Winning Masters 1000 titles is one of the toughest tasks in tennis, although a few have found themselves competing for some of the sport’s biggest titles well into the latter stages of their careers.
Here we look at the five oldest players to win a Masters 1000 title.
5) John Isner, Miami Open 2018 – 32 years, 340 days
Former world number 8 Isner won his first and only Masters title at the Miami Open in 2018, making him the oldest champion for the first time – and the fifth oldest winner, period.
The 14th seed beat second seed Marin Cilic in straight sets in the fourth round, before victories over 19th seed Hyeon Chung and fifth seed Juan Martin del Potro sent him to the final.
Isner had lost three previous Masters finals and things didn’t look promising when he lost the first set to fourth seed Alexander Zverev.
However, the American – not far from his 33rd birthday – rallied to triumph 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-4 and claim the biggest title of his career.
4) Andre Agassi, 2004 Cincinnati Open – 34 years, 101 days
The all-time great Agassi won 17 Masters 1000 titles during his career, and his last triumph in Cincinnati twenty years ago makes him the fourth-oldest champion in Masters history.
The eight-time Grand Slam champion was 11th in the rankings heading into the tournament, which he had won twice before, but beat fourth seed Carlos Moya to reach the last four.
This was followed by an epic victory over second seed and defending champion Andy Roddick in the semi-final, which saw him book a date in the final against 10th seed Lleyton Hewitt.
Agassi cruised to a 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 victory to claim the final Masters 1000 crown of his career, although he reached another final at the 2005 Canadian Open.
Tennis news
The 5 men with the most ATP Masters 1000 match victories on hard court: Novak Djokovic in the lead, Rafael Nadal with 210
Controversy over Stan Wawrinka and misadventures of Serena and Venus Williams – 5 huge mistakes by the referee
3) Rafael Nadal, Italian Open 2021 – 34 years, 347 days
Only one man has won more Masters titles than Nadal, who has 36 such victories to his name, and his final success at the 2021 Italian Open makes him the third-oldest champion in history.
The Spaniard arrived in Rome that year as the second seed and nine-time former champion, and he brushed aside sixth-seeded Alexander Zverev and Reilly Opelka to reach the final.
That set up a final against longtime rival Novak Djokovic, and Nadal cruised his way to a 7-5, 1-6, 6-3 victory in his last final against his greatest foe.
Nadal came close to adding a 37th Masters title at age 35 at Indian Wells in 2022, but was beaten in the final by Taylor Fritz.
2) Novak Djokovic, Paris Masters 2023 – 36 years, 167 days
No man can match Djokovic’s staggering tally of 40 Masters 1000 titles, and the Serb’s most recent triumph at the 2023 Paris Masters makes him the second oldest Masters champion of all time.
Before arriving at Bercy 12 months ago, Djokovic was a six-time Paris champion and reigning world number 1, and used all his experience to force his way to the final.
He edged sixth-seeded Holger Rune in a rematch of the 2022 final – a match he lost – before a similar victory over fifth-seeded Andrey Rublev in the semi-final.
Djokovic then beat Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 6-3 to win a seventh Parisian title at the age of 36 years and 167 days.
Djokovic could extend his personal run with a victory in Shanghai or Paris this year, then potentially break the all-time record next year.
1) Roger Federer, Miami Open 2019 – 37 years, 235 days
Swiss maestro Federer is ahead of his ‘Big Three’ rivals as things stand, becoming the oldest Masters 1000 champion in history with his victory at the 2019 Miami Open.
Winner of 28 Masters titles, the Swiss arrived in Miami five years ago after a tough defeat in the Indian Wells final the previous week, losing to del Potro despite his match points.
However, there were no signs of mental fatigue, with the fourth seed brushing aside top seeds like sixth seed Kevin Anderson and 20th seed Denis Shapovalov to reach the final.
Facing defending champion Isner, Federer cruised to a comfortable 6-1, 6-4 victory to claim the title in Miami for the first time.
Aged 37 years and 235 days, it was not only his last Masters 1000 title but also his last final at this level.
Read next: The 5 youngest men to win a Masters 1000 title – with Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz
