The Three Players Who Won the Canada Open, Cincinnati, and the US Open in the Same Season

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Jules Hypolite

le 02/08/2025 à 22h38

2 min to read

The North American hardcourt swing began two weeks ago in Washington, but it’s usually the Canada Open (Montreal/Toronto) where things start to heat up.

In the Open Era, only three players have managed to win the three biggest titles (Canada, Cincinnati, and the US Open) that make up this hardcourt stretch. As the Toronto tournament is in full swing, now is the perfect time to look back at these past achievements, starting with Patrick Rafter.

The Australian, known for his serve-and-volley style, dominated the North American circuit during the 1998 season.

He steamrolled the competition in Canada without dropping a set, defeating Richard Krajicek (7-6, 6-4) in the final. In Cincinnati, he lifted the trophy after overcoming Pete Sampras (1-6, 7-6, 6-4), before securing back-to-back US Open titles by defeating his compatriot Mark Philippoussis (6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 6-0).

After Rafter, who was the first player to achieve this feat, it was Andy Roddick who joined this prestigious list five years later. In Montreal, Roddick overpowered David Nalbandian (6-1, 6-3), then followed it up the next week in Cincinnati with a win over Mardy Fish (4-6, 7-6, 7-6), saving two match points along the way.

Riding high on momentum, the American completed the trifecta at the US Open by defeating Juan Carlos Ferrero (6-3, 7-6, 6-3) in the final. This remains Roddick’s only Grand Slam title, and to this day, he is the last American-born player to triumph in New York.

Ten years after Roddick’s exploits, a certain Rafael Nadal took control of the North American swing. In 2013, the Spaniard was returning from a months-long absence due to a knee injury. After clinching an eighth Roland Garros title, Nadal suffered a first-round exit at Wimbledon.

That loss allowed him to prepare optimally for the Montreal Masters 1000, where he triumphed over local favorite Milos Raonic (6-2, 6-2). In Cincinnati, another big server, John Isner, awaited him in the final. Nadal needed two tiebreaks (7-6, 7-6) to overcome the towering American.

Tipped as one of the favorites for the US Open, the Spaniard navigated his way through the draw to face Novak Djokovic in the final. This latest battle between the two ended in Nadal’s favor in four sets (6-2, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1).

Twelve years later, no other player has managed to complete this triple. And in this 2025 season, with the extended Masters 1000 format and the absence of top contenders in Canada, it seems nearly impossible for any player to replicate such a feat.