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.

Victoria Mboko, ranked No. 85, has emerged as a remarkable talent at the 2025 Canadian Open, making history as only the third wildcard to reach the semi-finals in the tournament’s history. The 18-year-old Canadian, making her debut at this event in Montreal, has delivered an impressive run marked by significant victories.

After three solid wins in the opening rounds, Mboko stunned the crowd by defeating second seed Coco Gauff, marking the first top-10 win of her career. She continued her strong form with a quarter-final victory over Jessica Bouzas Maneiro and is set to face ninth seed Elena Rybakina in the semi-final. Remarkably, this match comes just two weeks after Mboko lost to Rybakina in Washington.

Regardless of her semi-final result, Mboko’s outstanding performances will see her break into the top 50 of the WTA Rankings for the first time following the tournament. The 2025 season has been one of steady progress for Mboko, climbing from outside the top 300 at the start of the year to her current ranking inside the top 100.

Nathalie Tauziat, former world No. 3 and 1998 Wimbledon finalist, has played a crucial role in this ascent. Initially coaching Mboko as a junior, Tauziat rejoined her team in 2025 and witnessed the player win 22 consecutive matches at ITF level before making breakthrough appearances at the French Open and Wimbledon.

Tauziat praises Mboko’s growing confidence and mental composure: “Since the beginning of the year, she win [sic] so many matches. I think what is important also for her is to see us not panic when something happen. I remember at the beginning of the year, she always told me: ‘Oh, you’re so calm during the match.’ I say: ‘You know what, it’s just a match. I mean, I can help you, but if I show you I am on panic myself, I mean, it’s going to be worse for you, so why do you want me to panic? I’m not panicking. It’s just a match, and I’m here to help you.’”

Mboko’s technical skills and attitude also stand out. Tauziat highlighted her powerful serve and eagerness to learn: “I think she believes in herself. I think also, she has the power maybe more. She has a very good serve. Not a lot of players have a good serve. She likes to learn. She likes to improve. So I think it’s important.”

With a track record of coaching rising Canadian stars such as Eugenie Bouchard, Bianca Andreescu, and Leylah Fernandez, Tauziat brings a wealth of experience to Mboko’s development. Yet she remains cautious about Mboko’s future, emphasizing the importance of maintaining focus: “It’s complicated to say because right now, of course, her [Mboko’s] standing is going to change, with the players first. After, as I say, some players who rise very high level young, sometimes they lost the priority. So what is going to be very important for Vicky is to keep the priority of tennis first over many things around. I think it would be very important for her to stay, and some players don’t do that. You can go up, but if you’re not continuing to progress and work hard, I mean, you can go down very quickly.”