The 4 longest men’s hard-court winning streaks: Roger Federer features twice, Novak Djokovic 4th

Roger Federer holds the record for the longest men’s hard-court winning streak and is the only player to amass over 50 straight victories on the surface.

The Swiss legend shares the record for the most ATP hard-court titles (71) with Novak Djokovic, who also features on this list.

Here, we look at the four longest hard-court winning streaks in men’s tennis in the Open Era.

4. Novak Djokovic – 35 matches (2010-2011)

Djokovic won 35 consecutive matches on hard courts between December 2010 and August 2011 in a streak that saw him accumulate five tournament victories and secure his nation’s first Davis Cup title.

The run started in the 2010 Davis Cup final in Belgrade as Djokovic won both his singles rubbers in straight sets to lead Serbia to victory over France.

Djokovic then started 2011 by winning the Australian Open with victory over Andy Murray in the championship match.

The Serbian followed that up by claiming hard-court titles in Dubai, Indian Wells and Miami, before adding the Montreal Masters later in the year.

Djokovic’s unbeaten run on hard courts stopped at 35 matches as he was forced to retire in the second set of the Cincinnati Masters final against Andy Murray.

Federer amassed 36 straight wins in hard-court matches from August 2006 to March 2007 in a stretch that included six titles.

The streak started at the 2006 US Open, where he downed Andy Roddick in the title match, and Federer added two hard-court wins the following month in a Davis Cup tie against Serbia.

The Swiss then claimed titles in Tokyo, Madrid and at the ATP Finals (then known as the Tennis Masters Cup) in Shanghai late in 2006.

Federer carried his unbeaten run into 2007 as he won the Australian Open without dropping a set, beating Fernando Gonzalez in the final.

After winning the 2007 Dubai Championships, Federer’s 36-match hard-court run ended with a straight-set loss to Guillermo Canas in Indian Wells.

2. Jimmy Connors – 47 matches (1974-1975)

Jimmy Connors earned 47 successive victories in hard-court matches between March 1974 and November 1975 in streak that featured seven tournament titles.

The run started at an event on indoor hard courts in Salt Lake City in 1974, where Connors beat Vitas Gerulaitis in the final.

The American added titles in Tempe, Los Angeles and Johannesburg in 1974, before winning tournaments in the Bahamas, Bermuda and Maui in 1975.

Connors’ streak was snapped in the final of the 1975 Stockholm Open as he fell to a three-set defeat to Adriano Panatta.

1. Roger Federer – 56 matches (2005-2006)

Federer won 56 consecutive matches on hard courts from February 2005 to February 2006 in a run that saw him claim nine titles.

The streak started at the 2005 Rotterdam Open, where Federer defeated Ivan Ljubicic in the final, and he added titles in Dubai, Indian Wells, Miami and Cincinnati.

Federer then claimed his third straight US Open title by defeating Andre Agassi in the 2005 championship match, before he won his seventh and last hard-court tournament of the season in Bangkok.

The Swiss continued his hard-court run into 2006 by securing titles in Doha and at the Australian Open — where he overcame Marcos Baghdatis in the final.

The then world No 1 reached the final of the 2006 Dubai Championships but was denied a 10th straight title in hard courts by Rafael Nadal, who prevailed in three sets.