The best player without a Grand Slam? A former champion responds

While the debate over the GOAT now seems to lean in favor of Novak Djokovic, crowned with his 24 Grand Slams, another discussion regularly animates tennis enthusiasts: Who is the greatest player to have never won a Major?

Among recent names, Alexander Zverev, an unfortunate finalist three times, is often mentioned. But for Yevgeny Kafelnikov, there is no doubt. The Russian chose Marcelo Rios, in a message posted on X (formerly Twitter).

"There is no better player in the entire universe than Marcelo Rios without a Grand Slam title!! Period!!"

This statement did not go unnoticed and revives a debate often relegated to the background behind the spotlight of the Djokovic-Nadal-Federer rivalry.

But who really is Marcelo Rios? The Chilean remains in history as the only player in the Open Era to have been world number 1 without ever winning a Grand Slam tournament. A painful paradox for his fans, and a statistical anomaly that fascinates.