Over 50 years ago, the lowest-ranked player in Monte Carlo history pulled off an unforgettable title run

Back in 1974, Andrew Pattison became the lowest-ranked player to win the Monte Carlo Masters since the Open Era began.

The Zimbabwean, who was ranked 49th at the time, still holds the distinction of being the lowest-ranked winner of the tournament.

Pattison wasn’t seeded that year but still managed to win it all, dropping just three sets on his way to lifting the trophy in Monaco.

So how did Pattison manage to pull off such an unexpected victory?

How Pattison went from the outside lane to the finish line

Andrew Pattison’s 1974 Monte Carlo Masters journey started with a win over Bob Carmichael, who had previously made it to the quarterfinals at both the Australian Open and Wimbledon.

Pattison went on to face Germany’s Hans-Jurgen Pohmann in his next match, coming out with an easy 6-2, 6-2 win. His following round saw him up against Hungary’s Balazs Taroczy, who he beat in a tightly contested three-set battle.

In the semifinals, Pattison took on South African Bob Maud. He won that one as well, setting up a final showdown against Ilie Nastase.

Nastase was no small name; a two-time Grand Slam winner and the heavy favourite going into that match. Even so, Pattison managed to pull off another upset to take home the title.

He later reached a career-high ranking of world number 24 at the end of that year before retiring in 1983 with five singles titles and seven doubles titles to his name.

Andrew Pattison’s best performance at a Grand Slam tournament

Pattison’s best showing at a major came in 1975 when he made it to the quarter-finals of the US Open.

He was unseeded again that year but still managed to knock off Patrick Proisy, John Alexander, Ricardo Cano, and Bob Hewitt before reaching the last eight.

His run ended against top seed Jimmy Connors, who won 6-1, 6-2, 6-1. Connors went on to lose in the final to Spain’s Manuel Orantes, who claimed his only career Grand Slam title with a straight-sets win.

Read more: