The sport of tennis became more popular in the 1970s and had many great players like Jimmy Connors, Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe, and Chris Evert. Since then, many other great players have come and gone, and it’s hard to compare players from different eras.
However, three players stand out today as some of the best: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic. Here is a list of the top 20 tennis players in the world in the Open Era (1968 to present), including two players tied for the 10th position.
Top 20 tennis players in the world of All Time
1. Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic is a professional tennis player born on May 22, 1987, in Belgrade, Serbia. He currently resides in Monte Carlo, Monaco. Djokovic turned pro in 2003 and has won 93 career titles.
He is one of the most successful tennis players of all time, having won 22 Grand Slam Singles Titles, including 10 Australian, 7 Wimbledon, 3 US Open, and 2 French Open championships. Djokovic is still an active player and has earned a career prize money of $164,786,653.
Novak Djokovic started slow, but after he turned 28, he won 13 Grand Slam titles in just six years. Djokovic has been dominating the Grand Slam tournaments recently and could surpass Nadal and Federer in the Grand Slam title rankings, which would solidify his claim to be the greatest of all time.
Novak Djokovic is 35 years old and still at the top of his game in tennis and holds the record for being ranked number one for 376 weeks.
He had an impressive start to the 2021 season by winning the Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon, showing that he is the best player in the world this year. He even beat Nadal in the semi-finals of the French Open, proving he can win on Nadal’s favorite surface.
Djokovic dominated the 2021 Wimbledon Championship, only losing two sets on his way to defeating Matteo Berrettini from Italy.
2. Roger Federer
Yes, Roger Federer is widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time, if not the greatest. He holds many records, including the most Grand Slam singles titles in history (20), and has spent a record 310 weeks ranked as the world No. 1.
He has also won a record of eight Wimbledon titles and six Australian Open titles, five US Open titles, and one French Open title. His elegant playing style and impressive achievements on the court have made him a fan favorite and earned him the respect of his peers.
Roger Federer is the top 20 tennis player in the world considered by many to be the greatest tennis player of all time. He has won 20 Grand Slam titles and spent over 300 weeks as the number-one ranked player in the world. Federer’s longevity and consistent success have made him a role model on and off the court.
Federer’s retirement in 2022, Nadal’s injuries, and Djokovic’s advancing age suggest that a new era in men’s tennis may be on the horizon. Young players are emerging and challenging the once-dominant big three. It remains to be seen who will emerge as the next tennis great.
3. Pete Sampras
Pete Sampras, a former professional tennis player, was born on August 12, 1971, in Potomac, Maryland, and retired from tennis in 2002. He won 64 titles throughout his career, including 14 Grand Slam Singles Titles – 2 Australian, 7 Wimbledon, and 5 US Open.
Pete Sampras was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2007, in recognition of his outstanding career and contributions to tennis. He presently lives in Lake Sherwood, California.
I think Pete Sampras was the third-best tennis player of all time. He was good at playing on hard courts and grass, but he struggled on clay courts, where the French Open is played.
He had some amazing matches with Andre Agassi that fans still talk about today. His last Grand Slam win was at the 2002 US Open, and he retired as one of the greats. It’s hard to say where he ranks on the Top 20 tennis players in the world list because of his struggles on clay, but I think he’s still in the top five.
4. Bjorn Borg
Bjorn Borg is widely regarded as one of the Top 20 tennis players in the world. He won 11 Grand Slam singles titles, including five consecutive Wimbledon championships and six French Open titles.
Borg’s rivalry with John McEnroe in the late 1970s and early 1980s, particularly their epic Wimbledon final in 1980, is still remembered as one of the greatest matches in tennis history.
Borg retired from professional tennis at 26, leaving behind a remarkable legacy and a lasting impact on the sport. He won 11 Grand Slam Singles titles, at just 17 years old and went on to win 10 more before retiring at 26
having six French Open and five Wimbledon titles.
He was inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame in 1987, recognizing his incredible contributions to the sport. Despite retiring at 26, Borg’s impact on the game of tennis is still felt today.
Borg was known for his killer ground game and dominated Wimbledon, winning the title five years in a row from 1976 to 1980. His brief career was filled with memorable matches against John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors.
If he had continued playing for a few more years, he would have likely been of the top 20 tennis players in the world and was honored by being inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame in 1987. His remarkable career, marked by his distinctive playing style and numerous Grand Slam titles, solidified his place among the sport’s elite players.
5. Rod Laver
Rod Laver, an Australian tennis player, won 11 Grand Slam titles and a184 career titles. He turned pro in 1963 and retired in 1979 with prize money winnings of $1.5 million. Rod Laver is one of the Top 20 tennis players in the world.
Rod Laver, an Australian tennis player, was widely regarded as the best player of his time and continues to be recognized as a legend in the sport’s history. His exceptional skills and remarkable achievements on the court earned him a prominent position in the world of tennis.
Laver’s unparalleled success in the amateur and professional circuits of the sport is a testament to his extraordinary talent and dedication. Laver’s contribution to the sport has been immense, and his legacy continues to inspire generations of tennis players around the world.
6. Ken Rosewall
Ken Rosewall, from Australia, is a retired tennis player who turned pro in 1957 and retired in 1980. He won 8 Grand Slam Singles Titles, which includes 4 Australian, 2 French, and 2 US Open titles. He won a career total of 133 titles and earned $1,602,700 in prize money.
In 1980, Ken Rosewall, the Australian tennis legend, was placed into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Ken Rosewall was a legendary tennis player with a career from the 1950s to the 1980s. Rosewall was known for his backhand and accurate volleying skills.
He even won the Australian Open in 1972 at the age of 37, which is still a record for the oldest Grand Slam winner. Despite playing against a younger generation of tennis players, he showed great mental toughness and conditioning.
7. Andre Agassi
Andre Agassi, born in Las Vegas, Nevada, is a retired tennis player who turned pro in 1986 and retired in 2006. He won 8 Grand Slam singles titles, including 4 Australian Opens, 1 French Open, 2 US Opens, and 1 Wimbledon.
He also won an Olympic Gold Medal in 1996 with career prize money of over $31 million and 61 career titles, he was inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame in 2011. Many consider Agassi one of the Top 20 tennis players in the world of all time.
Andre Agassi’s flashy style and rock star looks may have initially turned some people off, but he ultimately proved himself to be a great player with a spokesperson for tennis.
His powerful groundstrokes and returns of serve made him a force to be reckoned with on the court, and his off-court philanthropic efforts have earned him respect as a champion in his community. Any list of top tennis players would be incomplete without the inclusion of Andre Agassi.
8. John McEnroe
John McEnroe, a former professional tennis player, won seven Grand Slam singles titles and 105 career titles and earned a career prize money of $12,547,797.Andre Agassi’s flashy style and rock star looks may have initially turned some people off, but he ultimately proved himself to be a great player as the spokesperson for tennis.
John McEnroe was a highly competitive tennis player known for his fiery attitude and creative shot-making, making him one of the all-time greats. His reputation as a bad boy on the court often overshadowed his talent, but his epic matches with rivals Jimmy Connors and Bjorn Borg will never be forgotten.
9. Jimmy Connors
Jimmy Connors, one of the greatest American tennis players of all time, won 8 Grand Slam singles titles and had a remarkable 147 career titles, making him a worthy inclusion on any top-10 list.
Jimmy Connors was a dominant force in tennis during the 1970s. He won many matches and three Grand Slam tournaments in a single year.
Although he was banned from the French Open in 1974, he continued to have an impressive career and retired in 1996. Connors holds the record for the most ATP tour titles with 109.
10. Ivan Lendl
Ivan Lendl was one of the most dominant tennis players of the 1980s, winning eight Grand Slam singles titles in his career. He was known for his powerful serve and forehand, and his aggressive baseline play. Lendl was also known for his intense training regimen, which helped him stay at the top of his game for many years.
He retired from professional tennis in 1994 and was inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame in 2001. Today, Lendl remains involved in the sport as a coach and advisor.
He was the top-ranked player in the world for four years and held the number-one ranking for 270 weeks, which was a record at that time.
Lendl was a quiet player who preferred to let his game do the talking. Today, he is best known for coaching Andy Murray, a three-time Grand Slam winner.
11. Mats Wilander (SWE)
Mats Wilander is a retired professional tennis player from Sweden. He was born on August 22, 1964, and turned pro in 1981. Wilander retired from professional tennis in 1996.
Throughout his career, he won 33 career titles and amassed career prize money of over $8 million. He also won 7 Grand Slam singles titles, which is a remarkable achievement in tennis. Wilander was active on the professional tennis circuit for over 15 years and was considered one of the best players of his generation.
Mats Wilander, a former tennis player from Sweden, is known for winning a Grand Slam on all three surfaces – clay, grass, and hard court. This is a rare feat achieved by only a few other tennis players in history. Although he didn’t win at Wimbledon, he won a grass title at the Australian Open. Wilander also won a Grand Slam in doubles and reached the finals twice.
He was particularly successful on clay courts, winning the French Open three times. He defeated Guillermo Vilas in his first win and Ivan Lendl in the second.
12. Stefan Edberg
Stefan Edberg was born in Sweden. He later moved to Switzerland, where he currently resides. He turned pro in 1983 and retired in 1996. Edberg earned a total of over $20 million in prize money during his career and won a total of 41 singles titles. He won a total of six Grand Slam titles, two each at Wimbledon, the US Open, and the Australian Open.
Stefan Edberg was a top tennis player during the 90s, and he held the No.1 spot for over 70 weeks after winning the Wimbledon title in 1990
Edberg also set a record for consecutive Grand Slam appearances, with 54, but it was later broken.
13. Roy Emerson
Roy Emerson was born in Australia and is now retired. He turned pro in 1953 and has earned a career prize money of $442,740. Emerson has won 77 career titles, including 12 Grand Slam singles titles during his career, a record that stood for many years until the rise of the “Big 3” in the 21st century.
Considered one of the greatest tennis players before the Open Era, Roy Emerson dominated the sport in the 60s and was ranked World No.1 in 1964-65.
Emerson’s career spanned over 30 years, and he retired at the age of 47, a feat that is nearly impossible in today’s highly competitive tennis landscape.
14. Sir Andy Murray
Andy Murray is a past professional tennis player belongs to the United Kingdom. He was born in Scotland in 1987 and turned pro in 2005. He retired from professional tennis in 2019 due to injuries.
Throughout his career, Murray earned over $61 million in prize money and won a total of 46 career titles. Murray is a three-time Grand Slam singles champion, having won the US Open in 2012 and Wimbledon in 2013 and 2016. He was also a two-time Olympic gold medalist, winning in singles at the 2012 London Olympics and in doubles at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Andy Murray was an exceptional tennis player who had to compete with “the big 3” during most of his career. He was so good that many people thought “the Big 3” should have been called “the Big 4”.
Murray was the World No.1 for six months during the 2016-2017 season, which was hard with Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer playing. He won three Grand Slam titles, but he also lost eight Grand Slam finals during his career. Murray has been consistently great, even though his Grand Slam win rate is not the best.
15. Mats Wilander
Mats Wilander was born in Sweden. He turned professional in 1981 and retired in 1996. Throughout his career, he earned around $8.5 million in prize money and won a total of 33 singles titles.
Wilander won seven Grand Slam singles titles, including three Australian Opens, three French Opens, and one US Open.
Mats Wilander is considered one of the most talented tennis players born in the 20th century. He won his first French Open title at just 17, becoming the youngest player to win a Grand Slam. He holds the record for the most Grand Slam titles won before turning 20, with four.
Although he couldn’t maintain that level throughout his career, he still won three more Grand Slams before retiring at 32.
16. John Newcombe
John Newcombe, a renowned tennis player, was born on May 23, 1944, in Australia. He retired from professional tennis in 1981. During his career, he won 64 singles and 17 doubles titles, including six Grand Slam singles titles.
John Newcombe was widely considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time in the 90s, having achieved the World No.1 ranking in 1988-89.
John Newcombe was a tennis player who was ranked the World No.1 in both singles and doubles categories. He won six Grand Slam singles titles and 17 doubles titles.
Newcombe was fast and had a great forehand and serve. He was known for playing well in important matches, having only lost one of his ten Wimbledon finals. Newcombe was also very consistent, staying inside the Top 10 rankings for over ten years (1965-1975). His career is remembered as one of the greatest in tennis history.
17. Jim Courier
Jim Courier was born in Florida, United States. In 1988, he began his professional career and have a successful run until his retirement in 2000. Throughout his career, he earned $14,037,391 in prize money and won 23 career titles.
He won four Grand Slam singles titles, including two French Open titles and two Australian Open titles. He was also ranked the world No.1 for 58 weeks during the 1992-1993 seasons.
Jim Courier was a top tennis player in the 90s and held the World No.1 spot for 58 weeks. He won four Grand Slam titles, including two at Roland Garros and two at the Australian Open.
Although he excelled on hard courts, his performance on clay and grass was not as strong, limiting his overall ranking to 17th on the all-time list.
Guillermo Vilas was born in Argentina. He turned pro in 1969 and retired in 1992. Vilas earned $4.9 million in career prize money and won 62 career singles titles. He won 4 Grand Slam singles titles, including the French Open in 1977 and the US Open in 1977.
Guillermo Vilas was a successful tennis player in the 70s and 80s who dominated during the serve and volley era. Vilas holds several world records including a 46-match winning streak in 1977 and the most singles titles won in a single season, with 16 ATP titles won in 1977.
Born in Switzerland in 1985, Stan Wawrinka turned pro in 2002 and retired in 2022. He earned over $33 million in career prize money and won 16 career singles titles, including three Grand Slam titles: the Australian Open in 2014, the French Open in 2015, and the US Open in 2016.
Stan Wawrinka is a talented tennis player who has been overshadowed by Roger Federer throughout his career. However, if Federer, Djokovic, and Nadal did not exist, Wawrinka would have won many more Grand Slams. Winning three Grand Slam titles in the toughest era of all time shows his greatness.
Stan Wawrinka, a prominent Swiss tennis player, has been among the most competitive players on the professional tour for more than 15 years. He is known for his one-handed backhand, and watching him play tennis is always entertaining.
Nick Kyrgios is an Australian professional tennis player who was born in Canberra, Australia. He currently resides in Nassau, Bahamas. Kyrgios turned pro in 2013 and is still active on the tour.
He has earned over $8 million in prize money and has won six career titles so far. Kyrgios has not won a Grand Slam singles title yet, but he has reached the quarterfinals or better at several of them, including Wimbledon and the Australian Open.
The final player on my list is the young and charismatic Nick Kyrgios from Australia. Although he’s known for his temper on the court, he has incredible skills, including one of the best serves in tennis right now, fast movements, and powerful forehands.
Kyrgios has won six career titles and reached a world ranking of 6th. With more focus and determination, he has the potential to climb even higher on the list in the future.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the world of tennis is filled with amazing players who showcase their skills and abilities on the court. The top 20 players are a mix of veterans and rising stars who continue to push the boundaries of the sport. Each player has their own unique strengths and weaknesses, and their rankings can fluctuate depending on their performance in tournaments. It will be exciting to see how these players continue to develop and compete against each other in the future.
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