mark Edmondson entered the tournament with a very poor ranking and had not been able to cross the hurdle of the 3rd round in previous editions. As such, he was seen just as a participant and not a competitor. He got the better of some big names including John Newcombe in the Grand Final.

5. Michael Chang (French Open 1989) 

Coming into the competition, Chang’s rank was pretty good but since he was just 17 years of age with very little experience, no one gave him a chance. His performance in the previous edition wasn’t inspiring either as he was trounced.

However in 1989, Chang’s spectacular athleticism and serves left everyone stunned as he defeated seasoned legends. He had a fairytale tournament and went on to win the title. He is the youngest player to win a Grand Slam to date.