Brazil, known for its passion for soccer, also has a rich history in the world of tennis. Over the decades, several Brazilian athletes have left their mark on the sport, winning titles, breaking records and inspiring generations. In this article, we’ll explore the 15 greatest Brazilian male tennis players of all time, highlighting their achievements, curiosities and legacy.
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15 greatest Brazilian male tennis players of all time
1. Gustavo Kuerten (Guga)
Of course, this would be the first name on our list of the best male Brazilian tennis players of all time.
Guga has achieved great heights, going where, to this day, no other Brazilian has.
With three Roland Garros titles (1997, 2000, 2001) and still the only Brazilian to reach the first place in the ATP rankings, the Brazilian won a mini-documentary produced by the French Tennis Federation, which you can watch by clicking below.
Guga started playing at the age of six and overcame physical challenges throughout his career. In fact, constant hip pain was one of the main reasons for his retirement.
| Gustavo Kuerten, our eternal Guga, held the number one spot in the ATP rankings for 43 weeks. |
2. Thomaz Koch
Thomaz Koch was one of the pioneers of Brazilian tennis, standing out in the 1960s and 1970s, being one of the country’s representatives in editions of the Davis Cup, the major team competition in the sport, run by the International Tennis Federation – ITF
Koch began playing as a teenager and achieved international success, reaching the quarter-finals of Wimbledon in 1968.
After his professional career, Koch was successful as a coach, guiding and inspiring many young people to reach their full potential in the sport.
Read also: Grand Slam of tennis: discover the tournaments and greatest champions
3. Thomaz Bellucci
Thomaz Bellucci também representou o Brasil na Copa Davis e ficou conhecido por seu estilo de jogo agressivo e por ser um dos tenistas brasileiros mais bem-sucedidos da era moderna.
Em 2012,Bellucci chegou a vencer o grande Roger Federer no Ginásio do Ibirapuera, demonstrando sua imensa capacidade e qualidade como jogador.
The athlete began his professional career in 2005 and quickly made a name for himself on the international stage, reaching 21st place in the ATP rankings in 2010.
In 2009, Bellucci won his first ATP title in Gstaad, Switzerland, becoming the first Brazilian to win an ATP tournament in five years.
This victory propelled him into the top 30 of the world rankings for the first time in his career.
In the following years, the athlete continued to compete in major international tournaments, with major victories in ATP tournaments, including the Brazil Open and the Geneva Open, consolidating his position as one of the greatest Brazilian male tennis players of all time.
4. Jaime Oncins
Jaime Oncins was one of Brazil’s leading tennis players in the 1990s, known for his consistency and skills on clay.
His professional career began in 1989 and he enjoyed success in tournaments around the world, reaching 34th place in the ATP rankings in 1992.
It was even in 1992 that he competed in his first Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain, finishing 5th in the singles after reaching the quarter-finals.
In 2023, he was the coach of the Brazilian tennis team, when he led the team in the Davis Cup, a competition in which he competed for 11 consecutive years. Jaime was even part of the team that achieved Brazil’s two best results in Davis.
5. Luiz Mattar
Mattar was one of Brazil’s leading sportsmen in the 1980s and 1990s, known for his powerful serve and aggressive play.
Among the greatest Brazilian male tennis players of all time, he began his professional career in 1979 and enjoyed success in tournaments around the world, including reaching 60th place in the ATP rankings in 1989.
He is currently an important and successful businessman in Brazil.
6. Marcelo Melo
To talk about Marcelo de Melo is to think of an exceptional game in doubles tennis. That’s how he reached the rank of World No. 1 in 2015, becoming the first Brazilian to reach the top of the doubles ranking.
Marcelo also represented Brazil in the Davis Cup and the Olympics. However, one of the most memorable moments of Melo’s career was his partnership with fellow Brazilian Bruno Soares.
Together, they formed one of the most successful doubles teams in Brazilian history.
The partnership of Melo and Soares has won several prestigious titles, including the US Open doubles title in 2016, becoming the first Brazilians to win a Grand Slam in the men’s doubles.
In addition to his success in Grand Slams, Marcelo Melo has also had success in other important tournaments, such as the ATP Finals and the Masters 1000.
He started playing as a teenager and quickly made a name for himself on the professional circuit and is still one of the top names in the game.
7. André Sá
Another strong name in doubles, André Sá was also paired with Marcelo Melo, with whom he won several important titles, including the ATP Masters 1000 title in Madrid in 2005.
Sá and Melo’s partnership was known for their skill on the court and their chemistry as a team.
Sá also represented Brazil in the Davis Cup and the Olympics, reaching 17th place in the ATP doubles rankings in 2003.
8. Fernando Meligeni (Fininho)
Along with Guga, Meligeni is probably one of the best-known names when it comes to the list of the greatest Brazilian male tennis players of all time.
In 1996, he experienced one of the most remarkable moments of his career, when he won a bronze medal at the Olympic Games in Atlanta, in the men’s singles tournament, becoming the first Brazilian to win an Olympic medal in tennis.
As well as being part of the Brazilian Davis Cup and Olympic teams, he reached 25th place in the ATP rankings in 1999.
He currently works as a commentator for the ESPN-Fox Sports channels.
9. Bruno Soares
With Marcelo Melo, Bruno Soares has won many titles, including the US Open doubles title in 2016, which has made him one of the greatest Brazilian men’s tennis players of all time.
In fact, we’re talking about one of the best Brazilians in doubles, winning several important titles throughout his career.
He reached second place in the ATP doubles rankings in 2016.
10. Carlos Kirmayr
Kirmayr won several titles throughout his career, including victories in ATP tournaments and successful appearances in the Davis Cup.
He was one of the leading figures in Brazilian sport in the 1970s and 1980s, representing the country in international competitions and raising the profile of national tennis.
His professional career took off in the 1970s, when he began competing in international tournaments and representing Brazil in the Davis Cup. Over the years, he amassed impressive victories and earned the respect of his colleagues and opponents.
Kirmayr continued to compete at a high level throughout the 1980s, demonstrating his skill and consistency on a variety of surfaces, becoming a prominent figure on the world stage, leaving his mark as one of the greatest Brazilian men’s tennis players of all time.
11. Marcos Hocevar
Marcos Hocevar is another Brazilian who has made a name for himself on the international stage.
Hocevar has won several titles throughout his career, including victories in national and international tournaments.
His remarkable skills have led him to achieve success in both singles and doubles, and he has represented Brazil on several occasions, including appearances in the Davis Cup.
In addition, he played an important role in the generation that came after him and excelled during the 1990s, raising the profile of the sport in the country.
12. Flávio Saretta
Flávio Saretta is a household name in the world, known for his skill on clay and for his achievements on the international circuit:
- Croatian Open doubles champion;
- seven Challenger Series titles;
- gold medal for Brazil at the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2007.
He also had good campaigns, reaching the last 16 at Roland Garros in 2003 and the third round at two Grand Slams: Wimbledon and the US Open.
He turned professional in 1998 and achieved his best ATP singles ranking on September 15, 2003, when he was ranked number 44 in the world.
13. Cássio Motta
Cassio Motta won several titles throughout his professional career, including victories in ATP tournaments and notable appearances in the Davis Cup. He was known for his ability on different surfaces, becoming a feared opponent in clay, grass and hard court tournaments.
In addition to his achievements in ATP-level tournaments, as well as his prominent role as a member of Brazil’s Davis Cup team, Motta achieved a career-best ranking of No. 4 in doubles in 1983, reaching as high as No. 5 in the world with Carlos Kirmayr.
14. Thiago Monteiro
We’ve reached the list of the greatest Brazilian tennis players of all time, who are still active but can already be considered a highlight in the history of the sport.
Thiago Moura Monteiro is 29 years old and has won 8 ATP tournaments at Challenger level.
Monteiro was once ranked No. 2 in the world in the ITF junior rankings, but injuries at the beginning of his career prevented him from exploding at the start of his professional career.
In 2016, he recovered and won his first ATP match against Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, world no. 9, in the first round of the ATP 500 in Rio de Janeiro.
In 2022, Thiago achieved the best ranking of his career, number 61 in the ATP.
15. Thiago Seyboth Wild
Thiago Seyboth Wild is one of Brazil’s promising young players, known for his talent and potential in the sport.
His professional career began to take off in 2018, and already in 2020, he won his first ATP title in 2020, at the ATP 250 in Santiago, Chile. This victory made him the youngest Brazilian to win a tournament of this level.
His meteoric rise on the professional circuit has impressed fans and experts around the world alike.
He is currently 24 years old and is ranked 65th in singles and 197th in doubles by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).
Let’s keep an eye on the new names in the sport, shall we?
Greatest Brazilian male tennis players of all time
- Gustavo Kuerten (Guga)
- Thomaz Koch
- Thomaz Bellucci
- Jaime Oncins
- Luiz Mattar
- Marcelo Melo
- André Sá
- Fernando Meligeni (Fininho)
- Bruno Soares
- Carlos Kirmayr
- Marcos Hocevar
- Flávio Saretta
- Cássio Motta
- Thiago Monteiro
- Thiago Seyboth Wild
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