Tennis
Kings of Grass: Top 10 Men’s Grass Tennis Players
Grass court tennis requires finesse and patience. But who are the kings of grass? Our in-depth guide reveals more.
Swiss tennis player Roger Federer (R) and Serbia's Novak Djokovic/Getty Images
Kings of Grass: Ranking the Top 10 Men’s Tennis Players by All-Time Win Percentage
Tennis always throws up a set of unique challenges, and that can be largely attributed to court surfaces. In particular, mastering grass can be quite tricky. The speed and the way the ball skids on the ground are key characteristics of grass-court tennis, but not every player is a fan.
Wimbledon, for example, is one of the most prestigious Grand Slams played on grass, and it is a highlight of the tennis calendar. SportsBoom loves to dig deep, and in this guide, we have explored the best grass court players ever.
While the GOAT debate rages on, we have provided concrete men’s grass court stats. By assessing career win percentage, this underlines the effectiveness of the top players on this surface.
The Unique Demands of Grass Court Tennis
Before we share our all-time grass court rankings, it’s worth noting that grass court tennis has undergone a significant evolution. Previously, serving and volleying was in vogue. For example, Pete Sampras, widely seen as one of Wimbledon’s greatest tennis players, was known for a booming serve at the height of his powers in the 1990s. He would fire down a big serve straight down the ‘T’ or out wide, and then surge to the net to finish off points quickly with a crisp volley.
However, over the past decade or so, players have preferred to slog it out with long baseline exchanges. Players require excellent footwork to serve and volley, but some aren’t as comfortable at the net nowadays. Instead, the serve and volley tactic is used sparingly or as a way to change things up to catch an opponent off guard.
It’s also worth mentioning the grass court season on the ATP Tour is quite short. After the French Open, some players might compete in one tournament, such as Halle or Queen’s to prepare for Wimbledon. Being able to adapt from clay with a quick turnaround time can throw some players off course.
The Grass Court Elite: Top 10 by Winning Percentage
To contextualise things, we have assessed tennis win-loss records on grass. Based on career statistics, these 10 players stand above the rest for their ability to win on grass courts.
| Rank | Player Name | Win-Loss Record | Win Percentage |
| 1 | Roger Federer | 192-29 | 86.9% |
| 2 | Novak Djokovic | 115-19 | 85.821% |
| 3 | John McEnroe | 121-20 | 85.816% |
| 4 | Rod Laver | 95-17 | 84.8% |
| 5 | Pete Sampras | 101-20 | 83.5% |
| 6 | Jimmy Connors | 185-38 | 83% |
| 7 | Boris Becker | 116-25 | 82.3% |
| 8 | Bjorn Borg | 72-16 | 81.8% |
| 9 | Alex Metreveli | 119-27 | 81.5% |
| 10 | Andy Murray | 118-29 | 80.3% |
*Note: A minimum number of matches were considered for selection. These figures were taken from a mixture of authoritative tennis sources.
Spotlight on the Grass Court Maestros
In this section, we fleshed out a bit more detail on the ultimate grass court maestros, and many of these players are on the list for having won the most ATP Tour titles in history.
Roger Federer
An eight-time Wimbledon champion, no player has enjoyed more success than Roger Federer at SW19. Factor in the 10 titles he won at Halle (a run-up Wimbledon event) gives you an idea of Federer’s supremacy on grass. Between 2003 and 2008, Federer set a grass court record for winning 65 matches in a row.
Renowned for his fluid movement, Federer made grass court tennis look effortless at times. There were some painful defeats he endured at Wimbledon, including the 2019 loss in the final to Novak Djokovic. Nevertheless, he was a true gentleman during his career whether he won or lost.
Roger Federer’s grass court record (86.9% win rate) is truly extraordinary!
Novak Djokovic
Stooping to eat a piece of the Wimbledon turf has been a ritual for Novak Djokovic after lifting the famous golden trophy. The Serbian is undoubtedly one of the best male tennis players of all time, let alone one of the top grass court players of all time.
Known for his incredible consistency and mental mastery, Djokovic’s adaptability across all surfaces is remarkable. He takes everything in his stride, and he’s achieved everything there is to in the game.
Novak Djokovic’s grass court stats are extraordinary. Put aside for a moment his win percentage (85.821%), Djokovic has won 78% of his first serves on grass, and converted 40% of break points available which is incredible.
The Legends
It only seems right that we reserve a little space to discuss the legends. Pete Sampras, who is one of the best American tennis players ever, made Wimbledon his home. He landed seven titles there, and his ferocious serve/volleying game made him a nightmare for opponents. Pete Sampras’ grass court game, which included a slam-dunk style smash, was eye-catching.
Rewind to the 1980s and grass court specialists in tennis were in their element. Before Boris Becker and Stefan Edberg came along, John McEnroe was trailing a blaze. A three-time champion, McEnroe had a wonderful fizzing serve and he combined that with some textbook volleying too. Despite his antics and tantrums, McEnroe still comes back to Wimbledon each year as a pundit and commentator, offering expert insights.
Bjorn Borg was also a darling of Wimbledon. He won five in a row from 1976 to 1980, but he called time on his career too prematurely. Borg was seen as the ‘ice man’ on grass for his cool demeanour, and his return game was incredible, getting plenty of depth to place his opponents in trouble. Borg’s grass court game was held in such high regard that a film was made entitled Borg vs McEnroe, and this was one of the greatest rivalries in tennis history.
Key Observations
Having revealed the highest win percentages in grass court tennis, we have outlined a few key takeaways:
The difference in win percentage between some of the finest grass court players on this list is so small. For example, there was barely anything in it between Novak Djokovic and Bjorn Borg.
Grass court tennis records have continued to improve in the men’s game, which is partly owed to longevity. There have constantly been periods of excellence over the decades, and the top players have paved the way for others to pick up the baton, such as Rod Laver and Bjorn Borg.
The number of Wimbledon champions featured in our list is impressive. Many of these players have won it multiple times and the Wimbledon champions’ win percentage rate illustrates how the top stars always rose to the big occasion.
Conclusion
Although the GOAT debate is showing no signs of ending just yet, the tennis grass win percentage of those who excelled on this surface is breathtaking.
Of course, we always like to refer back to Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, and they deserve to be where they are due to their remarkable achievements. However, the history of the men’s game predates the 2000s, and grass court tennis has been filled with legends.
The likes of McEnroe, Borg, and Laver showcased their skills on grass, and grass court tennis continues to provide a thrilling experience for fans who pay good money to visit Wimbledon.
SportsBoom Suggest: Bottom Line
Historical dominance on grass, reflected in high win percentages, is a critical factor bettors must consider when evaluating matchups during the grass court season, especially at Wimbledon.
References
- 1
Novak Djokovic’s grass court stats breakdown: An overview of Djokovic’s career stats on grass - https://www.atptour.com/en/players/novak-djokovic/d643/player-stats?year=all&surface=Grass Accessed April 10, 2025
- 2
Roger Federer’s 65-match winning streak on grass: A breakdown of Federer’s incredible grass court winning streak - https://www.tennis.com/news/articles/roger-federer-records-65-match-grass-winning-streak-wimbledon-nadal Accessed April 10, 2025
Charles Perrin is a highly experienced sports betting content writer with over six years of working with some of the leading sportsbooks in the UK, including bet365 and William Hill.