Who are the 10 best Russian tennis players to ever play the game?

Who are the 10 best Russian tennis players to ever play the game?

Steve Njuguna
updated at July 8, 2023 at 10:36 AM

Tennis is popular in Eastern Europe, and the region has produced some of the best players in history. Russian tennis players have been vital in enhancing this reputation. Today we will delve into some of the biggest names from Russia that have impacted the tennis world.

Alex Zverev
Alexander Zverev of Russia during the Day 13 of Roland Garros at Roland Garros on June 9, 2023 in Paris, France. Photo by Anthony Dibon/Icon Sport
Source: Getty Images

Some famous Russian tennis players include former World women's no. 1 Maria Sharapova and multiple doubles champion Anna Kournikova. On the men's side, Daniil Medvedev has also achieved the World no. 1 ranking.

Who is the best-ever Russian tennis player?

Maria Sharapova is the most excellent Russian in the history of tennis. She dominated the women's singles rankings, winning 36 WTA titles and five grand slams. The only player who challenged her dominance in her prime was Serena Williams.

Maria Sharapova
Maria Sharapova practices ahead of the 2020 Australian Open at Melbourne Park. Photo by Darrian Traynor
Source: Getty Images

Top 10 male Russian tennis players

Here are the top 10 male Russian tennis players. The list includes both active and retired players.

Player

Career Period

Andrey Rublev

2013- ongoing

Alexander Bublik

2016- ongoing

Aslan Karatsev

2007- ongoing

Mikhail Youzny

1995-2018

Mikhail Kukushkin

2006- ongoing

Mischa Zverev

2006- ongoing

Nikolay Davydenko

2001-2014

Yevgeny Kafelnikov

1993- 2004

Marat Safin

1997- 2009

Daniil Medvedev

2010- ongoing

Top 10 female Russian tennis players

Russia's female tennis players have achieved global acclaim for their aggressive and competitive style. Here is a list of the top 10 female Russian tennis players.

Player

Career Period

Ekaterina Makarova

2003- 2020

Daria Kasatkina

2013- ongoing

Dinara Safina

2000- 2014

Vera Zvonarova

2000- ongoing

Elena Dementieva

1999- 2010

Anastasia Myskina

1999- 2007

Elena Vesnina

2002 - ongoing

Svetlana Kuznetsova

2001 - ongoing

Anna Kournikova

1995- 2003

Maria Sharapova

2001- 2020

Top 10 Russian players of all time

Here are the best Russian players of all time. The list is collated based on their achievements and accolades in the sport.

10. Andrey Rublev

Full Name: Andrey Andreyevich Rublev

Date of birth: 20th October 1997

Place of birth: Moscow, Russia

Rublev made a name for himself by winning the 2014 French Open at Junior level. During his pro career, he has won Olympic gold and the Davis Cup with Russia. His best WTA ranking has been world no 5.

Andrey Rublev
Andrey Rublev controls the ball during the Terra Wortmann Open 2023 match between Andrey Rublev vs Yannick Hanfmann on June 22, 2023, in Halle, Germany. Photo by Marco Steinbrenner/DeFodi Images
Source: Getty Images

9. Daria Kasatkina

Full Name: Daria Sergeyevna Kasatkina

Date of birth: 7th May 1997

Place of birth: Tolyatti, Russia

Daria dominated the Junior circuit, winning the French Open title in 2014. At the senior level she has won two WTA titles and is regularly ranked in the global top 10.

Daria Kasatkina
Daria Kasatkina of Russia in action against Jule Niemeier of Germany in her first round match on Day One of Roland Garros on May 28, 2023, in Paris, France. Photo by Robert Prange
Source: Getty Images

8. Elena Vesnina

Full Name: Elena Sergeyevna Vesnina

Date of birth: 1st August 1986

Place of birth: Lviv, Ukraine

Elena is one of the most famous Russian female tennis players. She won four singles Grand Slams in her career and was ranked World No. 1 in doubles. She also won gold for Russia at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

7. Nikolay Davydenko

Full Name: Nikolay Vladimirovich Davydenko

Date of birth: 2nd June 1981

Place of birth: Volgograd, Russia

Davydenko was one of the World's top men's singles players in the early 2000s. He once achieved world no. 3 status in 2006.

Davydenko
Davydenko at the 2013 China Open. Photo by Visual China Group
Source: Getty Images

6. Svetlana Kuznetsova

Full Name: Svetlana Aleksandrovna Kuznetsova

Date of birth: 27 June 1985

Place of birth: Leningrad, Russia

Svetlana won two major Grand Slam tournaments: the 2004 US Open and the 2009 French Open. She was ranked world no. 2 for 24 weeks between 2007 and 2008.

5. Yevgeni Kafelnikov

Full Name: Yevgeny Aleksandrovich Kafelnikov

Date of birth: 18 February 1974

Place of birth: Sochi, Russia

Kafelnikov became the first Russian man to be ranked world no. 1 in 1999. In 2019 he was inducted into the International tennis Hall of Fame.

Yevgeni Kafelnikov
Kafelnikov returns a serve at the 2003 Australian Open. Photo by Mark Dadswell
Source: Getty Images

4. Anna Kournikova

Full Name: Anna Kournikova

Date of birth: 7th June 1981

Place of birth: Moscow, Russia

Anna is one of the most famous Russian tennis players of all time. As a teenager, she burst onto the scene, achieving a World no. 8 ranking in 2000. She formed a formidable doubles partnership with Martina Hingis, nicknamed ' The Spice Girls of Tennis.'

Anna Kournikova
Kournikova at a tournament in 2005. Photo by J. Merritt/FilmMagic
Source: Getty Images

3. Marat Safin

Full Name: Marat Mubinovich Safin

Date of birth: 27th January 1980

Place of birth: Moscow, Russia

Safin was a dominant force during the turn of the century, holding the number one ranking severally in 2000 and 2001. He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2016. He later ventured into politics and was a member of the Russian Duma from 2011-2017.

Marat Safin
Marat Safin at the 2003 Wimbledon Championships. Photo by Cynthia Lum/WireImage)
Source: Getty Images

2. Daniil Medvedev

Full Name: Daniil Sergeyevich Medvedev

Date of birth: 11th February 1996

Place of birth: Moscow, Russia

Daniil has been playing at an elite level since debuting in 2014. He held the World's no. 1 position for 16 weeks. He is known for being aggressive on the court.

Daniil Medvedev
Daniil at the 2023 Terra Wortman Open. Photo by Marco Steinbrenner/DeFodi Images
Source: Getty Images

1. Maria Sharapova

Full Name: Maria Yuryevna Sharapova

Date of birth: 19th April 1987

Place of birth: Nyagan, Russia

Sharapova dominated women's tennis for over two decades at the turn of the century. She had an epic rivalry with Serena Williams as they competed for multiple Grand Slam titles. After her retirement in 2020, she started a mentorship program for entrepreneurs.

Russian tennis players have made an impression on the sport over its history. As time passes, new names will come onto the list as more Russian players enter tennis academies.

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Authors
Steve Njuguna photo
Steve Njuguna
Steve Njuguna is a media professional with close to a decade of experience in the sports media industry. He has previously worked as a sports journalist with Bamba Sports TV, Vybez Radio and The Nairobian newspaper.