Tennis, a sport that combines athletic skill, strategy and determination, has players who are not only exceptional athletes, but also icons who have shaped the history of the sport and inspired future generations.
With that in mind, we’ve created a special list of the 20 best male tennis players of all time! Here, you’ll find out a little about their careers full of glory and memorable achievements, as well as the fascinating stories behind their careers.
From the legendary Rod Laver duels in the golden years of tennis to the modern era dominated by the likes of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, each player brings with them a unique legacy and an impressive collection of titles.
As well as their exploits on the court, we’ll explore the curiosities that have shaped their personalities, from their origins to their moments of glory, and which have defined them as true giants of sport.
It’s time to find out who the 20 best male tennis players of all time are!
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The 20 best male tennis players of all time: complete list
Check out our ranking of the 20 best male tennis players of all time!
- Rod Laver
- Roger Federer
- Rafael Nadal
- Novak Djokovic
- Pete Sampras
- Roy Emerson
- Andre Agassi
- Bjorn Borg
- Jimmy Connors
- Ivan Lendl
- John McEnroe
- Stefan Edberg
- Mats Wilander
- Ken Rosewall
- Boris Becker
- Jim Courier
- Lleyton Hewitt
- Gustavo Kuerten (Guga)
- Andy Murray
- Stan Wawrinka
The 20 best male tennis players of all time: meet the players
It’s time to find out more about the 20 best male tennis players of all time! Find out more about their titles, teams, curiosities and even controversies!
1. Rod Laver
- Titles: 11 Grand Slam titles (8 Australian Opens, 2 Wimbledon, 2 US Opens, 1 Roland Garros)
- Team: Australia
- Curiosities: The only player to win two Grand Slam titles in a single season (1962 and 1969). Known for his exceptional ability on all types of court.
- Life Story: Born in Rockhampton, Australia, Laver overcame challenges to become a world tennis legend.
- Record: Only player to win two complete Grand Slams.
- Controversies: Laver faced controversies during his career, mainly related to amateurism and professionalism in tennis.
2. Roger Federer
- Titles: 20 Grand Slam titles (6 Australian Opens, 8 Wimbledon, 5 US Opens, 1 Roland Garros)
- Team: Switzerland
- Curiosities: Federer holds several records, including the most weeks as world number 1 and the most men’s Grand Slam titles.
- Life Story: Born in Basel, Switzerland, Federer started playing tennis at the age of 8 and quickly stood out as a prodigy.
- Record: Most men’s Grand Slam titles in history.
- Controversies: Although he has a reputation for fair play, Federer has faced occasional criticism for incidents during important matches.
3. Rafael Nadal
- Titles: 20 Grand Slam titles (1 Australian Open, 13 Roland Garros, 2 Wimbledon, 4 US Opens)
- Team: Spain
- Curiosities: Nadal is widely regarded as the greatest clay-court player of all time, with an impressive record at Roland Garros.
- Life Story: Born in Manacor, Spain, Nadal comes from a family of tennis players and started playing at the age of 4.
- Record: Most Roland Garros titles in history.
- Controversies: A few controversies have marred Nadal’s career, most notably injuries and fair play.
4. Novak Djokovic
- Titles: 20 Grand Slam titles (9 Australian Opens, 6 Wimbledon, 3 US Opens, 2 Roland Garros)
- Team: Serbia
- Curiosities: Djokovic is known for his incredible comeback ability and physical endurance, as well as being the only player to win every Masters 1000.
- Life Story: Born in Belgrade, Serbia, Djokovic grew up amid the hardships of civil war in his country, but found refuge in tennis.
- Record: The only player to win all the Masters 1000 and the Golden Masters.
- Controversies: Djokovic has faced some controversies throughout his career, including disqualifications from tournaments and disputes with other players.
5. Pete Sampras
- Titles: 14 Grand Slam titles (7 Wimbledon, 5 US Opens, 2 Australian Opens)
- Team: United States
- Curiosities: Sampras dominated the circuit in the 1990s, establishing himself as one of the greatest hitters in tennis history.
- Life Story: Born in Washington D.C., Sampras began playing tennis at the age of 7 and quickly stood out as an exceptional talent.
- Record: More weeks as world number one before being overtaken by Federer.
- Controversies: Despite a relatively controversy-free career, Sampras faced criticism for his reserved personality.
6. Roy Emerson
- Titles: 12 Grand Slam titles (6 Australian Opens, 2 Wimbledon, 2 US Opens, 2 Roland Garros)
- Team: Australia
- Curiosities: Emerson is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, with success on a variety of surfaces.
- Life Story: Born in Blackbutt, Australia, Emerson started playing tennis at a young age and soon stood out as a promising player.
- Record: He held the record for the most Grand Slam titles in history until he was overtaken by Laver.
- Controversies: Emerson had a relatively controversy-free career, maintaining a reputation for fair play and professionalism.
7. Andre Agassi
- Titles: 8 Grand Slam titles (4 Australian Opens, 2 US Opens, 1 Wimbledon, 1 Roland Garros)
- Team: United States
- Curiosities: Agassi was known for his aggressive style of play and his impressive comeback after a brief retirement.
- Life Story: Born in Las Vegas, United States, Agassi was raised in a family dedicated to tennis and began playing professionally from an early age.
- Record: He has won all four Grand Slams during his career.
- Controversies: Agassi faced controversies related to his use of recreational drugs during his career, but he redeemed himself and became an example of resilience.
8. Bjorn Borg
- Títulos: 11 Grand Slam (6 Roland Garros, 5 Wimbledon)
- Team: Sweden
- Curiosities: Borg was known for his relentless mentality and his dominance on clay and grass courts.
- Life Story: Born in Stockholm, Sweden, Borg began playing tennis at the age of 9 and quickly stood out as a prodigy of the sport.
- Record: He won five consecutive Wimbledon titles.
- Controversies: After retiring abruptly at the age of 26, Borg faced some personal controversies, but maintained his image as a tennis legend.
9. Jimmy Connors
- Titles: 8 Grand Slam titles (5 US Opens, 2 Wimbledon, 1 Roland Garros)
- Team: United States
- Curiosities: Connors was known for his charismatic personality and aggressive playing style.
- Life Story: Born in East St. Louis, United States, Connors began playing tennis at the age of 2 and competed professionally from a young age.
- Record: Most Grand Slam titles in the open era until surpassed by Sampras.
- Controversies: Connors had some controversial disputes with tennis authorities throughout his career, but his skill at the game was always undeniable.
10. Ivan Lendl
- Titles: 8 Grand Slam titles (3 US Opens, 2 Roland Garros, 2 Australian Opens, 1 Wimbledon)
- Team: Czechoslovakia / United States
- Curiosities: Lendl was known for his professional approach to tennis and his rivalry with players like McEnroe and Connors.
- Life Story: Born in Ostrava, Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic), Lendl fled his country’s communist regime and found tennis success in the United States.
- Record: He dominated the world rankings in the 1980s, setting a record of 270 weeks as number 1.
- Controversies: Lendl has faced criticism for his defensive style of play, but his success speaks for itself.
11. John McEnroe
- Titles: 7 Grand Slam titles (4 US Opens, 3 Wimbledon)
- Team: United States
- Curiosities: McEnroe was known for his explosive temper and his heated disputes with umpires.
- Life Story: Born in Wiesbaden, Germany, McEnroe moved to the United States at a young age and began playing tennis competitively.
- Record: McEnroe holds the record for the most US Open titles in the open era.
- Controversies: McEnroe was often penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct during his career, but his skill at the game was undeniable.
12. Stefan Edberg
- Titles: 6 Grand Slam (2 Australian Opens, 2 Wimbledon, 2 US Opens)
- Team: Sweden
- Curiosities: Edberg was known for his elegance on court and his powerful serve.
- Life Story: Born in Västervik, Sweden, Edberg started playing tennis at the age of 7 and soon stood out as a promising player.
- Record: He won Wimbledon twice in a row in 1988 and 1989.
- Controversies: Edberg was known for his impeccable conduct on and off the court, maintaining a reputation for fair play.
13. Mats Wilander
- Titles: 7 Grand Slam titles (3 Australian Opens, 3 Roland Garros, 1 US Open)
- Team: Sweden
- Curiosities: Wilander was known for his versatility on different surfaces and for his competitive mentality.
- Life Story: Born in Växjö, Sweden, Wilander started playing tennis at a young age and soon stood out as an exceptional talent.
- Record: He won three Grand Slam titles in a single year (1988).
- Controversies: Wilander has had a relatively controversy-free career, focusing mainly on his performance in the game.
14. Ken Rosewall
- Titles: 8 Grand Slam titles (4 Australian Opens, 2 Roland Garros, 2 US Opens)
- Team: Australia
- Curiosities: Rosewall was known for his longevity in the sport, competing at a high level for several decades.
- Life Story: Born in Sydney, Australia, Rosewall started playing tennis at a young age and continued to compete until he was 40.
- Record: Rosewall holds the record for the most Grand Slam titles in the amateur era.
- Controversies: Rosewall has maintained a reputation for fair play and professionalism throughout his long career.
15. Boris Becker
- Titles: 6 Grand Slam (3 Wimbledon, 2 Australian Opens, 1 US Open)
- Team: Germany
- Curiosities: Becker was known for his aggressiveness on the court and for his remarkable victory at Wimbledon at the age of 17.
- Life Story: Born in Leimen, West Germany (now Germany), Becker surprised the tennis world by winning Wimbledon in 1985 as an underdog.
- Record: Becker was the youngest Wimbledon men’s champion in the tournament’s history.
- Controversies: Becker has faced some controversies throughout his career, including financial issues and personal scandals.
16. Jim Courier
- Titles: 4 Grand Slam titles (2 Australian Opens, 2 Roland Garros)
- Team: United States
- Curiosities: Courier was known for his determination and his ability to play well on different surfaces.
- Life Story: Born in Sanford, United States, Courier began playing tennis at a young age and soon stood out as a promising player.
- Record: He won Roland Garros twice in a row in 1991 and 1992.
- Controversies: Courier has had a relatively controversy-free career, remaining focused on his performance in the game.
17. Lleyton Hewitt
- Titles: 2 Grand Slam (1 Wimbledon, 1 US Open)
- Team: Australia
- Curiosities: Hewitt was known for his competitive mentality and for leading Australia in the Davis Cup.
- Life Story: Born in Adelaide, Australia, Hewitt started playing tennis at a young age and quickly stood out as an exceptional talent.
- Record: Hewitt was the youngest world number 1 in the history of men’s tennis.
- Controversies: Hewitt faced some controversies throughout his career, including disputes with other players and tournament officials.
18. Gustavo Kuerten (Guga)
- Titles: 3 Grand Slam (3 Roland Garros)
- Team: Brazil
- Curiosities: Guga was known for his skill on clay and his charisma on and off the court.
- Life Story: Born in Florianópolis, Brazil, Guga overcame adversity to become a Brazilian tennis icon.
- Record: Guga won Roland Garros three times in his career.
- Controversies: Guga had a relatively controversy-free career, concentrating on inspiring the next generation of Brazilian tennis players.
19. Andy Murray
- Titles: 3 Grand Slam (2 Wimbledon, 1 US Open)
- Team: United Kingdom
- Curiosities: Murray was the first Briton to win Wimbledon in 77 years and is known for his determination and tactical ability.
- Life Story: Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Murray started playing tennis at a young age and quickly rose to the top of the sport.
- Record: Murray was the first Briton to win the Wimbledon men’s singles title since 1936.
- Controversies: Murray has faced persistent injuries throughout his career, but his resilience has made him an inspiration to many tennis fans.
20. Stan Wawrinka
- Titles: 3 Grand Slam (1 Australian Open, 1 Roland Garros, 1 US Open)
- Team: Switzerland
- Curiosities: Wawrinka is known for his exceptional performances in Grand Slam tournaments and for his aggressive play.
- Life Story: Born in Lausanne, Switzerland, Wawrinka worked hard to achieve success in world tennis, overcoming challenges along the way.
- Record: Wawrinka has won three Grand Slam titles, beating world-renowned players in the process.
- Controversies: Wawrinka has maintained a relatively controversy-free career, focusing on his playing performance.
The 20 best male tennis players of all time
- Rod Laver
- Roger Federer
- Rafael Nadal
- Novak Djokovic
- Pete Sampras
- Roy Emerson
- Andre Agassi
- Bjorn Borg
- Jimmy Connors
- Ivan Lendl
- John McEnroe
- Stefan Edberg
- Mats Wilander
- Ken Rosewall
- Boris Becker
- Jim Courier
- Lleyton Hewitt
- Gustavo Kuerten (Guga)
- Andy Murray
- Stan Wawrinka
The careers of the 20 best male tennis players of all time are full of achievements, victories and unforgettable moments. They not only enrich the history of the sport, but also serve as a source of inspiration for those who aspire to follow in their footsteps and achieve success on the court
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