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© ATP
ATP stats and information guru Greg Sharko looks at the numbers behind the stories of the ATP tour in his regular column, 'Shark Bites'.
There are four ATP tournaments taking place for the second straight week. In last week's action, two first-time ATP winners emerged as Argentine teenager Juan Martin del Potro and Romanian Victor Hanescu captured titles in Stuttgart and Gstaad, respectively. Del Potro became the second teenager (Kei Nishikori) to win an ATP title this year while Hanescu became the eighth winner in 2008 to capture a title saving at least one match point during the tournament. Shark takes a look at the players who have won their first ATP title this season and the players who saved at least one match point en route to the title.
Put Shark to the test! Send him your stats question
First-Time ATP Singles Champions
Romanian Victor Hanescu and Argentine Juan Martin del Potro became the fifth and sixth players to win their first career ATP title on Sunday. At 26, Hanescu also became the oldest player to win his first ATP title in 2008 while del Potro is the second teenager to break through and win his maiden ATP crown. The six first-time winners is more than last year's total of five:
| |
Age |
Tournament |
ATP Rank |
ATP Tourn. Played |
| Juan Martin del Potro (ARG) |
19 |
Stuttgart |
65 |
45 |
| Victor Hanescu (ROM) |
26 |
Gstaad |
80 |
89 |
| Marcel Granollers (ESP) |
22 |
Houston |
84 |
8 |
| Sam Querrey (USA) |
20 |
Las Vegas |
66 |
40 |
| Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) |
22 |
Zagreb |
209 |
9 |
| Kei Nishikori (JPN) |
18 |
Delray Beach |
244 |
6 |
Match Point Saved ATP Title Winners
In less than seven months of action, there have already been eight players who have won ATP titles this year saving at least one match point along the way. The latest was Romanian Victor Hanescu (pictured), who saved three match points in his second round victory over Ivo Karlovic in Gstaad. The eight players who have won titles this year saving at least one match point surpassed last year's total of six. Here are this year's match point(s) saved winners:
| |
Tournament |
Opponent |
Match Point(s) Saved |
| Victor Hanescu |
Gstaad |
Ivo Karlovic , 2nd RD |
3 M.P. |
| Ivo Karlovic |
Nottingham |
Fernando Verdasco, Final |
1 M.P. |
| David Ferrer |
Valencia |
Fernando Verdasco, QF |
2 M.P. |
| Marcel Granollers |
Houston |
Wayne Odesnik, SF |
2 M.P. |
| Nikolay Davydenko |
Miami |
Ernests Gulbis, 2nd RD |
1 M.P. |
| Sam Querrey |
Las Vegas |
Sebastien Grosjean, 1st RD |
1 M.P. |
| Kei Nishikori |
Delray Beach |
Sam Querrey, SF |
4 M.P. |
| Fernando Gonzalez |
Vina del Mar |
Pablo Cuevas, SF |
2 M.P. |
Thanks for sending the questions and here's the answers to some of your inquiries:
How many ATP Ranking points can be won at the Olympics in China? That would be interesting to know, considering the tight battle for the hot spot between Federer and Nadal.
-- Jonas Vogten, Holland
Here are the ranking points breakdown for next month's Beijing Olympics:
Gold medal: 400
Silver medal: 280
Bronze medal: 205
Loser 3rd/4th: 155
Quarters: 100
Third RD: 50
Second RD: 25
First RD: 5
Who is the last player who won back-to-back Grand Slam titles in a season but still remained No. 2?
-- Choong Min Hin, SG Petani, Malaysia
In 1988, Mats Wilander won the Australian Open and Roland Garros and went into Wimbledon ranked No. 2. He didn't take over No. 1 until after he won the US Open that year. Note: Andre Agassi won the US Open in 1994 and Australian Open in 1995 but didn't take over No. 1 until April in '95.
Which player has the best ratio win/lost against Top 10 players?
-- Robert Brozzouf, St. Sauveur, France
Rafael Nadal has the best winning percentage (.698) among active players, compiling a 44-19 record against Top 10 opponents. Roger Federer is right behind (.694) and he's posted the most wins with a 100-44 mark.
When was the last time Roger Federer had to qualify for a tournament?
-- Mike Vaughan, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Federer last qualified into an ATP main draw in Rotterdam in February 1999 and he advanced to the quarterfinals (l. to Kafelnikov). He also qualified in Toulouse in September 1998 and he reached the quarterfinals (l. to Siemerink).
Is Rafael Nadal the only player to win Roland Garros, Queen's and Wimbledon in the same year? If he is, how many others have won all three in their career?
-- Paul Benedict Timothy, Singapore
Nadal is the only player to win all three titles in the same year in the Open Era. Rod Laver, who won Roland Garros and Wimbledon in 1969, also earned the title at Queen's in 1970.
Who has won the most clay court titles in a career?
-- John Kos, Sydney, Australia
Guillermo Vilas has won 47 career clay court titles. Rafael Nadal has 22 career clay court titles, the most among active players.
Who has a career winning head-to-head record against Rafael Nadal?
-- Leonard Lim, Kuching, Malaysia
With a minimum of two wins, four active players have a winning record against Nadal -- Lleyton Hewitt (4-3), Dominik Hrbaty (3-1), James Blake (3-2) and David Nalbandian (2-0). Retired Alex Corretja went 2-0 against Nadal.
What player in the Open Era has played the most five-set matches?
-- Paco Cifuentes, Concepcion, Chile
Ivan Lendl played in the most five-set matches (58) and won the most five setters (36) during his outstanding career, compiling a 36-22 record.
Which men's player (both past and active) has lost the most Grand Slam finals?
-- D. Shaw, Geneva, Switzerland
Ivan Lendl has lost the most Grand Slam singles finals (11), compiling an overall record of 8-11 in title matches. Roger Federer has the most runner-up showings among active players (4), putting together a 12-4 career mark in Slam finals.
Can you list the top 10 all time leaders for doubles wins? I'm assuming Bjorkman is up there, as he is approaching 700 wins.
-- Matt Fitzgerald
Jonas Bjorkman is No. 3 on the career match wins doubles list with 695. Here are the Top 10: 1) Todd Woodbridge 782, 2) Sherwood Stewart *723), 3) Bjorkman 695, 4) Tomas Smid 659, 5) Daniel Nestor 649, 6) Rick Leach 648, 7) Mark Woodforde 647, 8) Mark Knowles 634, 9) Frew McMillan *628, and 10) Cyril Suk 618.
* Note: Some records may be incomplete from 1968 to early '70s.
Shark Bites: Safin Joins Grand Slam SF Club; Schuettler Surprise SF
Shark Bites: Federer Extends Grass Court Winning Streak
Shark Bites: Will Roger's Grass Streak Hit 66 at Wimbledon?
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