Novak Djokovic tops the list with the most final appearances on ATP clay events.
From 2005 to 2022, the clay season was dominated by Rafael Nadal, who retired from tennis in last year’s Davis Cup final. Few players have been able to give the King of Clay competition during his prime, such as Novak Djokovic, while some emerged later when his injuries began to take a toll on his health.
However, this list will not include the former Spanish tennis star as it is only about active players. On the same note, let’s take a look at the top five active players with the most final appearances on ATP clay events.
5. Stan Wawrinka: 14 Finals
Stan Wawrinka won his last title on the ATP tour in 2017. Despite failing to win titles on the tour, the Swiss tennis star has played games across multiple competitions. Wawrinka, one of the only two players to win multiple Grand Slam titles in the ‘Big Three’ era, has been on the tour for quite some time.
He last reached a tournament final in the Umag Open in 2023, but since then, he has struggled to keep up with tour competition. Playing in 14 clay finals, including the memorable 2015 Roland Garros, Wawrinka has won seven and lost seven.
4. Alexander Zverev: 14 Finals
Alexander Zverev has played 14 finals and won nine of them on clay. The German tennis star has been lethal on clay and hard surfaces, with his performances also being good on grass.
Last year’s Roland Garros runner-up, Zverev, has yet to win a Grand Slam title. However, with his strong groundstrokes, he always enters a tournament as a top favourite.
3. Carlos Alcaraz: 15 Finals
Once a prodigy and currently a star, Carlos Alcaraz has become a superstar of the sport. The Spaniard has already won ten clay titles.
However, the Spaniard has lost six finals on the tour, of which five were on the red dirt. His arch-rival, Jannik Sinner, has played only two clay finals yet, and they also faced each other in the final of the recently concluded Italian Open. Carlos Alcaraz will be defending his title at the French Open this season.
2. Casper Ruud: 18 Finals
Casper Ruud has 18 titles in his professional career. Interestingly, he has won 12 of them at a clay court competition. The Norwegian tennis star has also reached the final of the French Open twice in consecutive years, 2022 and 2023. However, he ended as a runner-up on both occasions, losing to Rafael Nadal in 2022 and Novak Djokovic in 2023.
The 26-year-old won the Madrid Open this year, his first 1000 Masters title, and looks sharp ahead of the 2025 Roland Garros. Ruud has displayed his prowess on clay but has been significantly weak on grass and hard courts. The 26-year-old has never gone past the second round in the Wimbledon Championships and the Round of 16 at the Australian Open.
1. Novak Djokovic: 34 Finals
The most successful active player, Novak Djokovic, has played 34 finals on clay courts. His first final came at the 2006 Dutch Open. The accolade was Djokovic’s first professional title.
After almost two decades, the Serbian tennis star has won 20 titles on the red dirt, competing in the era of Rafael Nadal, also known as the King of Clay. Djokovic has won three French Open titles and also defeated Carlos Alcaraz in the 2024 Paris Olympics final to win his long-anticipated gold medal. The Serbian star has also lost 14 finals on the red dirt.
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