The ten greatest male tennis players of all time are listed below in reverse order. This ranking is based primarily on Grand Slam titles, but also takes into account total tournament wins, weeks spent as world number 1 and successes at the Olympic Games.
This list focuses on the so-called ‘Open Era’, which began in 1968 when professional players were first allowed to compete in the major tournaments.
It is also worth noting that the Australian Open, once held at the end of the season, was considered less important by top players in the early Open Era as many skipped it due to the long travels. Tennis did not return to the Olympic Games until 1988 (after an absence since 1924), and it took some time for Olympic tennis to gain a status comparable to a Grand Slam tournament.
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10th place: Andre Agassi
Andre Agassi won a total of eight Grand Slam titles, including four Australian Opens, two US Opens, one Wimbledon and one French Open. He spent 101 weeks at the top of the ATP world rankings and achieved 60 ATP tournament victories over the course of his career.
Agassi was also the first player to win all four Grand Slam tournaments, an Olympic singles gold medal and the ATP Tour Finals during his career – a feat matched only by Novak Djokovic.
He is considered one of the best Davis Cup players of all time, losing only six of his 36 matches for the US. One of those defeats was in 1990 against Thomas Muster at the Prater Stadium in Vienna.
9th place: John McEnroe
One of the notable aspects of John McEnroe’s career was that he reached world number one in singles for 170 weeks, while simultaneously leading the rankings in doubles, where he held the top spot for 257 weeks.
The American won Wimbledon three times and the US Open four times. In 1984 he also came close to winning the French Open, but blew a 2–0 lead against Ivan Lendl in the final, despite entering the match that year with a 42–0 record.
In addition to his seven Grand Slam titles, McEnroe has 70 other tournament victories. His trademark was his signature serve, often standing with his back to the opponent before hitting the ball. He has remained active in tennis as a commentator and sports analyst.
8th place: Jimmy Connors
Jimmy Connors won a total of eight Grand Slam titles, including five US Opens, two Wimbledons and one French Open. He spent 268 weeks at the top of the world rankings and achieved an impressive 109 ATP singles tournament victories, making him the player with the most tournament victories in tennis history. He also won 16 doubles titles.
Connors was known for his combative style and unwavering determination on the field. He competed at the highest level for over four decades and his biggest rivals were Björn Borg and John McEnroe.
7th place: Ivan Lendl
Ivan Lendl was known for his exceptional athleticism and strategic approach to the game. He won eight Grand Slam titles and reached the finals in eleven others. The Czech Republic-born player won the French Open and the US Open three times each, and the Australian Open twice. However, despite reaching two Wimbledon finals, he never won the tournament.
Lendl was world number one in the ATP rankings for 270 weeks and won 94 ATP tournaments during his career. He played a crucial role in the professionalization of tennis and was known for his intensive training and preparation methods. His remarkable rivalry with players such as John McEnroe and Boris Becker defined much of his career. After his retirement, Lendl remained involved in tennis, including as a coach.
6th place: Björn Borg
Björn Borg dominated the tennis world in the late 1970s. He achieved the remarkable feat of winning both the French Open and Wimbledon three years in a row, claiming six titles in Paris and five consecutive wins at Wimbledon. His only major deficit was the US Open, which he never won, losing twice to Jimmy Connors and twice to John McEnroe. He competed only once in the Australian Open, reaching the third round.
In addition to his eleven Grand Slam titles, Borg won 55 other tournaments and was number one in the world for 109 weeks. He probably could have achieved even more had he not retired at the age of 26. His attempts at a comeback in later years were largely unsuccessful.
5th place: Rod Laver
Rod Laver is the only player to win all four Grand Slam titles twice in a single calendar year, achieving the feat in 1962 and again in 1969. He won a total of eleven Grand Slam titles during his career, including three Australian Opens, two French Opens, four Wimbledons and two US Opens.
Laver would probably have won even more Grand Slams had he not turned professional in 1963, which prevented him from competing in the four major tournaments. Professional players were not allowed to participate in the Grand Slams until 1968, and the following year he achieved the remarkable “calendar Grand Slam” for the second time.
Laver was celebrated for his versatility and exceptional play on grass and hard courts. Over the course of his career he won a total of 72 singles tournaments.
4th place: Pete Sampras
Pete Sampras was known for his elegant play, powerful serve and delicate undercut volleys. He won a total of fourteen Grand Slam titles, including two Australian Opens, seven Wimbledons and five US Opens. His best result at the French Open was reaching the semifinals in 1996.
Sampras was world number one in the ATP rankings for 286 weeks and held the record for most weeks at the top until the Roger Federer era. During his career he achieved 64 ATP tournament victories, including his victory in Kitzbühel in 1992, and won the ATP Finals five times.
3rd place: Roger Federer
Roger Federer shaped the tennis world with his elegant technique and versatile playing style. He won a total of twenty Grand Slam titles. With eight victories at Wimbledon, he is the record holder at that tournament. Federer also won six Australian Opens and five US Opens, and he won the French Open in 2009, completing his Grand Slam career by winning all four major tournaments.
Federer spent no fewer than 310 weeks as world number one in the ATP rankings, including 237 consecutive weeks. He achieved 103 ATP tournament victories during his career and was second only to Jimmy Connors in total ATP titles. He also won the ATP Finals six times.
Federer won Olympic gold in doubles with Stan Wawrinka in 2008 and earned a silver medal in singles. Known for his sportsmanship and dedication to mentoring young players, Federer remains an inspirational figure both on and off the court.
2nd place: Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal is known for his exceptional technique and fighting spirit. His rivalry with the likes of Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic has produced some of the most memorable matches in tennis history.
The Spaniard has won a total of 22 Grand Slam titles, including 14 at the French Open, cementing his status as the undisputed king of clay. In addition to Roland Garros, Nadal has won the Australian Open and Wimbledon twice each, and the US Open four times.
Nadal was world number one in the ATP rankings for 209 weeks. Despite numerous injury-related breaks, he has won 92 ATP tournaments. He also won Olympic gold in singles (2008, Beijing) and doubles (2016, Rio de Janeiro).
The only major title missing from his career is the ATP Finals.
Whether Nadal or Federer should be considered the second most successful player of all time is up for debate. In this ranking, Nadal narrowly takes the lead due to his number of Grand Slam victories and his gold medal at the Olympic Games.
1st place: Novak Djokovic
Since his Olympic victory in Paris, Novak Djokovic has cemented his claim as one of the greatest of all time (GOAT). His achievements are extraordinary:
Djokovic has won 24 Grand Slam titles, seven ATP finals and 40 Masters 1000 tournaments, holding the records in all three categories. With his gold medal at the 2024 Olympic Games, he has also completed the Golden Slam career, winning all four Grand Slams and an Olympic tournament.
Djokovic has spent 428 weeks as world number one in the ATP rankings, far longer than any other player. He currently has 99 tournament victories and remains on pace to surpass Jimmy Connors’ record of 109 titles. Despite his age, Djokovic continues to pursue further success with ruthless determination.
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