Best Tennis Player of All Time: Ranked!

Bill Tilden comes in 10th place with 10 grand slams and 114 career wins. Tilden played before the pro era but was the number one amateur player in the world from 1920 to 1925 – an astonishing six consecutive years.

Widely loved by supporters during his 24-year career from 1972-1996, Connors comes in at ninth place.

He amassed eight grand slam titles and 233 career wins.

The name which was first synonymous with Wimbledon, Borg was the first to win the title five consecutive times between 1976 and 1980. The Swede Killer crushed opponents with his ground game and absolute composure.

Retiring at the tender age of just 26, Bjorn Borg still managed to lift 11 Grand Slam titles. There is no doubt that he solidified his place in history. 

This is a player who needs no introduction, and no top ten list is complete without his name on it. Agassi arrived on the tennis scene in the 80s, complete with a rock ‘n roll look and feel. He is another who divided opinion, but his talent could never be questioned. 

His game was near complete, but it was his ability to return serve that was truly his point of difference and what kept him in some of histories fiercest battles.

Slightly above rival Agassi as the king of the 1990s and early 2000s before the rise of Roger Federer, Sampras is a household name. He was dominant presence in the open era, however some might point to the fact that he never earned a spot in a French Open – let alone make a final. 

Nevertheless, holding first place for six consecutive years and winning 14 Grand Slam titles speak for themselves. His 14 titles were a record before the ‘big three’ of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic came.

Laver was already 30 years old when professionals were allowed to play in major tournaments. Now, when you consider that he lifted 74 tour titles in his illustrious career, he truly was a player to remember.

He may not be as celebrated in popular culture as fellow Australian Laver, but the stats say Roy Emerson has earned his spot on this list. 

With 12 grand slams and 210 career wins, Emerson was statistically the greatest player in the pre-open era of tennis.

The 20-time Grand Slam Champion absolutely obliterated all that came before him in the 2000’s, his most notable feat is arguably the five consecutive Wimbledon titles – but if you ask him we’re sure he will say something different. 

His calm demeanour – at least in the later stages of his career – his competitive spirit whilst ensuring his sportsmanship is never undermined and his likeability is what endears him to adoring fans around the world. 

In the world of sport, it's hard to imagine we'll ever see anyone be as good at anything as Nadal was at playing tennis on the clay! He holds 14 titles at the French Open, but more so it is the record of 112 wins and just three losses! It’s just simply ridiculous. 

Nadal’s consistency away from the red stuff is also worth noting though. He has won each slam at least twice, boasts 22 Grand slams and is rightly positioned in this number two spot.