Quite a few phenomenal players have played tennis over the years. That list includes the likes of Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, and Steffi Graf. As such, it is difficult to pick one GOAT of tennis. We brought up many interesting tennis statistics in our tennis statistics article, which we recommend reading.
However, that article provides background information but not a definitive answer to the question about who is the greatest tennis player of all time. Even so, we can discuss it in detail and try to come to a conclusion. Without further ado, let’s dive into the discussion about the greatest tennis player in the sport’s history.
GOAT of Tennis: Roger Federer’s Case as the Greatest Tennis Player Ever
Roger Federer makes sense as the first player on this list. Federer won 103 tennis tournaments in total during his career. This includes 20 major titles in men’s singles tennis.
Additionally, Federer won Wimbledon eight times and won the US Open tennis tournament five times. Also, he holds the record for most men’s Wimbledon titles and has the joint-most US Open tennis titles. During his career, the Association of Tennis Professionals ranked Federer as the number-one singles tennis player for 310 weeks in total.
Out of those 310 weeks, 237 weeks were consecutive. That is still the record for most consecutive weeks ranked as the number-one male singles tennis player by the ATP. Also, Federer won gold for his native Switzerland in doubles tennis at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Federer hung up his racket and retired from professional tennis in September 2022. He deserves recognition as one of the greatest tennis players ever.
Rafael Nadal’s Case as the Greatest Tennis Player Ever
Rafael Nadal, Federer’s greatest rival, belongs in any discussion about the greatest tennis player ever. Nadal has won 92 ATP-level singles tournaments in his career and that includes 14 French Open wins, which is the most ever. Additionally, many know Nadal as one of the best tennis players on clay ever.
Nadal won 81 consecutive times on clay. This is the longest win streak on a single surface of tennis’s Open Era. Nadal broke through to become ranked as the best men’s singles tennis player in the world following a dramatic victory against long-time rival Roger Federer in the 2008 Wimbledon final. This was Nadal’s first major win on a surface other than clay.
Additionally, Nadal won an Olympic gold medal in men’s singles tennis at the 2008 Olympics. Nadal became a tennis star as a teenager and has beaten both Federer and current #1 men’s singles tennis player Novak Djokovic. Nadal is certainly an all-time great tennis player.
Novak Djokovic’s Case as the GOAT of Tennis
Novak Djokovic also has a strong case as the greatest tennis player of all time. Djokovic has won 98 tennis tournaments so far and this includes 24 Grand Slam men’s singles titles. He holds the record for most Grand Slam men’s singles titles in tennis history.
He has won seven Wimbledon titles, as well. Djokovic had a career year in 2011, rising to #1 in the world men’s singles tennis rankings and winning 10 out of 11 matches against Federer and Nadal. Also, Djokovic won the bronze medal for his native Serbia at the 2008 Olympics.
Djokovic is the current #1 men’s singles tennis player in the world, having most recently won at the 2023 ATP Finals against Jannik Sinner to win a seventh ATP Finals title. It is impossible to discuss who is the greatest tennis player ever without mentioning Novak Djokovic.
Novak Djokovic Is Our Pick for the Greatest Tennis Player Ever
Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer are outstanding tennis players and deserve acclaim as two of the greatest tennis players ever. Novak Djokovic, the third member of tennis’ ‘Big Three’, also deserves praise for his accomplishments in the sport. Djokovic has won more Grand Slam men’s singles titles than either Federer or Nadal. He also went 10-1 against Nadal and Federer in 2011.
Novak Djokovic is our pick as the greatest tennis player ever, although it is certainly up for debate.
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