Rivalries are what define a sport. From the Cristiano Ronaldo-Lionel Messi competition that has propelled soccer to unforeseen heights to the Yankees vs. Red Sox feud that became a cornerstone in baseball, scintillating rivalries are often what keep the fans on their toes. Tennis, like its peers, is no different. However, while most of the biggest rivalries of the sport tend to conclude on the Grand Slam stage, not all enmities are lucky enough to reach there. 

So, what are some of the top tennis rivalries that never played out under the blinding lights of a Grand Slam event?

Roger Federer vs David Ferrer

The two crossed paths for the first time in Vienna in 2003. Federer won the match in straight sets (6-2,6-2), and thus began a rivalry which quite possibly became Ferrer’s biggest motivation to keep coming back to the court. Roger Federer dominated this matchup for over a decade: Federer owns the head-to-head advantage (17-0), and Ferrer, one of the tour’s most relentless fighters, never managed a Slam-final meeting with him. Federer’s clean, attacking style repeatedly proved hard for Ferrer to crack. Federer led the rivalry on every surface and finished with a spotless record in their meetings.

Notable matches

2014 Cincinnati (Western & Southern Open) final: Federer beat Ferrer (Federer won the title).

Multiple ATP Tour and Masters clashes across 2006–2017, always with Federer on top; despite many deep runs neither met in a Grand Slam final.

In an interview in 2019, when Ferrer was asked who the tennis GOAT is for him, he flatly answered, “Roger Federer. Because I could never beat him, he makes difficult things in an easy way and he is the biggest you have.”

Rafael Nadal vs Andy Murray

Two of the era’s toughest competitors met frequently at Grand Slams, most often in quarterfinals and semifinals, but they never lined up against each other in a major final. Nadal has the edge in the head-to-head (17-7), and often got the better of Murray on clay and in big Slam moments; Murray claimed key career wins against Nadal on occasion (including signature clay-court wins later in his career).

Notable matches

2014 French Open semi: Nadal beat Murray in straight sets to reach the final.

2015 Madrid (a standout clay victory for Murray that helped define his improved clay résumé). Their frequent Slam-level meetings tended to be semis/quarters rather than a final.

Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev

A modern, generational rivalry: Djokovic (the established multiple-major winner) vs Zverev (the giant-serving challenger). They’ve met often at big Masters and year-end finals, and produced several headline moments, but never as opponents in a Grand Slam championship match. Djokovic generally leads the head-to-head (9-5), while Zverev’s best scalp in the pairing remains his straight-sets victory in the 2018 ATP Finals final.

Notable matches

2018 Nitto ATP Finals final: Zverev upset Djokovic 6–4, 6–3 to claim the title. 

Numerous Masters / ATP Finals meetings since 2017: Winners traded blows, but no Grand Slam final meeting has fallen their way.

John McEnroe vs Mats Wilander

Two very different players from the 1980s, McEnroe’s serve-and-volley artistry and on-court fire vs Wilander’s steady baseline and tactical game, produced important clashes in Slams and Davis Cup. They played high-pressure matches (semifinals, quarters, and big Davis Cup ties), but never opposed one another in a singles Grand Slam final.

Notable matches

Early-1980s Grand Slam and big-stage meetings, where McEnroe’s flair met Wilander’s steadiness, defined the duel rather than a Slam final. Memorable Davis Cup and major semi- and qualifying-stage matches also contributed to the rivalry.

Jelena Janković vs Ana Ivanović

Two Serbian stars came through the same generation and often crossed paths at majors: Both reached world No. 1 at different times, and both were Slam contenders, but Janković and Ivanović never faced one another in a Grand Slam final. Their matches were frequently pivotal (semifinals/quarters) in the late 2000s.

Notable matches

2008 Roland-Garros (French Open) period: Ivanović’s Grand Slam run (she won Roland-Garros in 2008) and Janković’s deep runs produced head-to-head Slam meetings but never a final between them.

Serena Williams vs Kim Clijsters

Two giants of the women’s game clashed multiple times, including that infamous 2009 U.S. Open semi in which Clijsters won and Serena’s meltdown over a late foot-fault made the headlines. They met in big rounds repeatedly, with Serena holding the overall edge, but the two never squared off in a Grand Slam singles final.

Notable matches

2009 US Open semifinal: Kim Clijsters defeated Serena Williams 6–4, 7–5 in a match that ended in controversy over a foot-fault and penalty point; Clijsters went on to win the title.

Iga Świątek vs Jeļena Ostapenko

A contemporary WTA pairing with contrasting games. Świątek’s heavy topspin and consistent dominance on clay vs Ostapenko’s fearless, flat-hitting aggression. They’ve had headline matches on tour and at Slams, but not in a Grand Slam final against each other. Ostapenko’s breakthrough Paris title (2017) and Świątek’s later Slam success created different paths: Frequent, dramatic meetings but no Slam final.

Notable matches

Multiple tight tours/TTF-level matches where Ostapenko’s big hitting troubled Świątek; both have won Grand Slam titles (at different times and events) but not against each other in a Slam final.

Novak Djokovic vs David Ferrer

A classic example of a top player vs a relentless grinder. Djokovic usually had Ferrer’s number, but Ferrer pushed him in multiple tight matches and snagged a few big wins on tour. They met often at Masters and in late Slam rounds (semis/quarters), but never for a Grand Slam title match.

Notable matches

2013 Australian Open semifinal — Djokovic defeated Ferrer in straight sets to reach the final. That sort of late-round meeting (semis/quarters) is typical of this rivalry.

Roger Federer vs David Nalbandian

Nalbandian was one of those players who could regularly trouble top-ranked opponents — and he produced a couple of unforgettable results vs Federer, most famously the 2005 year-end championship (Masters Cup) final, where Nalbandian stunned Federer in an epic five-setter. They had a genuine rivalry with big moments on tour, but never met in a Grand Slam final.

Notable matches

2005 Tennis Masters Cup (Shanghai) final: David Nalbandian upset world No. 1 Roger Federer in a five-set classic (6–7, 6–7, 6–2, 6–1, 7–6), ending one of Federer’s great winning runs and becoming a signature moment for Nalbandian.

Roger Federer vs Stan Wawrinka

Two Swiss players and friends who produced drama whenever they met. Wawrinka eventually beat Federer at majors (notably during his Grand Slam title runs), but the pair never faced off in a Grand Slam final — Wawrinka’s major titles came against other top players, and Federer’s Slam final opponents were elsewhere. Their matches are a recurring feature of Swiss tennis lore.

Notable matches

2015 French Open quarter: Wawrinka beat Federer (6–4, 6–3, 7–6), one of Wawrinka’s key major wins over his countryman, coming in the era when Wawrinka was converting those big wins into Grand Slam titles.

Though never played out in a Grand Slam final, these rivalries have defined eras, cementing their place in tennis history. What might the sport have looked like had these matchups occurred on the sport’s biggest stage?

Written by

Diptarko Paul

Edited by

Shrabana Sengupta