The last 7 non-European men to win a Grand Slam title

Juan Martin del Potro says his official farewell to tennis in an exhibition against Novak Djokovic this weekend, two years after the final match of his career.

The Argentine won his sole Grand Slam title at the US Open in 2009 and incredibly that remains the last time a non-European player won a men’s singles major.

Amid the European domination of the tour over the last two decades, we look at the last seven non-European men who have won a Slam.

Juan Martin del Potro – 2009 US Open

A decade and a half on, del Potro’s victory in Flushing Meadows remains the last time a male player not from Europe won a Grand Slam singles title.

Aged just 20, sixth seed del Potro stunned Rafael Nadal in the last four but was still a significant underdog in the final against Roger Federer – the five-time defending champion.

However, in a classic final, the Argentine battled his way to an epic 3-6, 7-6(5), 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-2 triumph to capture the biggest title of his career.

Del Potro also reached the 2018 final in New York, though was beaten by Djokovic.

Gaston Gaudio – 2004 French Open

Before del Potro the last non-European Slam winner was also Argentinian, with Gaudio stunning the tennis world with a shock victory at Roland Garros two decades ago.

Gaudio was unseeded in Paris and had never made a major quarter-final before this tournament, though surprise wins over Lleyton Hewitt and David Nalbandian powered him into the final.

He was a significant underdog against third seed and compatriot Guillermo Coria, though rallied from two sets down – and saved two championship points – in a 0-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, 8-6 victory.

It was the only time Gaudio ever made it past the fourth round at a Grand Slam.

Andy Roddick – 2003 US Open

Roddick remains the last US man to win a singles major thanks to his triumph on home turf at the US Open in 2003.

Fourth seed Roddick was among the favourites heading into the tournament and battled past Nalbandian in a five-set semi-final to set up a final against Juan Carlos Ferrero.

Ferrero was the reigning Roland Garros champion and became world No 1 post-tournament but was no match for Roddick, the American breezing to a 6-3, 7-6(2), 6-3 victory.

The former world No 1 would reach four more major finals, though lost all of them to Federer.

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Andre Agassi – 2003 Australian Open

The last of Agassi’s eight major titles came recently enough for the tennis icon to feature on this list.

The Australian Open was the most successful Slam for the American, and he came into the 2003 tournament as a three-time former champion.

Agassi thrashed Wayne Ferreira in the last four, before swatting aside surprise finalist Rainer Schuttler 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 to claim his fourth title Down Under.

The American reached just one more major final, beaten by Federer in the 2005 US Open final before retiring 12 months later.

Pete Sampras – 2002 US Open

‘Pistol Pete’ won the last Grand Slam title – and his last title full stop – at the 2002 US Open, a 14th and final major victory.

Having not won a major in two years, Sampras had slipped down to be the 17th seed in Flushing Meadows, though downed Sjeng Schalken in the last four to set up a final against chief rival Agassi.

Sampras was in control throughout most of the match and, after defeats in the 2000 and 2001 finals, claimed his fifth US Open title with a 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 triumph.

The US icon never played another professional match, officially retiring the following year.

Lleyton Hewitt – 2002 Wimbledon (and 2001 US Open)

One of the most successful players of the early 2000s, Hewitt remains the last Australian man to win a major singles title.

The second and last of Hewitt’s majors came at Wimbledon in 2002 when the Australian was ranked world No 1.

He thrashed Tim Henman in the last four before delivering an even more emphatic win in the final, downing surprise finalist Nalbandian 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 in just over 90 minutes.

Hewitt had previously won the 2001 US Open title, while he would reach the 2004 US Open and 2005 Australian Open finals – falling to Federer in both contests.

Gustavo Kuerten – 2001 French Open

The last South American player – male or female – to win a Grand Slam singles title, Kuerten won the third of his three French Open titles in 2001.

The Brazilian came into the event as the defending champion, and the top seed beat fourth seed and future champion Ferrero in the last four to reach the final again.

Kuerten faced 13th seed Alex Corretja and the former world No 1 rallied from a set down to prevail 6-7(3), 7-5, 6-2, 6-0, winning a third Roland Garros crown in the space of five tournaments.

He never again threatened for Grand Slam titles, with the final years of his career affected by injuries.

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