After his four-set loss to Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon final, Carlos Alcaraz showed remarkable composure and readiness as he arrived at the Cincinnati Open. The Spaniard, who had maintained an unblemished 5-0 record in major finals including consecutive Wimbledon titles in 2023 and 2024, explained how he quickly regained his equilibrium.

“I obviously didn’t want to lose any finals that I play, even more if it’s a Wimbledon final or a Grand Slam final,” said Alcaraz. “I left the court happy. I left the court proud. I left the court smiling, just thinking, ‘Ok, at some point, I have to lose a Grand Slam final. Everyone does.’ I’m just proud.”

He added that his recovery took “hours, not even days,” emphasizing gratitude for his achievements and the experience of reaching a Wimbledon final, despite the setback. Alcaraz’s approach underscores a maturity beyond his 22 years, as he transitioned swiftly from a brief summer break into preparing for the upcoming US Open season.

Alcaraz’s summer vacation involved completely stepping away from training and the gym, preferring rest over exercise. “For myself, when I’m off, I’m off,” he said with a smile. He recounted how he chose sleep over keeping up with friends’ morning runs, simply waiting for them with breakfast.

Having skipped the National Bank Open in Toronto, Alcaraz enters Cincinnati refreshed and eager to capture a Masters title that has eluded him so far. His near-miss in Cincinnati last year saw him lose a memorable final to Novak Djokovic.

His burgeoning rivalry with Sinner remains one of the key narratives in men’s tennis. The pair have shared the last seven trophies almost evenly, with Sinner holding a slight edge in recent Grand Slam finals. Alcaraz leads their overall head-to-head 8-5 but acknowledges the significance of their contest.

“I’m really happy to be building such a great rivalry against Jannik,” he said. “Jannik and I, we’ve done great things in tennis already in such a short period. I let the people talk about our rivalry or the things we have done for the history books. I’m thinking about the history we’re making in tennis, but I think we have such long careers ahead, just to see how far we can go. If we already made history in tennis or not, that’s just for the people to discuss.”

Since their inception in 1990, ATP Masters 1000 tournaments have been the most prestigious events after the Grand Slams and ATP Finals. Despite their significance, a number of accomplished players have yet to capture one of these elusive titles. We profile five of the finest players who reached Masters finals but never emerged victorious.

Frenchman Gael Monfils, with 13 ATP titles including three at the ATP 500 level, made three Masters 1000 finals but fell short each time: against Novak Djokovic in Paris (2009), Robin Soderling in Paris (2010), and Rafael Nadal in Monte Carlo (2016). A career-high No. 6 in the world, Monfils also reached semi-finals in two Grand Slams and won 38 matches over top-10 opponents.

American Todd Martin reached one Masters final at the 1993 Canadian Open, losing to Mikael Pernfors. Despite eight ATP titles and two Grand Slam finals appearances, the Masters crown remained out of reach. Martin peaked at No. 4 globally and notched 34 top-10 wins in his career.

Canadian Milos Raonic, who peaked at No. 3 and accumulated eight ATP titles, was runner-up four times in Masters events, losing to Nadal and Djokovic. His lone Grand Slam final came at Wimbledon 2016, where he was defeated by Andy Murray.

Kei Nishikori won 12 ATP titles including six ATP 500 events but lost in four Masters finals, twice to Nadal and twice to Djokovic. Nishikori reached a career-high No. 4 and compiled 40 wins over top-10 opponents, with a Grand Slam final loss to Marin Cilic in 2014 marking his best Slam showing.

Undoubtedly the most decorated player without a Masters 1000 title is Yevgeny Kafelnikov. The former world No. 1 and dual Grand Slam champion won 26 ATP titles, earned Olympic gold in 2000, but lost all five Masters finals he contested to the likes of Andrei Medvedev, Thomas Enqvist, and Sebastian Grosjean. His career included six seasons in the top six and 46 wins over top-10 players.

Other notable names without a Masters title include Richard Gasquet, Fernando Gonzalez, Kevin Anderson, Matteo Berrettini, Fernando Verdasco, and Nick Kyrgios.

Carlos Taberner is experiencing the most productive phase of his career at 27 years old, reaching a career-high ATP ranking of No. 84 and making a significant breakthrough by reaching the ATP Tour final at Umag in 2025. Despite this progress, the Spanish player approaches his ascent with calm and quiet determination.

Hailing from Valencia, Spain, Taberner has been a notable presence on the ATP Challenger Tour, amassing nine titles in his career, including two early in 2025 in Murcia and Sassuolo, Italy. His runner-up finish to Luciano Darderi at the Plava Laguna Croatian Open established him further on the ATP Tour level.

“It’s been a good season,” Taberner reflects modestly. “I won two Challenger titles and had some strong results. I just want to be ready for the second half of the year.” His grounded approach is essential in the fiercely competitive environment of Challenger and ATP tennis, where rankings don’t necessarily predict outcomes. “Everyone at this level can win. Matches are 50-50. The competition has really grown. A guy ranked 200 can lose to someone ranked 400. It happens every week,” he explains.

Taberner’s game is defined by consistency, resilience, and a clay-court style inspired by his childhood idol, David Ferrer. His favored surface is clay, and his forehand is a key weapon. Yet, when asked about his greatest strength, Taberner points to mental toughness and heart, saying without hesitation, “My biggest strength is my mental game and heart.”

He continues to live and train in Valencia with the Gtennis Academy, appreciating the quality of life and training environment there. His experience extends beyond the Tour to European league tennis, particularly in Italy and Germany, where he has embraced the culture and developed his language skills.

Off court, Taberner enjoys camaraderie with fellow Spanish players and indulges in his love of football, supporting UD Levante. Reflecting on a recent promotion celebration, he says, “I love football. I watched the deciding game at home in Valencia with a friend, and the next day we went to the city center to celebrate. I stayed out until 1 a.m. It was incredible.”

Looking ahead, Taberner remains focused on steady improvement, maintaining health, and enjoying the journey as he continues his ascent in 2025.