Who is the greatest tennis player of all time? The GOAT of tennis

Who is the greatest tennis player of all time? Several male and female players have risen to fame for their outstanding performance in the sport. Curious sports fans are eager to discover who the Greatest Of All Time is on the tennis court. Read on and find the best tennis players of all time, male and female.

The Grand Slam title is the ultimate goal for every tennis player. While these legends have won at least one championship, other factors come into play to determine the best tennis players, like consistency and the number of years played. Who is the greatest tennis player of all time? Check out the list we have compiled below.

Who is the best and greatest tennis player of all time?

These exceptional players set standards on the pitch in their time. While some have yet to be beaten, others have remained unbeaten for years. Who is the greatest male tennis player of all time? Here are the top five:

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Tennis

1. Roger Federer

• Full name: Roger Federer
• Nickname: Federer Express, King Roger
• Date of birth: August 8, 1981
• Nationality: Swiss

Roger is a former Swiss player from Basel, Switzerland. He won his first Grand Slam in 2003 against Andy Roddick. King Roger is considered the greatest men's tennis player of all time, with eight Wimbledon titles. The tennis player has maintained the World's Number 1 spot for 310 weeks in his career. He is a two-time Olympics gold winner (2008 and 2012) and retired from professional tennis in September 2022.

2. Rafael Nadal

• Full name: Rafael Nadal Parera
• Nickname: El Nino, Rafa, King of Clay
• Date of birth: June 3, 1986
• Nationality: Spanish

Nadal is a Spanish tennis player, ranked No. 14 by the Association of Tennis Professionals. He held on to the World's Number 1 position for 209 weeks. His professional debut was in 2001, and he won his first Grand Slam in 2005. Rafael is a 14-time Roland Garros title winner and a 5-time Davis Cup winner.

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3. Novac Djokovic

• Full name: Novak Djokovic
• Nickname: Djoker, The Joker, The Serbinator
• Date of birth: May 22, 1987
• Nationality: Serbian

Is Djokovic the best of all time?' The Serbian player ranks among the most successful players ever. He went pro in 2003 and boasts 22 Grand Slam titles. ''The Joker'' has won the Australian Open 10 times and is the only male tennis player in the Open era to achieve a double Career Grand Slam. Novac has been ranked the World's No. 1 for a record 387 weeks over 12 years.

4. Rod Laver

• Full name: Rodney George Laver
• Nickname: Rocket
• Date of birth: August 9, 1938
• Nationality: Australian

Rod Laver is a retired Australian player who is the only player in tennis history to win two calendar Grand Slams in singles (1962 and 1969). He won 200 tournaments and 11 Grand Slam singles titles, winning all four major championships in one year. Unknown to many, the European Laver Cup tournament and the Rod Laver Arena are named after him.

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5. Pete Sampras

• Full name: Petros "Pete" Sampras
• Nickname: Pistol Pete
• Date of birth: August 12, 1971
• Nationality: American

Pete is a former American tennis professional player with 14 Grand Slam titles, seven at Wimbledon. In the early years of his career, Sampras became the youngest US Open Men's Singles champion in history at 19. He played professionally between 1993 and 2000 and is listed in the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

Who is the greatest female tennis player of all time?

These women have set impressive records throughout their careers, earning their spot among the top five. Here is a list of the talented athletes:

1. Serena Williams

• Full name: Serena Jameka Williams
• Nickname: Mama Smash, Meka, Rere
• Date of birth: September 26, 1981
• Nationality: America

Among the female icons, who is the most successful tennis player of all time? Serena Williams has set the bar and created a lasting legacy in her time and for future generations. She went pro at 14, taking the court by storm when she became the second African-American woman to participate in the U.S Open title. Serena boasts 23 Grand Slam titles and has ranked top of the WTA (World Tennis Association) chart eight times.

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2. Steffi Graf

• Full name: Stefanie Maria Graf
• Nickname: Fraulein Forehand
• Date of birth: June 14, 1969
• Nationality: German

Steffi is a retired German player whose professional debut was in 1982. She won 22 Grand Slam titles and was the only player to complete a Golden Slam, winning the four Grand Slam titles and an Olympic gold medal in the same season (1988). Graf stayed at the top of the world ranking for 377 weeks, the most by any woman.

3. Chris Evert

• Full name: Christine Marie Evert
• Nickname: Ice Maiden
• Date of birth: December 21, 1954
• Nationality: American

Chris, popularly known as The Ice Maiden of tennis, is a retired American player who won 13 Grand Slams and at least one major for 13 consecutive years. She reached 34 major singles finals, the most in history, and served as the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) for 11 years. Evert later became a coach before moving to ESPN as an analyst.

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4. Margaret Court

• Full name: Margaret Court
• Nickname: The Aussie Amazon
• Date of birth: July 16, 1942
• Nationality: Australian

Margaret is a former tennis player with 24 singles Grand Slam titles, the most in history. Additionally, she is one among three players in history to win the Grand Slam Boxed Set, which involves winning singles, doubles, and mixed doubles in each of the four Grand Slams. Court retired in 1977, but her legacy has continued for years after her departure.

5. Venus Williams

• Full name: Venus Ebony Starr Williams
• Nickname: Queen V, Venus
• Date of birth: June 17, 1980
• Nationality: American

Venus is known globally as Serena Wiliams' elder sister. She is also one of the greatest tennis players ever. Her stats include seven Singles Grand Slams and 90 Grand Slam appearances, the most by a female player. Venus went professional in 1994 and first reached the singles world No. 1 ranking in February 2002. In addition, ''Queen V'' has 14 Women's Double Major titles partnering with her sister. The pair take the lead in Grand Slam doubles finals.

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Who is the greatest tennis player of all time? These individuals have earned the top spots for their diligence and prowess on the court. As more players continue to arise, the reigning players might be unseated while others retain their position until a formidable force replaces them.

READ ALSO: What are the different types of shots in tennis?

Sports Brief published the different types of shots in a tennis game. Some players have mastered some of them well, while others specialize in a few, utilizing them to have an edge over their opponents. What are some of the shots you will see?

The forehand is the most effective shot that every player must learn. The backhand, another effective shot, swings the racket away from the body on the opposite side of the dominant hand. If you are a tennis lover or eager to learn the rules and moves of the sport, check out the article above and learn a move or two as you prepare to watch the next game.