[JacksHH]

From Forbes Magazine. A little non-traditional in how they figured who was where on the list. Their formula:

"We decided to come at our list from a novel perspective. Perhaps the best way is to ignore regular Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Tour wins and rankings and instead look at how these players who have yet to win, have performed in the Grand Slam events, where the pressure, prestige and competition are at their highest. In other words, find out who is the best current Grand Slam player without a Grand Slam championship. Our discovery: neither Murray nor Safina top the list.

In compiling our list, we looked at how players who had never won a slam event had performed in those tournaments since 2005 (including the ongoing French Open.) We awarded points on an ascending scale for slam results, from the first round up to an appearance in the final."

http://www.forbes.com/2009/06/04/ten...s-ranking.html

Mens' Top 5:
1. Nikolay Davydenko
2. Tommy Robredo
3. David Nalbandian
4. Fernando Gonzalez
5. David Ferrer

Womens' Top 5:
1. Elena Dementieva
2. Dinara Safina
3. Jelena Jankovic
4. Nadia Petrova
5. Patty Schnyder

[fuslssdfaa]

I'm surprised that Robredo is higher than Nalbandian on the list. I always felt that Nalbandian performed better at the slams, but he has been injured a lot the last few years.

[JacksHH]

I'm surprised that Robredo is higher than Nalbandian on the list. I always felt that Nalbandian performed better at the slams, but he has been injured a lot the last few years.

Nalbandian has better results overall, if you look at how deep in the two have gone in their careers. But David hasn't been past the fourth round of a Slam since French '06, and Tommy has 3 QFs in that period.

[gyjsdtuwr]

Petrova and Schnyder? I don't recall them going deep in any slam.

[topcasinobonua]

Petrova and Schnyder? I don't recall them going deep in any slam.

Schnyder made the quarters of the Australian Open in 2005 and 2006, and the quarters of the French Open and US Open last year.

Petrova made the semis of the French Open in 2003 and 2006 and the quarters of Wimbledon last year

That's the only real damage they have done in slams as far as I know

[repldoinfo]

Funny. Nalbandian should be much higher Robredo without questions.

Just those two Masters wins from David when he beat back to back to back Nadal (crushed him both times), Djokovic and Federer are bigger achievement than any of Robredo's 1/4s of slam

[gyjsdtuwr]

Schnyder made the quarters of the Australian Open in 2005 and 2006, and the quarters of the French Open and US Open last year.

Petrova made the semis of the French Open in 2003 and 2006 and the quarters of Wimbledon last year

That's the only real damage they have done in slams as far as I know

Petrova has only one result then, since they started counting from '05.

Really, no girl has better results than these two? wow

[Phywhewashect]

I'd go with Murray for the men.

I agree with the top 3 on the women's list. I imagine Safina will be coming off it soon though!

[repldoinfo]

I'd go with Murray for the men.

I agree with the top 3 on the women's list. I imagine Safina will be coming off it soon though!

You are right, Murray is best man with no GS now.

[Ngwkgczx]

If Del Potro hadn't choked his last couple times on the big stage, I might say he'd belong in the top 5...but man he can really go away quickly in the big stage. Hard to argue too much with the 5 men besides it not having Murray (how is he not on the list?)

Schynder probably doesn't deserve to be on the list for her level of play now though. I'd replace her with...ummm...Bepa maybe? Vika if it's just based on 2009/

[spacecrafty]

Since it goes back to 2005, the youngsters can't compete on this list.

All the people listed are definitely the most consistent bridesmaid types.

[abossakon]

Oh come on. Patty Schnyder!?! This approach is interesting but kind of silly and, as far as I can tell, totally meaningless. The problems in the methodology are so ginormous I can't believe this ever got past the "idea" stage and became an actual article.

[abossakon]

If Del Potro hadn't choked his last couple times on the big stage, I might say he'd belong in the top 5...but man he can really go away quickly in the big stage. Hard to argue too much with the 5 men besides it not having Murray (how is he not on the list?)

Schynder probably doesn't deserve to be on the list for her level of play now though. I'd replace her with...ummm...Bepa maybe? Vika if it's just based on 2009/

I'd even replace Patty Schnyder with Marion Bartoli. She's come a lot closer than Patty has since 2005 and her GS results are pretty respectable.

[Gooracouppy]

I guess these lists do well for longer term consistent success, but I don't agree with how they do that. Murray should definitely be on the list. And right now I would put Dinara at the top of my list on the womens side...

[RicyReetred]

Safina, Gonzalez and JJ, not withstanding, a more accurate title for this article would be, "10 has-beens unlikely to ever have a shot at a slam again".

The omission of Murray and Azarenka alone makes this article worthy of the Great Tennis Journalism thread.

[abossakon]

Safina, Gonzalez and JJ, not withstanding, a more accurate title for this article would be, "10 has-beens unlikely to ever have a shot at a slam again".

The omission of Murray and Azarenka alone makes this article worthy of the Great Tennis Journalism thread.

Ouch! (i.e. - the truth hurts) Though Nikolay may get to a few more SF's. Actually, I don't think Robredo ever actually has reached a SF. Does he even qualify as a has-been?

[spacecrafty]

I wonder how much their list corresponds to career prize money earned.

[spacecrafty]

Womens' Top 5:
1. Elena Dementieva
2. Dinara Safina
3. Jelena Jankovic
4. Nadia Petrova
5. Patty Schnyder

Career Prize Earnings

1 Dementieva (11 M)
2 Schnyder (7.7 M)
3 Safina (7.32 M)
4 Petrova (7.301 M)
5 Jankovic (7.300 M)

Others
Hantuchova (6.2 M)
Zvonareva (6.1 M)
Azarenka (2.6 M)

[spacecrafty]

Note that the career prize earnings does count doubles.

It looks like their top five best players to not win a slam are also the top five in career earnings.

[Ngwkgczx]

Safina, Gonzalez and JJ, not withstanding, a more accurate title for this article would be, "10 has-beens unlikely to ever have a shot at a slam again".

Ouch for Elena!