3. Roberto Carretero — Hamburg 1996
Coming through the qualifying rounds to reach the main draw, Roberto Carretero’s 1996 Hamburg campaign was as improbable as it was unforgettable. Virtually unknown on the ATP circuit at the time, he began with a gritty win over fellow Spaniard Jordi Arrese before finding his rhythm against 10th seed MaliVai Washington.
From there, Carretero caught fire. He ousted seventh seed Arnaud Boetsch, edged Gilbert Schaller, and then stunned third seed Yevgeny Kafelnikov, who would go on to win Roland Garros just weeks later. In the final, he defeated compatriot Àlex Corretja in four sets to capture his first and only ATP title. Ranked No. 143, Carretero’s victory remained the most unlikely Masters 1000 triumphs ever recorded, well, until this week at least.
2. Borna Ćorić — Cincinnati 2022
Returning from nearly a year on the sidelines following shoulder surgery, Borna Ćorić arrived in Cincinnati ranked No. 152 and searching for rhythm, but what followed was a week of rediscovery. His only real test came early against Rafael Nadal in the second round, a match where the Spaniard held set points in the opener before Ćorić turned the tide and powered through in three sets.
From there, the Croatian looked increasingly confident. He brushed aside Roberto Bautista Agut, dominated Félix Auger-Aliassime, and coolly handled Cameron Norrie in the semifinals. In the final, he played near-flawless tennis to defeat Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets, completing a title run that felt both inspiring and inevitable by that time. Unlike other shock champions, Ćorić’s quality had long been recognized on tour, and this was more a reminder of what he was always capable of.
