• Marcelo Rios: Nicknamed El Chino (The Chinese), the Chilean holds the dubious distinction of being the only ATP No 1 never to win a grand slam. He had his chances at the 1998 Australian Open, but was drubbed 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 by Petr Korda in the final. Rios went on to win seven titles that year and spent six weeks at the top of the rankings, but never reached another grand slam semi-final and is know as one of the biggest underachievers in the sport. Patrick Hertzog / AFP
    Marcelo Rios: Nicknamed El Chino (The Chinese), the Chilean holds the dubious distinction of being the only ATP No 1 never to win a grand slam. He had his chances at the 1998 Australian Open, but was drubbed 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 by Petr Korda in the final. Rios went on to win seven titles that year and spent six weeks at the top of the rankings, but never reached another grand slam semi-final and is know as one of the biggest underachievers in the sport. Patrick Hertzog / AFP
  • Miloslav Mecir: The “Big Cat”, winner of the 1988 Seoul Olympics gold, was the No 16 seed when he reached the final at the 1986 US Open beating No 2 Mats Wilander and No 3 Boris Becker along the way, and was described as “probably the best tennis player in the world nobody knows a thing about” by broadcaster CBS. Mecir, however, was overwhelmed 6-4, 6-2, 6-0 by Ivan Lendl in the final. Lendl beat him in the 1989 Australian Open final as well, again in straight sets – 6-2, 6-2, 6-2. Dick Fung / AP Photo
    Miloslav Mecir: The “Big Cat”, winner of the 1988 Seoul Olympics gold, was the No 16 seed when he reached the final at the 1986 US Open beating No 2 Mats Wilander and No 3 Boris Becker along the way, and was described as “probably the best tennis player in the world nobody knows a thing about” by broadcaster CBS. Mecir, however, was overwhelmed 6-4, 6-2, 6-0 by Ivan Lendl in the final. Lendl beat him in the 1989 Australian Open final as well, again in straight sets – 6-2, 6-2, 6-2. Dick Fung / AP Photo
  • Nikolay Davydenko: Nicknamed “PlayStation” by Juan Martin del Potro for his speed around the court, Davydenko is the best player never to reach a grand slam final. The Russian won 21 titles during his career, including a Year-Ending Championship and three Masters. He also has a Davis Cup medal to boost, but unfortunately met Roger Federer in three of his four grand slam semi-final appearances and his journey was cut short. He is one of the few players to face Rafael Nadal more than once and boast a winning record (6-5). Karim Sahib / AFP
    Nikolay Davydenko: Nicknamed “PlayStation” by Juan Martin del Potro for his speed around the court, Davydenko is the best player never to reach a grand slam final. The Russian won 21 titles during his career, including a Year-Ending Championship and three Masters. He also has a Davis Cup medal to boost, but unfortunately met Roger Federer in three of his four grand slam semi-final appearances and his journey was cut short. He is one of the few players to face Rafael Nadal more than once and boast a winning record (6-5). Karim Sahib / AFP
  • David Nalbandian: The Argentine is one of the few players who could hold his own against Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal at their prime. He rallied from two sets down to beat the Swiss in the final of the 2005 Year-End Championships and won back-to-back Masters 1000 titles in 2007, beating Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Federer in Madrid, and then Federer and Nadal in Paris. He could make only one grand slam final, though, at Wimbledon in 2000 and lost 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 to Lleyton Hewitt. Matthew Stockman / Getty Images
    David Nalbandian: The Argentine is one of the few players who could hold his own against Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal at their prime. He rallied from two sets down to beat the Swiss in the final of the 2005 Year-End Championships and won back-to-back Masters 1000 titles in 2007, beating Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Federer in Madrid, and then Federer and Nadal in Paris. He could make only one grand slam final, though, at Wimbledon in 2000 and lost 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 to Lleyton Hewitt. Matthew Stockman / Getty Images
  • Tom Okker: Know as the Flying Dutchman, Okker won 25 singles titles and reached a career high of No 3 in the rankings, but missed the big one when he was edged 12-14, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 3-6 in a thrilling final of the 1968 US Open by Arthur Ashe for the first of his three major titles. Okker never made another it another major final, though he did reach the semis at the French Open (1969), the Australian Open (1971) and Wimbledon (1978). AP Photo
    Tom Okker: Know as the Flying Dutchman, Okker won 25 singles titles and reached a career high of No 3 in the rankings, but missed the big one when he was edged 12-14, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 3-6 in a thrilling final of the 1968 US Open by Arthur Ashe for the first of his three major titles. Okker never made another it another major final, though he did reach the semis at the French Open (1969), the Australian Open (1971) and Wimbledon (1978). AP Photo

Tennis

Five tennis players who are major title short of greatness – in pictures

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Ahmed Rizvi looks at the men who could offer a challenge to be the best player not to have won a grand slam title.

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