Open Era Two Time Slam Winners

[masterclass]

The following 9 players have all won their total of 2 majors in the Open Era:

Player                   Majors won   Age   YE #1   Wks #1  Master's Cups  Titles  Matches W/L
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Stan Smith (USA)         US, WC       25     2        N/A          1         36    760-262 (.708)

Ilie Nastase (ROU)       US, RG       26     1        N/A          4         56    779-305 (.719)

Johan Kriek (RSA, USA)   AO (2)       24                                     14    374-222 (.628)

Sergi Bruguera (ESP)     RG (2)       23                                     14    447-271 (.623)
 
Yevgeny Kafelnikov (RUS) RG, AO       24               6                     26    609-306 (.666)

Patrick Rafter (AUS)    US (2)        25               1                     11    358-191 (.652)

Marat Safin (RUS)       US, AO        25               9                     15    422-267 (.612)

*Lleyton Hewitt (AUS)    US, WC       21      2       80           2         29    596-238 (.715)

*Andy Murray, OBE (GBR)  US, WC       26                                     28    429-133 (.763)

*still active

Discuss your thoughts, memories, about their relative contributions, impact, popularity, playing styles, etc. Don't feel compelled to rank or rate them, but do so if you wish...

The poll is optional and multiple choice. If you like, please select ONLY your top 3 two timers, based on whatever criteria you wish. There are no right or wrong choices.

Notice that I included some basic accomplishment data above that are pretty much common to all. The age given is the age they won their second major. One is of course free to discuss their other accomplishments.

Note that I purposely didn't include specific international or team events like Olympics, Davis Cup, or doubles in my brief summary.
In my opinion, those events should not be compared to the main tennis tour singles events for many different reasons.
The Olympics now include the sport of tennis as one of the multitude of Olympic events. 'Twas not always so, and has only happened 7 times in the Open Era. Davis Cup and doubles are obviously team events. In my opinion, both the Olympics and Davis Cup should be played entirely for one's country. There should be no monetary award or tour ranking points associated.

Of course, Olympic and Davis Cup achievements can be part of a player's resume or CV, but it is my belief that these achievements stand on their own, and shouldn't have their value compared to the main tennis tour events. They mean different things to players and their audiences and comparisons should only be carefully made within each context.

I find it interesting that all of the inactive players were under 27 years old when they won their second and final major.

Respectfully,
masterclass

 

[Luxilon Borg]

Safin, Hewitt, Murray..due to the fact that Safin and Hewitt were a constant factor in just about every Masters even and reached numerous quarters, semis, and finals.

Murray because he is a factor in every event he enters, and is a legit #3.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Well, people tend to remember the most recent ones. So, most will say the same three
as LB.

Finally, who cares about two slam wonders, when we can talk about one-slam wonders.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Never liked Bruguera because he gave Pete all sorts of trouble. In fact, he has the better H2H. I would say Rafter , Safin and Kafelnikov gave me a lot of viewing pleasure.

 

[Luxilon Borg]

Never liked Bruguera because he gave Pete all sorts of trouble. In fact, he has the better H2H. I would say Rafter , Safin and Kafelnikov gave me a lot of viewing pleasure.

But Bruguera had very spotty results on hardcourt. A few surprising showings, but terrible losses too.

I once saw him practice with Brad Gilbert...now that was funny...they were making fun of each others strokes..in good humour.

Kafelnikov played with so little joy. It was a job to him.

 

[Luxilon Borg]

Well, people tend to remember the most recent ones. So, most will say the same three
as LB.

Finally, who cares about two slam wonders, when we can talk about one-slam wonders.

I remember Nasty very, very well. I also have tons of tape.

Have a few Smith matches too, including his 72 Wimby win. Kreik used to practice at private house near where I used to live, talented but mentally never got together for any sustainable period.

His life could have been very different as he was up 2 sets to love against Bjorn at the 1980 US Open semis.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Never liked Bruguera because he gave Pete all sorts of trouble. In fact, he has the better H2H. I would say Rafter , Safin and Kafelnikov gave me a lot of viewing pleasure.

But Bruguera had very spotty results on hardcourt. A few surprising showings, but terrible losses too.

I once saw him practice with Brad Gilbert...now that was funny...they were making fun of each others strokes..in good humour.

Kafelnikov played with so little joy. It was a job to him.

I hear you about Kafelnikov, but his backhand was one of the few double handers I ever liked. He was smooth.

 

[Luxilon Borg]

Never liked Bruguera because he gave Pete all sorts of trouble. In fact, he has the better H2H. I would say Rafter , Safin and Kafelnikov gave me a lot of viewing pleasure.

But Bruguera had very spotty results on hardcourt. A few surprising showings, but terrible losses too.

I once saw him practice with Brad Gilbert...now that was funny...they were making fun of each others strokes..in good humour.

Kafelnikov played with so little joy. It was a job to him.

I hear you about Kafelnikov, but his backhand was one of the few double handers I ever liked. He was smooth.

Backhand was sublime. Forehand was so so. Very fit and tough player to beat.

 

[Kieran]

Rafter and Hewitt were both world number ones, and I'll give Safin the third spot (another guy who made the top?), although I'm tempted by Kafelnikov and Nasty. Nastase was one if the actual geniuses of the sport, and a guy who's remembered for more than even his talents.

And of course, Murray, who's made a lot of finals too, but I leave him out because I expect he won't be on this list a couple years from now...

 

[isabelle]

Nuts Marat of course.....I like nuts guys !!

 

[Moxie]

Two-time winners is an interesting topic. Better than one-hit-wonders. Of course, I'm a Safin fan, so I'll mention that he beat Sampras in the final to get his first, and Federer and Hewitt to get his second, so that's pretty good. And, since he was fighting his own head, (as isabelle mentions,) and injuries, he did well to get two. (And, yes, Kieran, he was, briefly, #1.) Kafelnikov is a good mention because he won at RG and the AO, plus an Olympic Gold. Also, I agree that Murray will not be long for this list. He'll surely win a couple more.

 

[masterclass]

Mssrs. Nastase, Hewitt, and Murray would probably be my picks, though since I think Murray has the best chance of adding more, I'll leave him out because it's very difficult for me to leave Mr. Stan Smith out.

I can't forget his albatross like wing span at the net. Very tough to pass him, and tall enough to make lobbing him a difficult prospect. Possessing a crushing serve and volley from his 6' 4" (1.93 m) frame, he was a fearsome singles and doubles player (61 titles) and one of the greatest Davis Cup competitors contributing in 7 of team USA's finals wins, providing the clinching point in 16 of 22 ties. He and Bobby Lutz were almost unbeatable in Davis Cup doubles, winning 13 of 14 matches.

Also, Stan Smith is one of the only 3 players on this list who has won Wimbledon, overcoming the wizardry of Mr. Ilie Nastase in an outstanding 5 set finale in the semi-depleted field of that 1972 edition due to the banning of all WCT contract players like defending champ Mr. John Newcombe by the illustrious ILTF (ITF). The 7 time major winning Newcombe and tremendous grass Aussie player defeated Stan Smith in 5 sets in the previous year's final.

Respectfully,
masterclass

 

[shawnbm]

I vacillated between Murray and Smith as my third choice (Hewitt and Safin were automatics for me) but chose Murray as I think he is going to win more. Assuming Murray does that, Stan is my third choice. Masterclass says it well. In his prime he was one helluva player--great serve and volleyer (a style I admittedly like).

 

[britbox]

Mssrs. Nastase, Hewitt, and Murray would probably be my picks, though since I think Murray has the best chance of adding more, I'll leave him out because it's very difficult for me to leave Mr. Stan Smith out.

I like these picks. Of the players listed, Safin and Rafter were probably my favourites, but I think Hewitt gets the nod ahead of them based on overall accomplishments. I'm not including Murray as I think he'll win more than 2 majors. If he doesn't then he'd be an automatic. With that in mind, I'll go for Nastase, Smith and Hewitt.