Who are Some of the Greatest Tennis Players of All Time?

Tennis is one of the most popular sports in the world today. Millions of people visit stadiums or just tune in from home in order to watch some of the most anticipated matches in tennis. Whether that be big name events like the Australian and U.S. Open, or just individual matches that many of us have been looking forward to, it rarely comes as a shock for a tennis game to garner international attention.

Part of the reason is that the sport itself is incredibly dynamic and exciting to watch. There are rarely any dull moments in tennis. Both (or sometimes all four) players are putting their all into it, and are constantly keeping pace with each other, making for an incredibly engrossing sport.

Another reason, however, for tennis’ success has to do with the personalities and incredible talents that dominate the tennis world today. Many of the greatest players of all time are currently on the tennis scene. Though some may be retired, they are still very much involved with the industry. Which is why we would like to take a look at some tennis players alive today, who could easily be called the greatest of all time.

It would be dishonest if we did not start the list off with Novak Djokovic. The Serbian tennis player currently holds the number one position in Singles, recognized by the Association of Tennis Professionals. In essence, this makes him the greatest tennis player today. However, his achievements don’t end here.

Novak Djokovic has finished as the “year-end top 1” on 12 different occasions; a world record not easily attained. He also holds the all-time record for Grand Slam men’s singles titles, with 24, and another record within that record, of 10 Australian Open titles. Unsurprisingly, he is a big draw when it comes to betting on tennis.

Indeed, betting on tennis is an incredibly popular pastime around the world. The betting industry generates hundreds of millions off of tennis alone, and that isn’t even mentioning the popularity that the sport has at online sportsbooks. Indeed, if you look at a casino online, you are bound to see the sports betting section, and they will undoubtedly have the option to place bets on tennis. A cursory glance at the odds there reveals that Novak Djokovic is amongst the greatest tennis players of all time.

Many dedicated fans of the sport consider Steffi Graff to be the best female tennis player that has ever taken the stage. And with 22 major singles titles under her belt, she certainly has a right to the claim. Though she is retired now, Steffi Graff’s impact on the world of sports cannot be understated. Her contributions to tennis are some of the most important in the sport’s history.

In 1988, she became the first player ever to achieve the Golden Slam, by winning all four major tennis titles, and then an Olympic gold medal in a single year. She has held onto the No. 1 rank in Women’s Singles for 377 weeks, a record in women’s tennis. Finally, she is the only tennis player, male or female, to win each of the major tournaments at least four times.

Fellow player, Serena Williams has named Steffi Graff as the greatest tennis player of all time, and Billie Jane King named her as the greatest female tennis player ever. She was inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame in 2004, and many consider her vital to the vast popularity that tennis, and especially Women’s Tennis, enjoys today.

Back to men’s tennis, any list of greatest players must include Roger Federer. Recognized as the greatest player circa 2005 by quite a few fellow players, Federer held the number 1 rank in singles for 310 weeks, which included a record of 237 consecutive weeks. The record has not been surpassed or even matched since, even by superstars like Djokovic.

Federer’s career on the ATP Tour is somewhat legendary. He won 103 singles, the second most amount of victories in tennis history. He holds the record for most men’s single titles at Wimbledon, with eight, and holds the joint-record for yean-end championships with six. Of course, his most celebrated achievement was completing his career Grand Slam in 2009.

Federer is a versatile player, whose grace on the court is somewhat legendary. Though many have tried to reproduce it, none have been quite as successful. The Swiss player’s reputation as a volatile junior with no self-control may have held him back in his early years. However, he worked hard to transform him on-court personality and demeanor, and quickly became respected both as an athlete and a sportsman.

He has been named as the Athlete of the Year by several publications, recognized as the greatest player of his time, and the greatest player of all time by numerous pundits, fans, and players, and certainly deserves a mention on our list.

For the final entry, we take a trip back to women’s tennis to discuss one of the most popular personalities in the sport. Serena Williams, oft regarded as the greatest tennis player of the 21st century, held onto the No. 1 rank in the Women’s Tennis Association for an incredible 319 weeks, which included a joint-record of 186 consecutive weeks.

With her sister, Venus Williams, they dominated the doubles tournaments, and even enjoyed a friendly rivalry in the singles. For her part, Serena has won 23 Grand Slams, the most in the Open Era, and the second-most of all time, making her truly deserving of the moniker “Greatest of All Time.” On top of it all, Serena Williams is the only tennis player to achieve a career Golden Slam in both singles and doubles.

Like Steffi Graff before her, Williams has been credited with reinvigorating the general population’s love for tennis. With her sister Venus, they drew a lot of attention to Women’s Tennis and brought a lot of fans to the sport. After retiring from tennis, Serena continues to contribute to the game’s popularity as an actress, pundit, and sometimes commentator.