Best tennis players ever – Greatest of all Times
The legends of the white sport can be found here. Beginning with the 90s though, since I haven`t seen the players of earlier times and therefore cannot judge them. But nonetheless a great selection of athletes to pick from – and the best tennis player ever is…
The Greatest Tennis Players of All Times – Tennis GOAT Material
16. Nikolay Davydenko (Russia)
It must be a joke that he hasn`t won a slam! Insanely strong ballstriker who also suffered al lot from Federers domination and therefore doesn`t get enough appreciation. His serve was just average but once the ball was in play very hard to crack. Posivtive H2H against Rafael Nadal, which very few players can say about themselves. He starts the ranking of the best tennis player ever and definitely is one of the strongest baseline players ever!
- Service score: 75%
- Forehand score: 85%
- Backhand score: 85%
- Volley score: 50%
- Movement score: 90%
- Stamina score: 90%
- Creativity score: 60%
15. Patrick Rafter (Australia)
The Australian only conquered Flushing Meadows but I really liked his style. He would follow every half-decent attacking stroke to get to the net, probably because his baseline game wasn`t too good. But his volleying was very skillful and entertaining. In addition Rafter was a very likable character.
- Service score: 85%
- Forehand score: 80%
- Backhand score: 75%
- Volley score: 95%
- Movement score: 80%
- Stamina score: 70%
- Creativity score: 90%
Additional reading: Best tennis match ever – The most epic battles
14. Juan Martin Del Potro (Argentinia)
The likeable Argentinian suffered a lot from injuries. Currently he cannot even play a normal backhand anymore, has to use the slice most of the times. Still manages to offer very decent performances. But unfortunately I doubt that we will ever see him back in prime form. Like when he won the US Open back in 2009 against Roger Federer with his atomic forehand.
- Service score: 90%
- Forehand score: 100%
- Backhand score: 90%
- Volley score: 70%
- Movement score: 70%
- Stamina score: 75%
- Creativity score: 80%
13. Lleyton Hewitt (Australia)
The Australian suffered a little from a certain Swiss player and laymen often label him “limited”. True, his groundstrokes weren`t the most powerful, but he was fast, clever, precise, faultless and last but not least always gave his heart on the court. One of the greatest fighters in Tennis ever! Destroyed Sampras in a US Open final, that`s gotta mean something.
- Service score: 65%
- Forehand score: 80%
- Backhand score: 85%
- Volley score: 75%
- Movement score: 100%
- Stamina score: 95%
- Creativity score: 75%
12. Andy Murray (Scotland / Great Britain)
I guess many would want him higher up in the ranking of the best tennis player ever, at least Top Ten. But I just don`t see this. Ok, he has all the shots and won three Slams at this point. Not bad at all and he might add to his tally. But he pretty much always has been a cue ball for the Big 3, unless they were completely out of form. Of course there is no shame in loosing to the likes of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic. But some of the guys that are yet to come in this ranking simply managed to offer more resistance and even big wins in important matches.
- Service score: 85%
- Forehand score: 80%
- Backhand score: 90%
- Volley score: 80%
- Movement score: 90%
- Stamina score: 90%
- Creativity score: 95%
11. Stefan Edberg (Sweden)
The most talented serve & volley player of all times!
- Service score: 85%
- Forehand score: 85%
- Backhand score: 80%
- Volley score: 100%
- Movement score: 85%
- Stamina score: 80%
- Creativity score: 95%
10. David Nalbandian (Argentinia)
One of the most talented tennis players ever. If only he had been in better physical shape and less injury-prone. He certainly would have won a few slams. Even with a slight stomach and constant physical problems he was able to beat some of the best tennis players ever. I remember him beating Novak Djokovic, Rafel Nadal and Roger Federer all in one tournament, I think it was in Paris. What an outrageous feat, I don`t think any other player has managed to do that.
- Service score: 85%
- Forehand score: 85%
- Backhand score: 100%
- Volley score: 90%
- Movement score: 70%
- Stamina score: 70%
- Creativity score: 95%
9. Stanislas Wawrinka (Switzerland)
The heavy hitting Suisse is a man for big occasions. Tallied up three grand slams titles already, although his break-through was in his early thirties. When he is on fire, pretty much unstoppable on slow courts. On faster courts he is vulnerable, because he needs time for his heavy swings.
- Service score: 90%
- Forehand score: 95%
- Backhand score: 100%
- Volley score: 85%
- Movement score: 75%
- Stamina score: 95%
- Creativity score: 85%
Additional reading: Best female tennis players ever
8. Andy Roddick (USA)
The funniest tennis player ever doesn`t get enough credit, because he was regularly dismantled by a certain top player. But he simply didn`t match up that well against that guy. If you take a closer look, you will see how dangerous he was. Leads the H2H against Djokovic and beat Murray way after his prime in Wimbledon 2009. Says it all. A huge serve like Karlovic or Isner and a more than solid ground game. So he was quite as unbreakable, but way more capable of breaking the opponent.
- Service score: 100%
- Forehand score: 85%
- Backhand score: 75%
- Volley score: 80%
- Movement score: 80%
- Stamina score: 85%
- Creativity score: 80%
7. Marat Safin (Russia)
The Russian playboy was able to beat just anybody when fit and motivated. Had the potential to be much higher in the best tennis player ever-ranking! Fired serves as well as fore- and backhand with an incredible force. Also ran over Sampras in Flushing Meadows – so much for the “weak era discussion”- and defeated Federer in a thrilling five-set-classic.
- Service score: 95%
- Forehand score: 95%
- Backhand score: 95%
- Volley score: 80%
- Movement score: 75%
- Stamina score: 80%
- Creativity score: 80%
6. Boris Becker (Germany)
The youngest Wimbledon champion ever triggered a huge tennis boom in Germany. His matches were road sweepers like a world cup final in soccer. With a strong serve, spectacular volleys and pure will he reached 6 Grand Slam titles. Germany`s best tennis player ever for sure!
- Service score: 95%
- Forehand score: 90%
- Backhand score: 80%
- Volley score: 100%
- Movement score: 80%
- Stamina score: 85%%
- Creativity score: 85%
5. Andre Agassi (USA)
Steffi Graf`s husband triumphed at all four Grand Slams, established the style of both-sided ballstriker. Displayed incredibly powerful groundstrokes, maybe the best return player ever. He fought many fascinating battles with Sampras…serve vs. return. Towards the end of his career actually became the crowd`s favorite, while in the 90s he was always good for a juicy scandal.
- Service score: 75%
- Forehand score: 95%
- Backhand score: 100%
- Volley score: 80%
- Movement score: 85%
- Stamina score: 80%
- Creativity score: 85%
4. Novak Djokovic (Serbia)
The Serbian is a show-man, his pressconferences are often highlights and during US Open 2008 he entertained the tennisworld with brillant imitations of his famous colleagues. But he`s not just good with the jokes, in 2011 he delivered a record-breaking season mit 3 Grand Slam titles and was able to frequently defeat Nadal in big matches. Without Roger Federer he might very well have won all four Slams that year, but the Swiss genius stopped him in Paris. Meanwhile the tide turned a little and he through away chances for more Slams too easy. But I think there`s much more to come from Djokovic in the future, on a good day he is kind of a perfect, flawless tennis machine.
- Service score: 90%
- Forehand score: 90%
- Backhand score: 100%
- Volley score: 70%
- Movement score: 100%
- Stamina score: 100%
- Creativity score: 75%
Additional reading: Why Roger Federer is the Greatest tennis player of all time (GOAT)
3. Rafael Nadal (Spain)
The Spaniard is a force of nature and a living tennis legend. The best claycourt player of all times can succeed on any surface and must be about the hardest opponent one could imagine. He probably has the best physical shape of all the players, he fights for every point, never gives up, is always concentrated and can hit winners from every spot on court. You should not falsely reduce Nadal to his defensive and retrieving skills, he is so much more than that! However…his game too often relies on wearing the opponent down with his superior fitness and wait for unforced errors. This makes him vulnerable for bighitters on fire plus it sometimes is pretty boring to watch. And thats why I will never be able to see him as the best tennis player ever, even if he breaks every tennis record in the books.
- Service score: 75%
- Forehand score: 95%
- Backhand score: 90%
- Volley score: 80%
- Movement score: 100%
- Stamina score: 100%
- Creativity score: 85%
2. Pete Sampras (USA)
The dominator of the 90s, a fantastic player with a thundering serve, legendary running forehand and skilled serve and volleying. In a time when surfaces differed a lot concerning court speed and rallies did not always last 30 shots and more, he captured 14 Grand Slam titles, a tremendous achievement. Just the clay courts weren`t his. On hardcourt and lawn he was almost impossible to beat when in form. Very focussed in his service games -pretty unbreakable- and ice-cold at converting the slightest opportunities to break serve. All this makes him of the second best tennis player ever.
- Service score: 100%
- Forehand score: 95%
- Backhand score: 85%
- Volley score: 100%
- Movement score: 85%
- Stamina score: 90%
- Creativity score: 85%
1. Roger Federer (Switzerland)
I am watching a lot of sports. But never before an athlete impressed and inspired me the way this exceptional sportsman did. Considered as the next superstar he was ever since his first appearances on tour in 1999, blessed with immense talent. But the big success was a long time coming, he had too many options on court and couldn`t handle choosing the right one`s. But in Wimbledon 2001 he made the tennis world sit up and take notice with his victory over 7-times-champion Pete Sampras. Little did he know the nineteen-year old would pulverize all of his records. In 2003 Roger Federer finally ascended, the triumph in Wimbledon was the beginning of an unequaled streak of success.
Meanwhile he is the most successful and in my opinion the best tennisplayer ever. And I don`t even attach this to his numbers, a certain Spaniard passing 17 wouldn`t change this for me. Far more than the Swiss` titles his playing style impresses me: the flowing footwork, the nifty swings, the versatile repertoire of shots and the enormous wrist power, supported by a formidable physical shape. All of this made watching the Maestro a feast for the eyes. And it seems like I`m not the only one thinking like this. Wherever he plays, the audience is sure to support him, even against local heroes the crowd is neutral at worst. This just shows that people acknowledge what a special player they are allowed to witness and they show their appreciation and respect for his outstanding performances. Not the best tennis player ever, no…the greatest athlete of all times!!!
- Service score: 100%
- Forehand score: 100%
- Backhand score: 95%
- Volley score: 95%
- Movement score: 100%
- Stamina score: 95%
- Creativity score: 100%
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