Top 10 Best Male Tennis Players of All Time
Roger Federer is a Swiss tennis player known for his exceptional skill and elegance on the court. He has won 20 Grand Slam singles titles, holding the record for the most consecutive weeks as World No. 1. At the moment, Roger Federer is the most accomplished male tennis player ever, although it's impossible to really say he's the most talented. You could easily make the argument that Rafael Nadal is actually better on that count, since Nadal has a clear advantage over Federer in terms of head-to-head, especially in the Slams. The day may also come when Nadal could surpass Federer's impressive mark of 17 Grand Slams.
I'm giving the nod to Federer partly because he dominated tennis so thoroughly and convincingly for about a five-year stretch, a feat that will be nearly impossible to replicate. You might say the competition was a little inferior during most of his prime, but you can only play what's out there. No tennis player was that dominant for such an extended stretch of time.
In his prime, Federer was a machine. His greatest strength, among the many you could name, was his groundstrokes. He could hit the ball at such an angle with tremendous power that it made it nearly impossible for his opponent to stay in the point, especially the longer it went on. But perhaps one of the toughest parts about Federer was that he was almost invulnerable. He almost never beat himself with silly mistakes and unforced errors. Nothing less than your A-game was required to even give you a shot at beating him.
Perhaps best of all, Federer has been a class act in both victory and defeat, on and off the court. He has been a model of sportsmanship that is hard to come by in today's world of sports, especially considering the sad stories with today's athletes almost every time you turn on your TV.
Hats off to you, Fed. Truly one of the greats in all of sports, not just tennis.
Rafael Nadal, from Spain, is celebrated for his success on clay courts, where he has won the French Open a record 14 times. With 22 Grand Slam singles titles, he is one of the most successful players in tennis history. Rafa may not be the best, but he is still my favorite tennis player. Just the way he fights on every single point like his life depends on it is inspiring. He doesn't end the points quickly, takes his time, and makes the opponent suffer. Nadal is at both a physical and mental peak that is absolutely jaw-dropping.
Break point? Set point? No problem. He saves them with what is arguably the most badass forehand in tennis history. Nadal makes us live his matches with him. His celebrations, injuries, pains, reliefs - we fight with him all the time. And he has incredible sportsmanship in every situation, win or lose, with great respect for his opponents.
Novak Djokovic, a Serbian player, has consistently dominated the men's game and holds the record for most weeks ranked as World No. 1. He has won 24 Grand Slam singles titles, achieving a career Grand Slam twice. I love Novak. He has been my favorite tennis player for the last 10 years. I have watched every single big match he's played, dedicating hours upon hours to studying his play, memorizing his stats, and waking up at crazy hours of the night to see him play in Slams or Masters 1000s. This man has been my hero. But, in my opinion, he is not the third-best player of all time. Yet.
He could certainly be on his way, but the likes of Laver and Sampras have him beat, with Borg having as good of a peak as him and Lendl and Connors obviously having better longevity.
Still, Djokovic is an amazing player and competitor, and he has proven himself to be one of the all-time greats. He is still in his peak, dominating the game.
Pete Sampras, an American player, was a leading figure in the 1990s, known for his powerful serve and volleys. He won 14 Grand Slam singles titles, including a record seven Wimbledon titles. This is the only person I ever enjoyed watching play tennis when I was a kid. It was almost unreal how he never seemed to break a sweat and just kept on winning for what I think is the longest record so far. Sampras vs. Agassi matches were the most epic. None of the current crop of players even comes close!
When Pete's game was on, he didn't need groundstrokes to beat his opponents. What about those running forehands, overhead smashes, and crisp volleys? Phew. That underrated backhand. Just look at some of his backhand winners against Becker, Agassi, etc. You will realize that Pete had no weakness. A TRUE PHENOM.
Bjorn Borg, from Sweden, is known for his calm demeanor and success in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He won 11 Grand Slam titles, including five consecutive Wimbledon titles. His competition was fierce, as he played several men on this list and usually trumped them. I don't see the current players struggling with the likes of Connors, McEnroe, and Lendl. Nadal is already physically shot at 22. And Borg did it all with a wooden racket.
It only really makes sense to compare players from the same era. Technique, tactics, equipment, rules, and training all move on. While acknowledging that Federer's record is unmatched, Borg was easily the greatest player of his generation.
Ivan Lendl, originally from Czechoslovakia, was known for his powerful baseline game and physical fitness. He won eight Grand Slam singles titles and was ranked World No. 1 for 270 weeks. One of the hardest-working tennis players. Most others just made it on talent, but Ivan worked his butt off.
Jimmy Connors, an American player, was known for his aggressive style and competitiveness on the court. He won eight Grand Slam singles titles and held the record for most ATP singles titles, with 109. I loved to see him play. We don't have players of his caliber today. He had a personality that appealed to the public, and he backed it up with the results of his games.
Jimmy Connors was my favorite male tennis player ever. He had a class and style about him that no one else had. I miss watching him because it was always exciting.
He had asthma and still set records, even though he was not a tall player.
John McEnroe, an American, is famous for his skillful net play and intense on-court demeanor. He won seven Grand Slam singles titles and remains known for his rivalry with Bjorn Borg. People said he complained about calls a bit. But the thing is, he was right most of the time. He had game and provided some great tennis battles over the years.
Boris Becker, from Germany, gained international fame by winning Wimbledon at age 17. He won six Grand Slam singles titles and was known for his powerful serve and aggressive playing style. No one, except perhaps Bjorn Borg, could play better. He was a champion for such a long time.
One of the best. Should be in the top 5.
Andy Murray, a British tennis player, is known for his tactical intelligence and resilience on the court. He has won three Grand Slam singles titles and two Olympic gold medals in singles. Pure excellence. Amazing wherever he is on the court. Has one of the best backhands ever. Everybody stops and stands still when he's on court.
One of the greatest ever British sportsmen. Hopefully, more to come from this fantastic athlete.
Now that I've given him that vote, he better win a Grand Slam!
The Newcomers
Michael Chang, an American, gained fame for his speed and defensive play, winning the French Open in 1989 at age 17. He reached a career-high ranking of World No. 2 and won 34 ATP singles titles.
Andre Agassi, an American player, was celebrated for his charisma and impressive return game. He won eight Grand Slam singles titles and achieved a career Grand Slam over his career.
Rod Laver, an Australian, is notable for completing the Grand Slam twice, in 1962 and 1969. He won 11 Grand Slam singles titles and is considered one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. No doubt, as has been said before, but two Grand Slams, bookends to the dramatic changes in tennis, mark the beginning of the Open Era. His longevity matches Federer's - and was achieved at a time without the science, the technology, and the private jets. Think of the greats he played against: Hoad, Rosewall, Gonzales, and Emerson, and he defeated Ashe, Connors, and Borg. I believe he was effectively number one for most, if not all, of the decade from 1960 to 1970.
Two Grand Slams. Interrupted by six years. Laver would have won at least four Grand Slams in his career. It is embarrassing to see him rated 13! I agree with Federer and Nadal, who both have stated Laver is without peer in tennis history.
Andy Roddick, an American known for his powerful serve, reached the pinnacle of his career in the early 2000s. He won one Grand Slam singles title at the 2003 US Open and was ranked World No. 1.
David Ferrer, a Spanish player, is known for his incredible work ethic and consistency, particularly on clay courts. Although he didn't win a Grand Slam, he reached the French Open final and won 27 ATP singles titles.
Tim Henman, a British player, was known for his serve-and-volley playstyle and strong performances at Wimbledon. Although he didn't win a Grand Slam, he reached six Grand Slam semifinals.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, from France, is recognized for his powerful game and energetic presence on court. He reached the final of the 2008 Australian Open and won 18 ATP singles titles in his career.
Stanislas Wawrinka, a Swiss player, is celebrated for his one-handed backhand and strength on the baseline. He has won three Grand Slam singles titles and an Olympic gold medal in doubles.
Gael Monfils, a French player, is celebrated for his athleticism and entertaining playing style. He has reached the semifinals of two Grand Slam tournaments and has won 11 ATP singles titles. One of the most fun-to-watch tennis athletes. I mean, who is doing all the crazy shots? Just love his style.
One of the most entertaining players to watch, with amazing and powerful shots!
Very determined! He is not worried about losing. Just plays his best.
Lleyton Hewitt, an Australian player, became the youngest-ever World No. 1 at age 20. He won two Grand Slam singles titles and was known for his tenacity and court coverage. Most talented player I ever watched. Very unfortunate with health. I'll never forget his teenage win over Agassi and that epic victory in 2003 vs. Federer, where Fed was serving for the match in the third set. Incredible fighter. I still believe he could reach another Grand Slam final! Come on!
Most underrated tennis player ever.
I don't care what the list says. Best ever, to me, has nothing to do with consistency. The most devastating player and the most interesting to watch of all time is Marat Safin.
When his game was on, no one could touch him. Just look at his 2005 Australian Open final with Federer or his demolition of Sampras in the 2000 US Open final. If he had a mental game and the desire to win, he would be #1 on this list.
He is consistently knocked out in the quarterfinals, but that's not a bad thing.
Juan Martín is a brilliant, flamboyant player, towering over all his opponents. Get well, Juan Martín. You are missed at Wimbledon.
Consistency is what he needs. He'll be a great player.