Tennis
Who Has the Most Grand Slam Titles in Tennis History?
Novak Djokovic and Margaret Court, at the time of writing, hold the record for the most tennis grand slam singles titles. They have each won an incredible 24 slams in their respective careers!
Novak Djokovic//Getty Images
Djokovic beat Daniil Medvedev, in straight sets, at the US open in 2023. This saw him claim a third calendar slam that year and draw level with Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 titles.
The sport of tennis sees four Grand Slams played a year. The Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open. These are truly the pinnacle of the sport and the most coveted championships in the sport.
Methodology – How do we Rank the G.O.AT’s
The rankings are based on the following measurable criteria:
Grand Slam Titles (50%): Number of Grand Slam wins determine the primary ranking factor.
Career Longevity & Impact (30%): Contribution to tennis history, including consistency across decades.
Career Win Percentage in Grand Slams (10%): Success rate in Grand Slam matches.
Era Dominance (10%): Contextual dominance against peers and in their era.
Sources Used:
The Australian Open was once held in New Zealand? The city of Christchurch (1906) and Hastings (1912).
Critical Consensus: Ranking the Players with the Most Grand Slam Titles
So, taking into account the parameters outlined above, these are the players with the most Grand Slam titles ranked.
Critical Consensus Table
| Rank | Player | Grand Slam Titles |
| 1 | Novak Djokovic | 24 |
| 2 | Rafael Nadal | 22 |
| 3 | Roger Federer | 20 |
| 4 | Pete Sampras | 14 |
| 5 | Roy Emerson | 12 |
| 6 | Margaret Court | 24 (Women) |
| 7 | Serena Williams | 23 (Women) |
| 8 | Steffi Graf | 22 (Women) |
| 9 | Helen Wills | 19 (Women) |
| 10 | Chris Evert | 18 (Women, tied) |
| 11 | Martina Navratilova | 18 (Women, tied) |
SportsBoom MetaScale: Ranking the Greatest Grand Slam Winners
MetaScale Calculation Overview:
Grand Slam Titles (50%): Weighted for the number of titles won.
Career Longevity & Impact (30%): Adjusted for years played and influence.
Win Percentage (10%): Reflects efficiency at Grand Slams.
Era Dominance (10%): Accounts for competitiveness during their prime.
SportsBoom MetaScale Table
| Rank | Player | Grand Slam Titles (50%) | Career Impact (30%) | Win % (10%) | Era Dominance (10%) | Meta Scale Score |
| 1 | Novak Djokovic | 50 | 28 | 9 | 9 | 96 |
| 2 | Rafael Nadal | 46 | 27 | 8 | 9 | 90 |
| 3 | Roger Federer | 40 | 30 | 8 | 7 | 85 |
| 4 | Margaret Court | 50 | 25 | 5 | 5 | 85 |
| 5 | Serena Williams | 46 | 28 | 6 | 4 | 84 |
| 6 | Steffi Graf | 44 | 27 | 7 | 4 | 82 |
Novak Djokovic
He truly has reason to stake a claim as the greatest of all time. A player who has torn through the tennis tour, devastated rankings and records all over the place and etching his name in history from the moment he stepped foot on the tour.
Rafael Nadal
The Spanish maestro might have been prolific on a particular surface, but that doesn’t tell the entire story. Nadal was ranked at No. 1 in singles by the Association of Tennis Professionals for 209 weeks!
Roger Federer
For a record 237 consecutive weeks, Federer was ranked as the number one male singles tennis player in the world. He has won over 100 singles titles and retired as one of the greatest the open era has ever seen.
Magaret Court
Not only is Magaret Court considered one of the greatest women’s singles tennis players, amassing over 64 major titles in her career – but she is also a Christian minister, serving her community in Australia.
Serena Williams
Overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds to win a staggering 23 career grand slams, Serena Williams reinvented the wheel for how women could play tennis – as well as what they could look like while playing! She is a trailblazer and an example for women all over the world.
Steffi Graff
The German machine won 22 major titles, that puts her in second place for the most won titles in the open era and third of all time. The powerful player was no stranger to success and dominated the 1980s tour.
SportsBoom Suggests
Novak Djokovic
Novak is without question the greatest Grand Slam champion in tennis history. He has 24 titles to his name and the dominance with which he has subjected the tennis world to has been sublime. For years he has been in a league of his own – simple as that. Granted, the sun seems to be setting on his illustrious career and the emergence of a new guard in players like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz (who, themselves have felt what it is like to lift a Grand Slam) dominating the modern circuit. However, Djokovic is a champion and what he has achieved will no doubt stand the test of time!
Margaret Court
Court remains tied with Novak Djokovic for the most Grand Slam titles won. She remains a stalwart in the women’s game and she will forever be seen as a true trailblazer for women in the sport of tennis. The era she played in however, simply does not match that of Djokovic – that is at least the debate which sill divides tennis fans across the globe…we’ll leave that up to you to decide.
Rafael Nadal & Serena Williams – Our Notable Mentions
The undisputed King of Clay, Rafa Nadal, won the French Open title a mammoth 14 times. Not only is this a record in France, but indeed for any player (male or female) in any major tournament. Furthermore, he also holds the record for the most consecutive wins in the Open Era – dominating the clay from 2010 to 2014.
Not to be outdone on the court, however, Serena Williams would no doubt stake a claim for her influence on women’s tennis. Not only did she revolutionise the game with powerful approach and heavy-hitting style – she has simply won more Grand Slams than any other women (in the open era).
Williams won 23 Grand Slams in her career including 13 on hard courts, 7 at the Australian Open (most of any women) and 6 US Open Open titles.
Conclusion
The record for most Grand Slam titles is a testament to sustained excellence, with Novak Djokovic and Margaret Court at the pinnacle. As new stars emerge, the legacy of these tennis legends continue to sets the benchmark for greatness.
Ryan Liberty is an experienced sports writer whose articles have featured in some of the biggest sports publications in South Africa. With a strong understanding of all major sports and an in-depth understanding of betting, Ryan consistently delivers insightful content. He's also known for his ability to break down complex topics into engaging, reader-friendly pieces.
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