In 2009, Juan Martin del Potro defeated Roger Federer to win the US Open for Argentina; 17 years later, he remains the last non-European Grand Slam winner

Juan Martin del Potro is the last non-European to win a Grand Slam title (Image: X and Agency) There was a time when men’s Grand Slam tennis had champions from all over the world. Australia, the United States, Argentina and South Africa have produced major winners who have added different styles and stories to the sport’s biggest tournaments. But the landscape has changed dramatically.Juan Martin del Potro’s historic triumph at the 2009 US Open remains the last time a non-European man has won a Grand Slam singles title. The Argentine defeated five-time defending champion Roger Federer in a five-set final at Flushing Meadows to pull off one of the biggest upsets of his career. More than 17 years later, this victory is still the last Grand Slam men’s singles title won by a player outside of Europe.Since then, the men’s Grand Slam scene has been dominated almost exclusively by European stars. Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic ruled the early part of this era before the next generation led by Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev continued the trend.The numbers make the change particularly striking. From 2010 to 2026, every completed men’s singles Grand Slam was won by a European player. The only exception to a tournament without a champion was Wimbledon in 2020, which was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

From the Big Three to Alcaraz, Sinner and Zverev

Federer, Nadal and Djokovic were responsible for much of Europe’s extraordinary dominance during 2010. Nadal repeatedly ruled Roland-Garros, Djokovic collected titles at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open, Federer continued to add major trophies.Great Britain’s Andy Murray also broke through during this period, winning Wimbledon twice and the US Open in 2012. Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka, Croatia’s Marin Cilic and Austria’s Dominic Thiem were among the other Europeans to lift Grand Slam trophies.The transition to the next generation did not change the geographic pattern.Spain’s Alcaraz won the 2026 Australian Open to complete the career Grand Slam at just 22 years old. He became the youngest man to win all four major singles titles.Germany’s Alexander Zverev then won his first Roland-Garros title in 2026 before adding the US Open trophy in New York yesterday. His triumph in Paris also made him the first German to win Roland-Garros in the Open Era.Meanwhile, Italy’s Jannik Sinner continued his rise by winning Wimbledon in 2026.YearAustralian OpenFrench OpenWimbledonUS Open2010Roger FedererRafael NadalRafael NadalRafael Nadal2011Novak DjokovicRafael NadalNovak DjokovicNovak Djokovic2012Novak DjokovicRafael NadalRoger FedererAndy Murray2013Novak DjokovicRafael NadalAndy MurrayRafael Nadal2014Stan Wawrinka Rafael NadalNovak Djokovic Marin Cilic2015Novak DjokovicStan WawrinkaNovak DjokovicNovak Djokovic2016Novak DjokovicNovak DjokovicAndy MurrayStan Wawrinka2017Roger FedererRafael NadalRoger FedererRafael Nadal2018Roger FedererRafael NadalNovak DjokovicNovak Djokovic2019Novak DjokovicRafael NadalNovak DjokovicRafael Nadal2020Novak DjokovicRafael NadalCancelledDominic Thiem2021Novak DjokovicNovak DjokovicNovak DjokovicDaniil Medvedev2022Rafael NadalRafael NadalNovak Djokovic Carlos Alcaraz2023Novak DjokovicNovak DjokovicCarlos AlcarazNovak Djokovic2024Jannik SinnerCarlos AlcarazCarlos AlcarazJannik Sinner2025Jannik SinnerCarlos AlcarazJannik SinnerCarlos Alcaraz2026Carlos AlcarazAlexander ZverevJannik SinnerAlexander ZverevThe sport has previously produced major champions outside of Europe, such as Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Jim Courier, Michael Chang, Arthur Ashe, Guillermo Vilas and Del Potro, who prove that Grand Slam success is not limited to one continent.But modern times tell a completely different story. From Federer and Nadal to Djokovic, Alcaraz, Sinner and Zverev, European players have dominated the biggest stages for more than a decade and a half.