There are so many excellent tennis players, so it was hard to compile a list of just 10 of the best tennis players of all time, yet here we have it, our list of the 10 best tennis players, in no particular order.
1. Serena Williams
Country: USA
Bio
Serena was born in Michigan to Richard Williams and Oracene Price. The family moved to Compton, California when Serena was young. Her father coached her and her sister very early in her career, beginning at age 4.
Stats
Ranked Number 1 in singles by WTA for the first time in July 2002. In 2013 she held this title for 186 weeks, tying Steffi Graf for most consecutive weeks a female player has held the title.
Serena was the highest paid female athlete in 2016. She has won gold medals in 2000, 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games.
Career Highlight
Currently holds 38 Major (Grand Slam) Titles
Interesting Facts
Her sister, Venus Williams, is also a pro tennis player. Serena is an investor in the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship). She has wild taste in fashion, and has THE BEST tennis outfits.
2. Andre Agassi
Country: USA
Bio
Agassi was born in Las Vegas to a former Olympic Boxer from Iran, Emanuel, “Mike” Agassi and Betty Agassi. He started playing tennis at a young age. When he was 9 his father set him up in a match against Football Legend Jim Brown.
His father was willing to bet the house that Agassi would win, but they settled for 500 dollars and little Agassi did win.
Stats
8 Grand Slam Titles. Held the number one ranking for a total of 101 weeks in his career.
Career Highlight
Gold Medal, Olympics, 1996. Only player to be ranked in the top three for one year in each decade of the 80s,90s and 00s, also making him the oldest player to rank in the top 3.
Interesting Facts
Agassi is married to Pro Tennis Player Steffi Graf. Andre dated Barbara Streisand and was married to Brooke Shields for a time.
3. Roger Federer
Country: Switzerland
Bio
Federer was born in Switzerland to father Robert Federer and South African mother Lynette Federer.
Stats
One of his first accomplishment as a junior player was winning the Wimbledon Boys singles final. He won his first Grand Slam title in 2003. In 2004 he won three majors in one season.
Career Highlight
8 Career Titles. 302 total weeks at the top of the ATP.
Interesting Facts
He has two sets of twins with wife Mirka Vavrinec. One set of boys and one set of girls.
4. Raphael Nadal
Country: Spain
Bio
Nadal was born in Spain to Sebastián Nadal, a businessman, and his wife Ana María Parera. His uncle, former tennis pro Toni Nadal, introduced Nadal to tennis at the tender age of 3. At 12 Nadal won Spanish and European titles in his age group.
Stats
Gold medals at the 2008 and 2016 Olympics. 69 career titles in singles,11 Career titles in doubles.
Career Highlight
In the French Open 2001 He beat Roger Federer in a 4 hour match to win his 10th grand Slam single Title.
Interesting Facts
He was in a music video for Shakira’s ‘Gypsy’ and for part of ‘Shewolf’. He also has an asteroid named in his honor, 128036 Rafaelnadal.
5. John McEnroe
Country: USA
Bio
McEnroe was born in Germany to John Patrick McEnroe Sr. and his wife Kay. He started playing tennis at age 8 and entered competitions at age 12.
Stats
Started his Career winning the mixed doubles at the French open in 1977, at the age of 18. He has 77 singles titles, 72 Doubles titles.
Career Highlight
Total of 149 combined singles and Doubles titles is the most of any in the open era.
Interesting Facts
His brother Patrick was also a pro tennis player. Eddie Van Halen and Eric Clapton helped teach him to play guitar, McEnroe really does know how to pick his mentors!
6. Steffi Graf
Country: Germany
Bio
Steffi was born in Germany to Heidi Schalk and Peter Graf. Her father encouraged her to play tennis at age 4 and she played in her first tournament at age 5. Her first year as a Pro player was in 1983, at the age of 13.
Stats
Won gold and bronze medals at the 1988 Olympics. 107 singles titles, 11 doubles titles.
Career Highlight
377 total weeks at #1. Won 66 consecutive matches in the 89-90 season.
Interesting Facts
Married to Andre Agassi. She started a non-profit foundation to assist children who have experienced suffering due to war and other disasters.
7. Suzanne Lenglen
Country: France
Bio
Born in Paris to Charles and Anaïs Lenglen, Suzanne suffered health issues, including asthma. Her father thought tennis might toughen her up, so he began coaching her. She competed in the French Championships when she was 14 and won the World Hard Court Championship at age 15.
Stats
Won 2 golds and one bronze medal in the 1920 Olympics. 81 Career titles in Singles.
Career Highlight
She was ranked in the world’s top 10 from 1921 to 1926 and was number one for each on those years.
Interesting Facts
Was nicknamed ‘La Devine’, by the French Newspapers due to her showy style and celebrity aura. Lenglen changed the sport of tennis for women.
Before her, there was not a lot of interest in watching women play professionally. Her passion, charisma, and of course, talent on the court garnered public interest in women’s tennis, that’s why here on our list as one of the best tennis player of all time.
8. Jimmy Conners
Country: USA
Bio
Jimmy Connors was raised in Illinois and played the US Championship for boys under 11. His mom moved them to California so Conners could be coached by Pancho Segura. He won the Junior Orange bowl twice. In 1970 he defeated Roy Emerson in the Pacific Southwest Open.
Stats
125 Career titles, 10 time major champion for Grand Slam.
Career Highlight
Won the 1977 ATP Masters Cup
Interesting Facts
He says his proudest moment in tennis was the 1991 US open, which he did not win, but because he was suffering a wrist injury, was playing as a wild card, and, at 39 years old, was twice the age of the last year’s champion.
While he did not win the 1991 US open, he made it to the semi finals, egging on fans and creating a commotion with the crowd. At the end of the tournament it was his face ‘Sports Illustrated’ proudly displayed on their cover as ‘The People’s Choice’.
9. Roy Emerson
Country: Australia
Bio
Emerson was born in Queensland Australia, later moving to Brisbane. He played Wimbledon in 1959, winning the grand slam doubles tournament partnered with Neale Fraser.
Stats
28 Grand Slam Championships. Won a Career Grand Slam in singles and doubles. 12 major singles titles.
Career Highlight
Ranked 9 times in the world top 10 between the years 1959 and 1967.
Interesting Facts
Emerson was nicknamed “Emmo” by friends, and he was well known for making Physical Fitness a top priority, which many attribute to his success. He is said to be a down to earth person, who is humorous and serious.
10. Chris Evert
Country: USA
Bio
Chris was born in Ft Lauderdale Florida. Her father, Pro Tennis Coach Jimmy Evert began coaching her at age 5. In 1969 she was ranked #1 in the under 14 category in the US.
Stats
189 Career titles. 18 Grand Slam Titles. Ranked 1 or 2 for 260 total weeks. Won 7 French Open singles titles.
Career Highlight
Won 6 US Open titles, only recently tied by Serena Williams.
Interesting Facts
Won AP Female Athlete of the Year 4 times. Was the oldest woman to hold a number one ranking, until Serena Williams broke that record also. She works as a Tennis Commentator on ESPN.
That wraps up our top 10 Tennis players of all time, we hope you enjoyed our list of the best tennis players and thank you for reading.
