The Masters 1000 series kicked off in 1990, and three players have distanced themselves from the rest of the field at this level. Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have won 37, 36 and 28 titles since Hamburg 2002, standing miles above the other notable Masters 1000 players and setting records that will take some beating in the future.
Roger, Rafa and Novak are the only players with 20 and more consecutive wins at the Masters 1000 level, capable of winning multiple tournaments in a row, often on different surfaces. Roger Federer counted 29 straight wins in 2005 and 2006, conquering Hamburg, Cincinnati, Indian Wells and Miami and losing the Monte Carlo final in April 2006 to Rafael Nadal after a titanic battle.
Five years later, Novak Djokovic went even further and earned 31 straight Masters 1000 victories in his brilliant 2011 season to set the new record that still stands. In one of the finest seasons in the Open era, Djokovic suffered only two losses by the US Open, conquering ten out of 12 tournaments and becoming world no.
1 after Wimbledon. The Serb defeated Federer and Nadal in Indian Wells in three sets to kick off his streak and prevailed over the Spaniard in the Miami final to stay on the winning course. The Serb bested Nadal in the title matches in Madrid and Rome, toppling the king of clay in straight sets at both events to stand on 22 Masters 1000 victories in a row.
Heading to Montreal after Wimbledon, Djokovic defeated five rivals and became the first player with five consecutive Masters 1000 trophies! With no time for rest, Novak moved to Cincinnati and ousted Ryan Harrison, Radek Stepanek and Gael Monfils to overshadow Roger Federer’s record and become the proud owner of the most extended Masters 1000 streak with 30 wins!
Novak Djokovic became the only player with 30 straight Masters 1000 wins in 2011.
Seeking that record-breaking 30th Masters 1000 triumph in a row, Novak defeated Gael Monfils 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the quarter-final. The Serb survived an early scare and remained on the title course after grueling two hours and 33 minutes.
Djokovic got broken three times, produced four breaks for emerging at the top and beat the Frenchman for the eighth time from as many encounters. Gael broke Novak in the encounter’s opening game and saved two break points in the fourth to open a 3-1 gap.
Monfils defended three break points in game six and closed it with a service winner for 4-2. The Frenchman earned another break at 5-3 to seal the opener in 48 minutes. Novak broke at 2-2 in the second set and fell on Gael’s third break chance in the next one to keep the rival on the positive side.
Djokovic broke again at 4-4 following his rival’s double fault and sealed the set with a forehand winner in the next one to wrap up the set 6-4 and force a decider. Novak broke on his third chance in the opening game after a 27-stroke rally and cemented the lead with a volley winner in game two.
Djokovic took the eighth game with a hold at 15 and broke Monfils in the next one to emerge at the top and move into the last four.
