The Outsider by Jimmy Connors. Born on August 8, 1981, in Switzerland, Roger Federer is one of the most dominant players in the history of our sport with a massive number of impressive stats that will cement him as one of the greatest players of all time. In their 34 meetings, his record was 14-20. 1 player in the world. In 1980, he became world No. However, against Djokovic, he trails slightly by 28-30. In 1974, Navratilova played on tour and won her first title at the age of 17. In 1975, Chris Evert reached the world No. Just like last year, Daevenia can again call herself the best Dutch college tennis player this year. Bjrn Borg resides in Monte Carlo, Monaco, but was born in Sweden on June 6, 1956. 2. Overall, Lendl earned 94 titles and is currently the third most in the Open Era behind Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer. Heres the beauty of college tennis a supremely individual sport becomes a wonderful team endeavor. Hes another guy who had an outstanding doubles career, but his singles alone made him a Hall of Famer. 1 in the world, but was only No. Connors won the singles in 71. She narrowly missed that feat before the Open Era in 1965, only losing in the French Open finals. Writer Frank Deford suggested Toleys fellow coaches might well consider scheduling a separate tournament of their own at that asylum in Hartford., 2. Theres only a handful of players who have done that, and Mats Wilander is one of them. Evert won two titles at Wimbledon, seven at the French Open, three at Wimbledon, and six at the US Open. Pasarell from the heat and streets of Puerto Rico, Ashe from the segregated courts of Richmond, Virginia. Not surprisingly, they not only faced formidable foes but racism as well. 3. He played for UW-Whitewater and was the highest-drafted football player in college history, having been selected 98 th overall in the third round of 2021 NFL drafts. Goldstein reached No. She holds the fifth-most career titles of any woman in the Open Era at 73 and has a record 855-152 in matches for a win rate of 84.9%. In that case, Federer may have won significantly more titles because he gave up so many to both of these players. Required fields are marked *. Before finishing his career as a Buckeye, Wolf won the schools first ITA Mens All-American Singles Championship and was named an ITA All-American in singles. NCSA Power Rankings are based on proprietary analysis of NCSA Favorites data obtained from the college search activity of the over 3 million student-athletes on the NCSA recruiting network, general academic rankings by U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges, IPEDS graduation rates and IPEDS average cost after aid. In his final season, he was named the Big 12 Player of the Year another first for the program. *Please note that not all the stats included above are relevant for consideration as the best player ever. 11 - Boris Becker. -The ITA lists the top teams and players in the country at all levels of college tennis. Throughout their careers, the two played 34 times, and Sampras won 20 of those matches. They promptly lost, but the team went 24-0 and won the national championship, and Mac won the singles. From talent pools to court surfaces, gear, the physicality of the sport, advances in medicine, and even the stress and pressure players face, its constantly changing from one decade to the next. Stanford, 1973-1974 Sandy Mayer, Pat DuPre, Jim Delaney, John Whitlinger. Her most notable record related to Grand Slam titles was her 1970 performance, where she won all four Grand Slam events in the calendar year. During his long 24 year career, the most of any male player in our top ten list, he had many accomplishments, but one of his most significant is his 109 titles, the most in the Open Era. (Skip to the end of the article to view our top 10 list if you have want to save time). Nadal is perhaps one of the most interesting players to analyze regarding his performance on clay 13 of his 20 grand slam titles are on this surface, and 62 of his total 88 titles on clay. 15 Best Table Tennis Players of All Time [2023 Update] In 1971, Goolagong managed to reach the world No. Looking back on the history of Grand Slam events, the Australian Open is a bit of an outlier. As of now, he shares his record Grand Slam titles with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. When I was a young kid and teenager, he was incredible at learning how I learn and making me the . Australian Rod Laver was born on August 3, 1938, and players and fans widely regard him as one of the greatest players of all time. Each is worth considering when ranking players. Arguably the best tennis player of all time, Roger Federer has done it all. Vernon Gholston - 6'3, 260 lbs. 7. She holds an astounding 177 career titles, including 31 Grand Slam victories. One of the most challenging elements to establishing a list of the best players of all time is that all of the most accomplished players didnt play tennis or compete at the same time. 3 in singles and collected three Slam doubles championships, they went 36-0 and won the NCAAs for the only time in school history. For example, if one player has a winning record against a player with straight-set victories is more compelling than a player who has a winning record where every match was highly competitive and could have gone either way. From 2000 to 2009, tennis had some of the greatest men's tennis players of all time.These are some of the most talented 2000s tennis players to ever live, so if you're a fan of tennis and are aspiring to play tennis professionally then these people should be your idols. Trinity, 1972 Dick Stockton, Brian Gottfried, Bob McKinley. In the three years that followed, Seles was dominant, winning six of the eight Grand Slam events in 1991 and 1992. He might not be the most complete player of his era, but he was a matchup nightmare for all the greats when he squared off against them. John McEnroe is another of the greatest male tennis players of all time. Massachusetts Institute of Technology - MIT, University of California - Los Angeles - UCLA, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo, 2002-2023 NCSA College Recruiting All Rights Reserved. Here are a few of the factors that present challenges when drawing comparisons. The big reason why thats the case is that Rafael Nadal won them all during his prime. Despite his success, he had a unique relationship with the slams. 21. Her breakout year was in 1997, when she made it deep into a few tournaments, including the finals of the US Open, where she lost to Martina Hingis. However, with such great emphasis placed on Grand Slams when considering the greatest players of all time, its worthy of reference and consideration. He finished his collegiate career ranked No. After advancing to the 2018 Wimbledon finals, Anderson reached a career-high No. Bjrn also won 66 titles. 6. 8 Grand Slam Singles Titles: 4 Australian, 2 French, 2 US Open. Now decades after his passing, he still remains one of the biggest faces for the fight against AIDS. Perhaps this is a bit low for some, but its very hard to compare eras that are so far apart. The result earned her a total of 129 titles, 67 that were during the Open Era. He and Lutz won five Slam titles. Book. Stanford, 1973-1974 For starters here are our top ten men's teams. The greatest male tennis player of all time is Roger Federer. Hottest Female Soccer Players. He is one of the few players to achieve the career Golden Slam, meaning that he won all four Grand Slams and Olympic gold. <br><br>After completing my Master's degree at Minnesota, I . Popular German former tennis player Boris Becker is ranked number ten on the list of the greatest tennis players in history. Can you imagine Federer and Nadal on the same college team? After significant analysis and deep consideration of the most accomplished players in tennis, heres our list of the ten greatest male tennis players of all time. Many will argue that of the top players, head-to-head performance should carry significant weight. In four years at Pitt, the smooth runner, named in a 2016 ESPN coaches' poll as the 10th-best college player of all time, dodged and weaved his way to a then-record 6,082 career rushing yards. In the process, you learn a lot about our sport, especially if youre younger and didnt have the opportunity to witness players who are now retired or, in some cases, no longer living. In 2008, Nadal became the worlds No. Right off the bat, he was seeing success and making deep runs into some of the worlds biggest tournaments, including the French Open and Wimbledon. Toley said he could put together a third team that would win this thing 50 percent of the time. In one match they beat UCLA, with Arthur Ashe and Charlie Pasarell, 9-0. Overall, his list of accomplishments is beyond impressive, and for years, it looked as if no one would ever come close to matching his success on the court. Bjrns impressive career started early at the age of 15 when he represented his country in the 1972 Davis Cup, but he didnt officially turn pro until 1973. 1 ranking for the first time, which he retained for 109 weeks throughout his career. He reached #1 in the world and dominated during the U.S. Open run, but he was a mainstay in the top 10 for quite a while as well. However, dig a little deeper, and its surprisingly nuanced, brimming with subjectivity and emotion. There are really no holes in Federers game, other than having just one French Open title. Theres no doubt that Gustavo Kuerten deserves mention on this list, but he is a specialist for the most part. Longevity is another factor to consider. 1 ranking, which she held for 117 weeks throughout her career. Thats certainly not something to diminish, but everyone is going to evaluate that lopsided performance differently. Djokovic turned pro in 2003. In honor of the US Open kicking off today, we are highlighting their legendary collegiate careers that prepared them for this moment. Before finishing his career as a Buckeye, Wolf won the school's first ITA Men's All-American Singles Championship and was named an ITA All-American in singles. Depending on a players ranking, that extra cash can be crucial. USC, 1962-1964 Dennis Ralston, Rafael Osuna, Bill Bond, Tom Edlefsen, Ramsey Earnhart, Chuck Rombeau. As reigning NCAA Singles champion, he made a tour-level debut at the 2010 US Open as a wildcard. Norrie finished his collegiate career ranked No. Rodrigues Finishes as NCAA Singles Runner-Up. Top Men's Tennis Programs. Instead, these tournaments only allowed amateurs to play, and these players didnt receive prize money. Although John McEnroe is perhaps best known for his outbursts on the court, his many accomplishments far outweigh his frequent sub-par behavior and speak for themselves. Beyond her success in singles, Venus achieved stellar results in doubles with fourteen Grand Slam titles and three gold medals. Sampras would claim five total US Open titles, two Australian Open titles, and seven Wimbledon titles for a total of 13 Grand Slam victories. He still walked away from the sport with three Grand Slam titles, and recently made a comeback to continue playing the game he loves. Top 10 Best Male Tennis Players of All Time: Check the Complete List Here Beyond his success in singles, its also worth noting his accomplishments in doubles, where he had 78 titles, an 87.7% win record, and ranked No. However, it wasnt until 1974 that Borg captured his first French Open title at the age of 18. Hed add a record-tying 20 Grand Slam titles to his name with tremendous success at all of the tournaments, including nine at the Australian Open, two at the French Open, six at Wimbledon, and three at the US Open. In doing so, Djokovic is only one of three players to have achieved a double career Grand Slam along with Roy Emerson and Rod Laver. He used his size and athleticism to get to the net, and that helped him win six Grand Slams. He reached the finals of Wimbledon after a marathon semifinals match against John Isner that lasted six hours and 36 minutes the second longest match in Grand Slam history. 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) Chris Evert was born in 1954; she is an American professional tennis player. Ramanathan Krishnan. In team competition, Serena helped the United States to a win in 1999 at the Fed Cup. In this article, well share our selection of the greatest players of all time, but well also discuss the challenges when ranking and why theyre important to keep in mind. Stefen Edenberg (born 19 January 1966) is a former Swedish world number 1 tennis player in singles and . For example, if youre ranking two somewhat equally successful players, then their head-to-head records is an easy way to establish whos the better player. Popular Quizzes Today. Best Men's Tennis Players of All Time - Ranker However, winning a Grand Slam in 2014, 2015, and 2016 put him in the top 25. Like many players in his time, Bjrn only played the Australian Open once during his career, which potentially limited his Grand Slam count. Although its tough to imagine a player who will eclipse the big three on the mens side or the top players on the womens, one thing is for sure it will happen. Her Grand Slam titles include 11 at the Australian Open, five at the French Open, three at Wimbledon, and five at the US Open totaling 24. Rankings. This is where he could get a good look at every single return, and dictate points even as the returner. Despite that, he managed to win 72 of his 198 titles in the Open Era past the age of 30. Pasarell did the same in 66. Conversely, some players like Roger Federer manage to go injury-free for the better part of their careers. However, when narrowing it down to the best of the best, here are the top 10 best tennis players of all time. As a result, its common for competitive singles players to pull back on doubles as they achieve more success because the money isnt as crucial, and there is a desire to conserve energy, protect their health, and improve their longevity. But they faced off in a dicey semi against each other in the NCAA championships and then had to play doubles together. 3. Osuna was recruited to USC out of obscurity and remains the best Mexican player ever. As a result, what one player could accomplish playing tennis in the 1950s is fundamentally different from the 2000s. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. For all those reasons, this is a justifiable choice. He captured his first professional singles title at the Godfrey Futures by taking the day over Rudy Siwy. Federer is the player that has the most Grand Slam titles in the world (20) and is second behind Djokovic in most weeks spent at the world No.1 spot. Born in Belleville, IL, in 1952, Jimmy Connors is an American tennis player who turned pro in 1972 at the age of 20. Three Grand Slam titles and 33 career titles only tell part of the story of Arthur Ashe. Regardless of your stance, the weight of specific stats or accomplishments will undoubtedly influence the ranking of players. However, in 1924, the Olympics dropped tennis due to disagreements between the International Olympic Committee and International Lawn Tennis Federation. Similarly, is it more impressive that a player wins a Grand Slam at the age of 16 or 35? Hes another casualty of the Roger Federer era, constantly going up against him and other greats during any deep runs in tournaments. John McEnroe. Roger Federer. He is also one of only two players to achieve a career Golden Slam winning all four majors and a Gold Medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Born on March 7, 1960, in Ostrava, Czechoslovakia, Ivan Lendl had an impressive career that began in 1978 when he turned pro. Whos on our list for the best male or female tennis players of all time? A bit of a late bloomer, Wimbledon has been his only weak Grand Slam of his career. Perhaps at another point, well consider the group as a whole. Heres another hypothetical example to consider: Again, which player is more impressive. Borg won 11 Grand Slam titles, six at the French Open and five at Wimbledon. In a 23 year career spanning four decades, the Swiss has spent a combined 310 weeks at world no.1 and holds the longest streak at world no 1. in Open Era history, having topped the ATP rankings for a four and a half year period (237 weeks) from 2004 to . Outside of singles, Navratilova has one of the most impressive doubles careers in history. Grand Slam events are best of five for men and best of three for women and are usually regarded as highly significant when ranking players. 10 Hottest Female Tennis Players (2023 Updated) - Total Shape In his prime, Andy Murray was every bit as good as any of the Big Three tennis players. However, as those achievements narrow, its natural for individuals to introduce their opinion on various factors that should carry more weight making it more challenging for consensus. However, adversity comes in all shapes and sizes. Born on July 16, 1942, in Australia, Margaret Court is a right-handed tennis player who played with a one-handed backhand and holds some of the most significant records in womens tennis. In 1967, she played at the Australian Open, her first Grand Slam event. Current D2 and D3 Players in the NFL (2022 Update) | NCSA 8. HONORABLE MENTIONS: Over the years there have been many fantastic teams. We dont believe there is a right or wrong answer, but we think its worthy of consideration and, in some cases, can add significant weight to a players ranking as the best of all time. 3 player. 10. At age 25, Norrie is entering his prime, and has reached a career-high ranking of 41 in the world. Who is the greatest male tennis player of all time? New posts New profile . 1. For 18 of 19 years Trinity University, with just 1,800 students, was ranked in the top four. 368. **Stats for active players are current as of November 2021. College Tennis is for Losers - Dave Mullins - Tennis Recruiting Steve Johnsons collegiate career is the stuff of legends. Dick Butkus. Finally, how convincing of a defeat over a player throughout their head-to-head meetups might be worth considering. Top 10 Greatest Men's Tennis Players of All Time Born on June 17, 1980, in California, Venus Williams is an American tennis player whos achieved considerable success in her long career on the WTA tour. However, Evert posted a handful of impressive results as early as 1970 while competing as a junior, including a win over world No. Sharing the all-time Grand Slam men's singles titles record is Roger Federer, from Switzerland. 1. The Top Ten. Similarly, all of his Wimbledon titles were consecutive from 1976 -1980. 18 Basilashvili. In 1999, Venus saw quite a bit of additional success, which would push her year-end ranking to No. Although Stefi didnt play doubles frequently, she has a womens Grand Slam to her name, which she earned in 1988 alongside Gabriela Sabatini. -Search for former college tennis stars on the men's professional tour. Born on June 3, 1986, in Mallorca, Spain, Rafael Nadal has consistently delivered some of the most impressive results the sport has ever seen and is one of the most successful teenage players in history. He also won ten Grand Slams evenly spread out among each tournament and holds a joint record with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic for the most runner-up appearances at Grand Slam events totaling 11. 30+ Best 2000s Men's Tennis Players | Top 00s Male Tennis Players - Ranker Peter Smiths Trojans won four straight NCAA team titles. That was only his sophomore year. In 1986, she won her first tournament defeating Chris Evert, one of the most dominant players at the time. Djokovic: 10. 15. 1 ranking and, to date, has held that position for 319 weeks. Join the conversation with other members of the community. Meinerz is a more recent addition to the NFL, having signed for the Denver Broncos in 2021.The guard is 6 foot 3 inches tall and 320 lbs. Herschel Walker #2. Andre Agassi. Thai-Son Kwiatkowski | University of Virginia. 1 ranking for the first time, a position he held for a total of 101 weeks during his career. Indeed, the Buckeyes are just as attractive to aspiring college . 1 ranking, and she earned this spot for a total of 260 weeks throughout her career. Furthermore, the surface can play a huge role in a players success against another. The King of Clay is thought of by some as the greatest tennis player of all time. The 16 best college baseball players since 1999 | NCAA.com 24) Ralph Sampson (Virginia) College Averages: 16.9 points, 1.2 assists, 11.4 rebounds. You have entered an incorrect email address! Potential student-athletes must meet minimum standards or benchmarks for acceptance into their particular school, with GPA, SAT scores, ACT scores taken into account. Where would Serena Williams rank in male rankings? - Quora The Best Tennis Players Of All Time - The Tennis Trend Born on July 31, 1951, Evonne Goolagong is an Australian tennis player whose results in the 1970s at the start of the Open Era have earned her recognition as one of the best to play the sport. Opening Round Complete at the 2023 ITA Division III Womens Indoor 2023 Division III Womens National Team Indoor Championship: Dates, Locations, Streaming, College Tennis In the Community: Teams Give Back In The Month Anthony Montero Named ITA Director of Officiating and General Counsel, Berry College Head Mens and Womens Tennis Coach, John McEnroe Tennis Academy (JMTA) at SPORTIME Immediate Tennis Professional/Coach Openings. Whether you agree with it or not as a criterion, its frequently woven into arguments of whos the best. Although she was young, she delivered solid performances and made deep runs at several tournaments. Most can only . No American has won a Grand Slam singles title in men's tennis since 2003, when Andre Agassi won the French Open to complete a career Grand Slam and Andy Roddick won his lone . The Top 10 Greatest Women's Tennis Players of All Time USC, 1962-1964 - Dennis Ralston, Rafael Osuna, Bill Bond, Tom Edlefsen, Ramsey Earnhart, Chuck Rombeau. He is currently ranked No. World number 1 ranked male tennis players. It was the most selfless team Ive hadIt was probably the best team in recent history. The top four players would alternate playing No. No other female tennis player has won eight. Heading into the 2020 US Open, he ranks No. John McEnroe Tennis Academy at SPORTIME Randall's Island. In 2003, Henin claimed her first Grand Slam title at the French Open, making her the first Belgian ever to win a Grand Slam. Video History Championship Info. 5. 8, and the considerable Brian Gottfried, ,who rose to No. Ralston was the best American player of the early 60s and led the US to 63 Davis Cup glory. Although Djokovic has the same number of Grand Slam titles as Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, his wins are the most diverse across the events showing that he can perform well in all conditions and on all surfaces. Perhaps most notably, tennis was heavily divided up until the Open Era, which began in 1968. Highest Ranking. 30 College Tennis Coaches Reveal Top Character Traits of Successful Throughout her career, she held that ranking for a total of 332 weeks, second only to Stefi Graf. Another perhaps less visible or challenging factor to consider, especially when looking back at players in history, is a deep understanding of the adversity or difficulties a player had to overcome during their career. Most Jacked Athlete in Every Sport | Muscle Prodigy Fitness Goulds takeaway: You never say never, but there is no way a team will ever do what this team did. 1 ranking for the first time, a position she held briefly throughout her career for a total of eleven weeks. Just a couple of decades ago, many labeled Pete Sampras as the greatest tennis player of all time. Rod Lavers career is unique because of his success and crossover from amateur to professional and subsequent success during the Open Era. Greatest college players of all time. Stanford's chest-bumping identical twins and all-time men's doubles champs Bob and Mike Bryan rank just behind McEnroe. Its challenging enough to reach reasonable conclusions on the best players without mixing the ATP and WTA tour. 163 which is a career record. The list of accomplishments during his college career isnt short for Tennys Sandgren. Shes placed particular emphasis on Grand Slam events as she attempts to tie Margaret Court for the most Grand Slams of any player in history.