Top 100 Tennis Players of All time
Comparing players from different eras--amateur versus professional, pre-open era to Open Era, war years and not war years--is extremely difficult. Some would say it's impossible. During the week of March 19, 2012 in a 5-part series, The Tennis Channel aired a countdown of the Top 100 Tennis Players of all time. Whether or not you agree with the final rankings, here they are as aired.
Compiling the list here and fact checking was as much an education in tennis history as watching the original 5 part series on the Tennis Channel. Discuss what you think about these rankings in the comments below. This kind of debate is good for Tennis.
The Top 10
Ranking
| Player
| Years Active
| Accomplishments
|
|---|---|---|---|
1
| Roger Federer (Switzerland)
| 1998 to Present
| 17 Major titles; Career Grand Slam; Year-end #1 Four Times
|
2
| Rod Laver (Australia)
| 1956 to 1979
| 11 Major titles; only male to win the Grand Slam ('62 & '69)
|
3
| Steffi Graf (Germany)
| 1982 to 1999
| 22 Major titles, only player with a Golden Slam
|
4
| Martina Navratilova (USA)
| 1973 to 2006
| 18 Major titles; 167 Singles titles (a record); Career Grand Slam
|
5
| Pete Sampras (USA)
| 1988 to 2002
| 14 Major titles, 6 years in a row ranked #1
|
6
| Rafael Nadal (Spain)
| 2001 to Present
| 11 Major titles, Career Grand Slam
|
7
| Bjorn Borj (Sweden)
| 1972 to 1993
| 11 Major titles; won French and Wimbledon 1978-1980
|
8
| Margaret Smith Court (Australia)
| 1959 to 1977
| 24 Major titles, 1970 Grand Slam, 48 Major titles in doubles
|
9
| Chris Evert
| 1971 to 1989
| 18 Major titles, 157 singles times, won at least 1 major for 13 years in a row,highest winning percentage in history (.900)
|
10
| Billie Jean King
| 1959 to 1983
| 12 Major titles, Career Grand Slam, 27 Major titles in doubles
|
Players 11-20
Ranking
| Player
| Years Active
| Accomplishments
|
|---|---|---|---|
11
| Don Budge (USA)
| 1934 to 1938
| 6 Major titles, first player to win the Grand Slam (1938)
|
12
| Andre Agassi (USA)
| 1986 to 2006
| 8 Major titles, Career Grand Slam, Olympic Gold Medal 1996
|
13
| John McEnroe (USA)
| 1977 to 1992
| 7 Major titles, 170 weeks at #1, 6 Davis Cup titles
|
14
| Serena Williams (USA)
| 1997 to Present
| 13 Major titles, Career Grand Slam, 2 Olympic Gold Medals
|
15
| Jimmy Connors (USA)
| 1970 to 1996
| 8 Major titles, 109 singles titles (open era men's record), ranked #1 from 1974 to 1978, only player to win US Open on 3 different surfaces
|
16
| Bill Tilden (USA)
| 1912 to 1930
| 10 Major titles, 7 David Cup Championships, 6 Straight US Open Championships
|
17
| Roy Emerson (Australia)
| 1954 to 1977
| 12 Major titles, 8 Davis Cup Championsips, 16 Major doubles titles
|
18
| Ivan Lendl (Czechoslovakia)
| 1978 to 1994
| 8 Major titles, Reached record 8 straight US Open Finals, 94 singles titles
|
19
| Monica Seles (USA)
| 1988 to 2003
| 9 Major titles, youngest ever French Open champion (16 years, 6 months), only open era player to win first 6 grand slam finals
|
20
| Ken Rosewall (Australia)
| 1951 to 1980
| 8 Major titles, oldest US Open Champion (35 years, 10 months), won majors in 3 different decades
|
Players 21-30
Ranking
| Player
| Years Active
| Accomplishments
|
|---|---|---|---|
21
| Boris Becker (Germany)
| 1984 to 1999
| 6 Major titles, won Wimbledon at 17
|
22
| Venus Williams (USA)
| 1997 to Present
| 7 Major titles, Olympic Gold in singles and doubles
|
23
| Fred Perry (Great Britain)
| 1927 to 1940
| 8 Major titles, 3 consecutive Wimbledon titles
|
24
| Suzanne Lenglen (France)
| 1919 to 1927
| 8 Major titles, 2 Olympic gold medals, only 1 loss in career
|
25
| Stefan Edberg (Sweden)
| 1983 to 1996
| 6 Major titles, #1 ranking in singles and doubles, reached 4 straight major finals
|
26
| Justine Henin (Belgium)
| 1999 to 2011
| 7 Major titles, Olympic Gold Medal, 3 straight years at #1
|
27
| Maureen Connolly (USA)
| 1951 to 1954
| 9 Major titles, Grand Slam (1953), 9 straight majors until career ending injury
|
28
| Arthur Ashe (USA)
| 1967 to 1980
| 3 Major titles, first African American make to win a major, won first US "Open"
|
29
| Helen Wills Moody (USA)
| 1921 to 1939
| 19 Major titles, Didn't drop a set from 1927 to 1932
|
30
| Martina Hingis (Switzerland)
| 1994 to 2007
| 5 Major titles, Ranked #1 for 80 weeks, won Australian Open at aged 16
|
Players 31-40
Ranking
| Player
| Years Active
| Accomplishments
|
|---|---|---|---|
31
| John Newcombe (Australia)
| 1962 to 1981
| 7 Major titles, record 12 Major double titles with Tony Roche
|
32
| Lew Hoad (Australia)
| 1952 to 1965
| 3 Major titles, won 3 of 4 majors in 1956, Career Grand Slam in doubles
|
33
| Mats Wilander (Sweden)
| 1981 to 1996
| 7 Major titles, won 3 of 4 majors in 1988, held #1 ranking for 20 weeks
|
34
| Jack Kramer (USA)
| 1939 to 1954
| 2 Major titles, created professional tennis
|
35
| Pancho Gonzales (USA)
| 1947 to 1973
| 2 Major titles, consistently #1 on Jack Kramer's Pro tour, won 5 hr 12 min match at Wimbledon at age 41
|
36
| Rene Lacoste (France)
| 1924 to 1933
| 7 Major titles, invented ball machine, metal racket, and polo shirt
|
37
| Evonne Goolagong (Australia)
| 1969 to 1983
| 7 Major titles, won Wimbledon as a mother, reached 18 major finals
|
38
| Maria Bueno (Brazil)
| 1958 to 1977
| 7 Major titles, 12 Major doubles titles
|
39
| Althea Gibson (USA)
| 1947 to 1959
| 5 Major titles, first African American to win a Major
|
40
| Novak Djokovic (Serbia)
| 2003 to Present
| 5 Major titles, won 3 of 4 Majors in 2011
|
Players 41-50
Ranking
| Player
| Years Active
| Accomplishments
|
|---|---|---|---|
41
| Guillermo Vilas (Argentina)
| 1969 to 1992
| 3 Major titles, record 46 match win streak
|
42
| Jim Courier (USA)
| 1988 to 2000
| 4 Major titles, held #1 ranking for 58 weeks
|
43
| Lindsay Davenport (USA)
| 1993 to 2010
| 3 Major titles, 1996 Olympic Gold Medal, finished year end #1 four times
|
44
| Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario (Spain)
| 1985 to 2002
| 4 Major titles
|
45
| Kim Clijsters (Belgium)
| 1997 to Present
| 4 Major titles, reached #1 in singles and doubles
|
46
| Henri Cochet (France)
| 1921 to 1942
| 8 Major titles, member of the French "Four Musketeers"
|
47
| Jean Borotra (France)
| 1921 to 1942
| 5 Major titles, member of the French "Four Musketeers"
|
48
| Frank Sedgman (Australia)
| 1947 to 1967
| 5 Major titles, 18 Major doubles titles, won Grand Slam in doubles
|
49
| Ilie Nastase (Romania)
| 1966 to 1985
| 2 Major titles, 2-time Wimbledon finalist
|
50
| Tony Trabert (USA)
| 1948 to 1969
| 5 Major titles, won 3 of 4 Majors in 1955, commentated for 30 years
|
Players 51-60
Ranking
| Player
| Years Active
| Accomplishments
|
|---|---|---|---|
51
| Doris Hart (USA)
| 1940 to 1955
| 6 Major titles, 23 Major doubles and mixed doubles titles
|
52
| Jack Crawford (Australia)
| 1928 to 1940
| 6 Major titles, inspired term "Grand Slam," record 7 consecutive major finals
|
53
| Tracy Austin (USA)
| 1978 to 1994
| 2 Major titles, won US Open at age 16, ended Chris Evert's 125 match win streak on clay
|
54
| Manuel Santana (Spain)
| 1958 to 1970
| 4 Major titles
|
55
| Gustavo Kuerten (Brazil)
| 1995 to 2008
| 3 Major titles, year end #1
|
56
| Stan Smith (USA)
| 1964 to 1983
| 2 Major titles, "Stan Smith" brand of Adidas show is still popular
|
57
| Jennifer Capriati (USA)
| 1990 to 2004
| 3 Major titles, 1992 Olympic Gold Medal
|
58
| Alice Marble (USA)
| 1933 to 1944
| 5 Major titles, first woman to serve and volley, became a US spy during WWII
|
59
| Margaret Osborne Dupont (USA)
| 1938 to 1962
| 6 Major titles, 31 Major doubles titles, Record 25 US Championship titles (singles and doubles combined)
|
60
| Virginia Wade (Great Britain)
| 1968 to 1986
| 3 Major titles, won the first US "Open", last British person to win Wimbledon
|
Players 61-70
Ranking
| Player
| Years Active
| Accomplishments
|
|---|---|---|---|
61
| Neale Fraser (Australia)
| 1951 to 1963
| 3 Major titles, 11 Major doubles titles
|
62
| Hana Mandlikova (Czechoslovakia)
| 1978 to 1990
| 4 Major titles
|
63
| Lleyton Hewitt (Australia)
| 1998 to Present
| 2 Major titles, 2 time year end #1
|
64
| Ellsworth Vines (USA)
| 1930 to 1940
| 3 Major titles, turned to golf in 1940
|
65
| Pancho Segura (Ecuador)
| 1940 to 1962
| 3 time National Collegiate champion, Coach of Jimmy Connors
|
66
| Bobby Riggs (USA)
| 1937 to 1973
| 3 Major titles, 1939 Wimbledon Triple Crown (Singles, Doubles, and Mixed). Famous for "Battle of the Sexes" against Billie Jean King.
|
67
| Fred Stolle (Australia)
| 1956 to 1976
| 2 Major titles, 16 Major doubles and mixed doubles titles
|
68
| Helen Hull Jacobs (USA)
| 1925 to 1941
| 5 Major titles, first woman to wear shorts on court
|
69
| Louise Brough Clapp (USA)
| 1939 to 1959
| 6 Major titles, 29 Doubles and Mixed Doubles titles
|
70
| Patrick Rafter (Australia)
| 1991 to 2003
| 2 Major titles, reached world #1, 2 time Wimbledon finalist
|
Players 71-80
Ranking
| Player
| Years Active
| Accomplishments
|
|---|---|---|---|
71
| Maria Sharapova (Russia)
| 2002 to Present
| 3 Major titles, Forbes' top earning female athlete
|
72
| Gottfried von Cramm (Germany)
| 1932 to 1953
| 2 Major titles, 3 time Wimbledon finalist, historic David Cup rivalry with Don Budge
|
73
| Jaroslav Drobny (Czechoslovakia)
| 1939 to 1960
| 3 Major titles, also a world champion hockey player
|
74
| Tony Roche (Australia)
| 1963 to 1977
| 1 Major title, 12 Major doubles titles, coached 4 world #1s (Lendl, Rafter, Hewitt, and Federer). Considered the best lefty backhand volley of all-time
|
75
| Pauline Betz Addie (USA)
| 1939 to 1946
| 5 Major titles (limited due to WWII), one of the first aggressive style female players
|
76
| William Renshaw (Great Britain)
| 1880 to 1890
| 7 Wimbledon titles, 5 Wimbledon doubles titles with his brother Ernest
|
77
| Molla Mallory (USA and Norway)
| 1912 to 1927
| 8 Major titles, helped to popularize the sport in the 1920s
|
78
| Ashley Cooper (Australia)
| 1954 to 1974
| 5 Major titles, won 3 of 4 Majors in 1958
|
79
| Gabriela Sabatini (Argentina)
| 1985 to 1996
| 1 Major title, 2 WTA Tour Championships, perhaps would have won more if she wasn't up against Steffi Graf (#3 on the list)in her prime
|
80
| Marat Safin (Russia)
| 1997 to 2009
| 2 Major titles, Davis Cup title
|
Players 81-90
Ranking
| Player
| Years Active
| Accomplishments
|
|---|---|---|---|
81
| Vic Seixas (USA)
| 1940 to 1969
| 2 Major titles, competed in the US Championships 28 times, played his final US Open at the age of 46
|
82
| Yevgeny Kafelnikov (Russia)
| 1992 to 2003
| 2 Major titles
|
83
| Jan Kodes (Czechoslovakia)
| 1964 to 1980
| 3 Major titles
|
84
| Norma Brookes (Australia)
| 1905 to 1920
| 3 Major titles, knighted in 1939
|
85
| Yannick Noah (France)
| 1977 to 1996
| 1 Major title, now famous French rock star selling more than 5 Million records
|
86
| Tony Wilding (New Zealand)
| 1909 to 1914
| 6 Major titles, 4 Davis Cup titles, one of the few amateurs who trained for tennis
|
87
| Mary Pierce (France)
| 1989 to 2008
| 2 Major titles
|
88
| Amelie Mauresmo (France)
| 1994 to 2009
| 2 Major titles
|
89
| Dorothea Lambert Chambers (Great Britain)
| 1903 to 1927
| 7 Wimbledon titles, Olympic Gold Medal
|
90
| Bill Johnston (USA)
| 1913 to 1927
| 3 Major titles, 7 Davis Cup titles
|
Players 91-100
Ranking
| Player
| Years Active
| Accomplishments
|
|---|---|---|---|
91
| Shirley Fry-Irvin (USA)
| 1949 to 1957
| 4 Major titles, career Grand Slam in singles and doubles
|
92
| Svetlana Kutznetsova (Russia)
| 2000 to Present
| 2 Major titles, 1 Major doubles title
|
93
| Nicola Pietrangeli (Italy)
| 1954 to 1972
| 2 Major titles, 120-44 in Davis Cup play and captained Italy to first ever Davis Cup title in 1976
|
94
| Andy Roddick (USA)
| 2001 to Present
| 1 Major title, 1 year end #1, 9 years consecutive top 10 finishes
|
95
| Thomas Muster (Austria)
| 1985 to 2011
| 1 Major title, 44 singles titles
|
96
| Manual Orantes (Spain)
| 1968 to 1983
| 1 Major title, 2 Davis Cup titles
|
97
| Pat Cash (Australia)
| 1981 to 1997
| 1 Major title, 2 time Major finalist, 2 Davis Cup titles
|
98
| Henry Austin (Great Britain)
| 1926 to 1939
| 3 time Major finalist, 4 Davis Cup titles (3 titles in a row 1933-35), first player to wear shorts
|
99
| Ann Hatdon-Jones (USA)
| 1959 to 1969
| 3 Major titles, 2 time US Championships finalist
|
100
| Michael Chang (USA)
| 1988 to 2003
| 1 Major title, won 1989 Roland Garros at age 17, 34 career singles titles.
|
Know Your Tennis History
Top 100 by Country
Historically, tennis is believed to have originated in France in the 12th century. The modern game of tennis, originally called Lawn Tennis, began in England in the 1870s. Because of these English origins, it's not surprising that countries from the former British Empire dominate the top 100 list. Things are changing, however, as recent decades see a more International mix. Below is the breakdown from where in the world the Greatest 100 Tennis Players of all-time come.
Country
| # of Players in Top 100
|
|---|---|
United States
| 34
|
Australia
| 17
|
France
| 7
|
Great Britain
| 5
|
Czechoslovakia, Russia, Spain
| 4
|
Germany, Sweden
| 3
|
Argentina, Brazil, Belgium, Switzerland
| 2
|
Austria, Ecuador, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Romania, and Serbia
| 1
|
Top 100 by Gender
Men
| Women
|
|---|---|
61
| 39
|
