One man who knows all about waiting for a first grand slam title is Ivanisevic.
CNN: Tennis legends tip Murray for grand slam glory at U.S. Open
Yet for five hours, Wawrinka looked like he, too, could win a Grand Slam title.
It was the 25-year-old Russian's first grand slam title since she won the Australian Open in 2008.
Serena went on to take her 10th grand slam title, but will be wary of Azarenka's growing confidence.
Federer, who won a record 15th grand slam title at Wimbledon, is top seed at Flushing Meadows, the venue since 1978.
Nadal, who beat Mariano Puerta for his first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros on Sunday, had not lost in 26 matches.
He now represents the penultimate hurdle as Federer chases a 14th Grand Slam title to equal the haul of U.S. legend Pete Sampras.
There was to be no repeat of his first Grand Slam title - in the 2007 Wimbledon mixed doubles alongside Serbia's Jelena Jankovic.
The easiest way to determine the answer is to merely look at the rankings and find the best-ranked player without a Slam title.
FORBES: The Ten Best Tennis Players Never To Win A Grand Slam Tournament
The all-time leading Grand Slam title winner, Pete Sampras can lay claim to being the greatest player ever to grace the game of tennis.
His last Grand Slam title came at Wimbledon in 2002, and the furthest he has advanced at the French Open is the quarter-finals in 2001.
Zheng won her opening service game before Henin swept the next 12 to continue her fairytale return in search of an eighth grand slam title.
But she answered her critics by taking a second Grand Slam title later in the year, beating Henin 2-6 6-3 6-4 in the Wimbledon final.
Murray, still searching for a first grand slam title, had to summon his trainer in the first set as he struggled with a back injury.
Wozniacki's failure to capture a grand slam title during her spell at the top of the world rankings meant she faced constant questioning on the subject.
The Russian top seed, still seeking her first Grand Slam title after falling to Kuznetsova in the Paris final, will next play 2006 Wimbledon champion Amelie Mauresmo.
The top-ranked Djokovic has lost two of his past four matches after winning 22 in a row, including the Australian Open for his sixth Grand Slam title.
Li lost the 2011 Australian Open final to Kim Clijsters but won her first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros a few months later, beating Francesca Schiavone.
Meanwhile, Russian Davydenko proved why he has been considered as a contender to win his first grand slam title as he swept past Illyan Marchenko 6-3 6-3 6-0.
But few could have quibbled with the way Sampras won his record 13th Grand Slam title in a rain-affected final on his adopted Centre Court home in 2000.
None of these players has won a Grand Slam title since reaching No. 1 and three of them have since lost to women ranked lower than No. 100.
Fourteen were for a Grand Slam title (Navratilova won 10).
FORBES: Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova: The Best Rivalry Ever?
The Swiss is bidding for his sixth Wimbledon triumph and a record 15th Grand Slam title, and there is little doubt who many of the fans will be supporting.
Among the past Grand Slam title winners hoping to join her in the third round with victories Thursday: defending French Open champion Sharapova, Victoria Azarenka, Li Na and Petra Kvitova.
Wawrinka came into Sunday's match as a heavy underdog against the fourth seed, who was tipped by most to challenge for a first Grand Slam title over the next week.
The 23-year-old won her first grand slam title in Melbourne last January before going on to top the rankings and become the WTA Tour's leading prize money winner for 2012.
The Russian won her first grand slam title at Wimbledon eight years ago, before going on to win the US Open in 2006 and then then Australian Open four years ago.
应用推荐