First player to achieve a “Career Golden Masters”

Novak Djokovic (Serbia) is the only player to achieve a career “Golden Masters” by winning all nine Masters 1000 events on the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) calendar. He completed the set with victory at the Cincinnati Masters on 19 August 2018. Djokovic had previously won tournaments in Indian Wells (2008, 2011, 2014-16), Miami (2007, 2011-12, 2014-16), Monte Carlo (2013, 2015), Madrid (2011, 2016), Rome (2008, 2011, 2014-15), Montreal/Toronto (2007, 2011-12, 2016), Shanghai (2012-13, 2015) and Paris (2009, 2013-15).

Djokovic had previously lost five Cincinnati finals – three against Roger Federer (2009, 2012, 2015) and two against Andy Murray (2008, 2011) – before defeating Federer 6-4, 6-4 in the 2018 showpiece at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio.

Djokovic’s victory in Cincinnati was his 31st at a Masters 1000 event, and, one month after collecting his 14th Grand Slam trophy at the US Open, he made it 32 Masters 1000 titles by winning the Shanghai Masters on 14 October 2018. As of that date, he was one tournament win behind Spain’s Rafael Nadal, with 33 titles since 2005, including three in 2018 (Monte Carlo, Rome, Toronto). Djokovic does, however, hold Masters 1000 records for the most hard-court titles (24), most titles in a year (six in 2015), most finals in a year (eight in 2015), most match wins in a year (39 in 2015), most consecutive titles (four, achieved in 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16; record shared with Nadal (2013)) and most consecutive matches won (31 in 2011).

The nine ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments are regarded as the most prestigious events on the ATP calendar after the four Grand Slams (Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, US Open) and the end-of-season ATP World Tour Finals.

The doubles “Career Golden Masters” was achieved by Bob and Mike Bryan (USA) on 12 October 2014.