Tennis is one of the most popular sports in the world with more than 1.5 billion fans across the globe. It is also one of the most-watched sports in the USA. The history of this incredible sport is also enriched by a number of great athletes. Who are the best and greatest tennis players in history? Here in the below list, we have ten of the greatest male tennis players who ever came in the history of the sport. Let’s dive into the list.
10. Boris Becker – Germany
QUICK FACTS | |
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Age in 2023 | 55 |
Country | Germany |
Status | Retired |
Grand slams won (Single) | 6 |
Net Worth | $15 million |
Highest Ranking | No.1 in 1991 |
Popular German former tennis player Boris Becker is ranked number ten on the list of the greatest tennis players in history. This incredible player started his professional career at a young age and won six of his first major singles titles at the age of 17. Becker was ranked number 1 in 1991.
As of 2022, Boris Becker’s net worth is $15 million. After a wonderful and successful professional career, he retired on 25 June 1999. In his double career, the highest ranking in his career is number 6. His 14 double and 49 single career titles made him one of the best tennis players of all time.
9. Ivan Lendl – Czech-American
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Age in 2023 | 63 |
Country | Czech-American |
Status | Retired |
Grand slams won (Single) | 8 |
Net Worth | $40.5 million |
Highest Ranking | No.1 in 1983 |
Ivan Lendl is a former Czech-American professional tennis player who is widely considered one of the best tennis players in history. He won 8 Grand Slams (single) in his incredible career. He was ranked number 1 in 1983. Lendl’s career is full of achievements and iconic tennis titles.
He won 6 double and 94 single career titles in his career. In 1994, a wonderful career came to an end. As of 2022, Ivan Lendl’s net worth is $40.5 million.
8. Jimmy Connors – USA
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Age in 2023 | 70 |
Country | United States |
Status | Retired |
Grand slams won (Single) | 8 |
Net Worth | $12 million |
Highest Ranking | No.1 in 1974 |
The American professional former tennis player Jimmy Connors is ranked number 8 in the list of greatest tennis players of all time. The 8 Grand Slams single winner has a great career timeline with the highest-ranking number 1 in 1974.
Jimmy Connors is the first male player who has been number 1 ranking for 200 weeks. He won 109 single and 16 double career titles in his incredible professional career. Connors got retirement on 29 April 1996.
7. Rod Laver – Australia
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Age in 2023 | 83 |
Country | Australia |
Status | Retired |
Grand slams won (Single) | 11 |
Net Worth | $20 million |
Highest Ranking | No.1 in 1961 |
Rod Laver is the oldest in the list of ten greatest tennis players in history. He is a former Australian professional tennis player who won 11 Grand Slams singles in his career. He was ranked number 1 in 1961 and other eight different years.
This is a great record that only Rod Laver has in the history of tennis. He won 198 singles career titles and 28 doubles career titles. After this great career, he retired in 1979.
6. Andre Agassi – USA
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Age in 2023 | 52 |
Country | United States |
Status | Retired |
Grand slams won(single) | 8 |
Net Worth | $145 million |
Highest Ranking | No.1 in 1995 |
Andre Agassi is a retired American professional tennis player who is considered one of the greatest tennis players in history. He won 8 Grand Slams singles in his professional career. Agassi was ranked number 1 in 1995.
In his professional career, he won 60 single and 1 double titles. He retired in 2006. As of 2023, Andre Agassi’s net worth is $145 million. In the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Agassi won a gold medal.
5. Pete Sampras – USA
QUICK FACTS | |
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Age in 2023 | 51 |
Country | United States |
Status | Retired |
Grand slams won(single) | 14 |
Net Worth | $150 million |
Highest Ranking | No.1 in 1993 |
Pete Sampras is also an American retired professional tennis player. He is also considered one of the best tennis players the USA ever have. His professional career started in 1988 and after winning 14 Grand Slams singles, he retired in 2002. As of 2023, Pete Sampras’s Net worth is estimated at around $150 million making him one of the richest tennis players on the earth.
In his career of 14 years, he also won 64 singles and 2 double titles which made him one of the greatest male tennis players in the world.
4. Björn Borg – Sweden
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Age in 2023 | 67 |
Country | Sweden |
Status | Retired |
Grand slams won(single) | 11 |
Net Worth | $40 million |
Highest Ranking | No.1 in 1977 |
Björn Borg is another big name in the history of tennis. He is a retired professional Swedish tennis player who is considered one of the greatest tennis players in history.
In his professional career, Bjorn Borg won 11 singles Grand Slams. He was ranked world number 1 in 1977. He also won 66 single and 2 double career titles. As of 2023, Bjorn Borg’s net worth is $40 million. The great Swedish tennis player ended up his career in 1984.
3. Rafael Nadal – Spain
QUICK FACTS | |
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Age in 2023 | 37 |
Country | Spain |
Status | Active |
Grand slams won (single) | 20 |
Net Worth | $200 million |
Highest Ranking | No.1 in 2008 |
Rafael Nadal is one of the most popular athletes in the world. He is a Spanish professional tennis player who made his name in the sport as the greatest player. Nadal has won 20 singles Grand Slams in his professional career till 2021. This is considered a great achievement by an individual tennis player.
He is one of the richest and highest-paid tennis players with a net worth of $200 million. Rafael Nadal was ranked the world’s number 1 in 2008. He has won 88 singles and 11 double career titles. Nadal also won two gold medals representing his country.
2. Novak Djokovic – Serbia
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Age in 2023 | 36 |
Country | Serbia |
Status | Active |
Grand slams won (single) | 19 |
Net Worth | $220 million |
Highest Ranking | No.1 in 2011 |
The Serbian greatest tennis player Novak Djokovic is ranked 2nd in the list of greatest tennis players of all time. He started his professional career in 2003 and soon after becoming professional, Djokovic started a journey of success that continues.
Novak Djokovic has won 19 singles Grand Slams and was ranked world number 1 in 2011. He has a record of being number one for 325 weeks. He has won 84 single and 1 doubles career titles. As of 2023, Novak Djokovic’s net worth is $220 million which made him one of the richest tennis players on the planet.
1. Roger Federer – Swiss
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Age in 2023 | 41 |
Country | Swiss |
Status | Active |
Grand slams won (single) | 20 |
Net Worth | $450 million |
Highest Ranking | No.1 in 2004 |
Roger Federer is the greatest tennis player in history. The Swiss professional tennis player has won 20 singles Grand Slams. He was ranked world number 1 in 2004.
Roger Federer has won 103 singles career titles and 8 doubles career titles. As of 2022, Roger Federer’s net worth is $450 million making him the richest tennis player in the world in 2023. In the Olympics 2008 Beijing he won a silver medal. The field is still open for the legend to win and achieve more and more victories.
Summary
The top 10 greatest tennis players in history are:
- Roger Federer – Swiss
- Novak Djokovic – Serbia
- Rafael Nadal – Spain
- Björn Borg – Sweden
- Pete Sampras – USA
- Andre Agassi – USA
- Rod Laver – Australia
- Jimmy Connors – USA
- Ivan Lendl – Czech-American
- Boris Becker – Germany
Errrm. Think you need to update and correct some info here. Roger Federer has never won an olympic gold. Nadal won Olympic Gold in 2008, Federer got silver.
Thank you for the correction. <3
Nadal has won 21 Grand Slam singles titles, including 8 away from clay, as well as winning every Grand Slam singles title at least twice.
Nadal has won his Grand Slam singles titles in a 5 year shorter period than Federer and has a winning head to head record against Federer.
Therefore, is there any chance of putting Nadal as the Greatest Tennis Player of all time, or at least the Greatest Grand Slam singles player of all time?