The Last Big Tournament Win

It's not easy predicting when it's happened; after all, when they win their last big tournament they've just won the most recent big tournament. That makes them the current biggest thing in the sport, yet in reality they're finished.

I think with Pete it was actually such a surprise when he won his last US Open, and he'd fallen so far, it's was obvious but what about others?

John McEnroe, winning the US Open of 1984 had dominated the sport through that year. Yet he was finished. That's surely the greatest contrast to Sampras.

Anyone got any recollections of surprise 'finishes'? Does Federer at Wimbledon 2012 count?

Great article Bogbrush

Not sure it's the end of Fed winning Slams. His biggest nemesis Nadal is injured, he has beaten Djokovic in their last 2 matches (that is always a close match-up!), and has still not lost to Murray in a slam.
So I still think he can win a few more slams, but a lot depends on how the rest of the top 4 are faring.

I was incredibly surprised that Wilander's USO victory in 88 was his last slam victory, it took so much out him physically and mentally that he was never the same player again. To me at the time it looked like Wilander would be the dominant player on tour particular on the slower surface for some time to come. What was he 24 or 25 that year?

Wilander is a good one. He'd just overcome Lendl and become #1.

perhaps Jim Courier? World Number 1 and 4 slams at the age of 22, then faded fast

How about Nadal and FO 2012? Potentially.

I think Borg and FO 1981.

I should roll up your prayer mat LK

It was some much needed light humour. Like the Fed he has one left in him.

CAS wrote:perhaps Jim Courier? World Number 1 and 4 slams at the age of 22, then faded fast

That is a good one Courier was another guy that faded so quickly. He really would have been a great player in today's game as well because he hit the ball so heavy and was a pretty good returner as well, fit as a fiddle. Yeah, amazing how quickly some of these players faded away in the past. People often talk about Borg and Wilander but Courier is another one who had 3 great years and that was about all he could muster.

I suspect Agassi won his "last" slam quite a few times.

Steffi Graf in 1999.

Very good shout HB

Here's 4 with someting in common, they won their last just before a monster of the game took over:

Hewitt at Wimbledon 2002

Roddick at USO 2003

JCF at RG 2003

Edberg at USO 1992