Former top 100 in the ATP who remained unbeaten against Rafael Nadal represented two countries

Throughout sports history, countless stories have emerged about the greatest athletes in their respective disciplines. In tennis, some of the most captivating tales involve epic matches, stunning performances, and unexpected victories over top-ranked players. One such story belongs to a player who achieved a rare feat: remaining unbeaten against Rafael Nadal.

Dustin Brown, born in Jamaica but eligible to represent Germany, began his professional tennis career in 2002 at just 17 years old. Seven years later, he reached his first ATP final at the 2009 Badge Open in Germany. At that point, Brown was still representing Jamaica on the ATP World Tour, a decision he maintained until 2010, and represented Germany.

It wasn’t until 2015, however, that Brown delivered the defining performance of his career. Despite never having claimed an ATP singles title, he faced Rafael Nadal in the second round at Wimbledon and pulled off a stunning upset, defeating the Spanish legend in straight sets. That victory cemented Brown’s place in tennis history as one of only two players to remain unbeaten against Nadal.

Brown had previously defeated Nadal at the 2014 Halle Open, marking his first win over the former World No. 1. That triumph was particularly memorable, as Brown entered the tournament as a wildcard while Nadal was enjoying one of the most dominant stretches of his career.

Rafael Nadal attends day four of the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF at King Abdullah Sports City.

Brown’s victories against ATP Top 10 players

Dustin Brown may not have enjoyed consistent success in the ATP World Tour’s biggest tournaments, but he managed to secure two ATP 250 titles. What made Brown particularly memorable, however, were his victories over some of the sport’s top-ranked players. In total, Brown claimed five wins against top 10 opponents, causing problems not only for Rafael Nadal but also for other prominent figures in tennis history.

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Among his five notable victories, Brown defeated his compatriot Alexander Zverev at the 2019 Stuttgart Open. He also bested Marin Cilic at the 2017 Montpellier tournament in France. Additionally, Brown claimed a win over Casper Ruud in their only ATP-level encounter and triumphed over John Isner at the US Open.

Beyond those key victories, Brown also managed to defeat notable players such as Lleyton Hewitt, Nikolay Davydenko, Stan Wawrinka, Matteo Berrettini, and Fernando Verdasco, among others.

The other player who remained unbeaten against Nadal

Alongside Brown, another player who remained unbeaten against Rafael Nadal was Spanish compatriot Alex Corretja. Although Corretja faced Nadal only twice, he never suffered defeat. Unlike Brown, Corretja enjoyed a more decorated career, winning several ATP titles and even recording victories over other tennis legends like Roger Federer.

Despite Nadal’s remarkable success throughout his career, his extensive list of titles and numerous victories couldn’t prevent both Brown and Corretja from achieving a rare distinction, staying undefeated against one of the greatest players in tennis history.