1 Margaret Court in a small clay court tournament held in Charlotte, NC. 5/28/2021. Open by Andre Agassi. His performances in 2015 and 2021 were equally impressive on many levels, both years earning three Grand Slam titles. 37 in the world. They won back-to-back NCAA doubles titles and were part of a four-year run in which USC won the NCAAs from 66 to 69. It doesnt make accomplishments from years past less impressive, relevant, or important, but its a factor that we should weigh when making comparisons. When Boris Becker was on grass or indoor carpet courts, it was nearly impossible to beat him. Regardless of your stance, the weight of specific stats or accomplishments will undoubtedly influence the ranking of players. Osuna was recruited to USC out of obscurity and remains the best Mexican player ever. For example, if player A competes later in their career against player B, whos younger, and most of their matches happen toward the end of player As career, player B arguably has a significant advantage. In 1966, King became the world No. However, we removed a lot of nuances when we broke the two out and therefore decided to rank men separately from women. Then again, insanity has never stopped us before. They promptly lost, but the team went 24-0 and won the national championship, and Mac won the singles. -The ITA lists the top teams and players in the country at all levels of college tennis. 1 ranking, and she earned this spot for a total of 260 weeks throughout her career. That same year she also claimed the US Open title. However, adversity comes in all shapes and sizes. 10. In 2002, he turned professional at the age of 15, and he quickly began posting results. Its up to any individual to determine how they perceive these factors when ranking the greatest players of all time. Heres the beauty of college tennis a supremely individual sport becomes a wonderful team endeavor. Despite that success, he found the majority of his dominance on hard courts. Nakashima turned pro ranked No. Writer Frank Deford suggested Toleys fellow coaches might well consider scheduling a separate tournament of their own at that asylum in Hartford., 2. 9. His first biggest win of his career came in 2012 as he defeated Jurgen Melzer in five sets. Each is worth considering when ranking players. That was only his sophomore year. For 12 years the collegiate championships had been Prime Time for LA either USC or UCLA won. He held a 15-4 singles record and a perfect 26-0 doubles record. 10. Many would say that this is the year Novak Djokovic finally took over as the greatest tennis player of all time. 1 ranking for 67 consecutive weeks, which is quite an achievement. It was the most selfless team Ive hadIt was probably the best team in recent history. The top four players would alternate playing No. In total, she would win 12 Grand Slam titles, including one at the Australian Open, one at the French Open, six at Wimbledon, and four at the US Open. She also won a bronze medal at the Summer Olympics in Syndey, Australia. Many will argue that of the top players, head-to-head performance should carry significant weight. To that end, here are a few additional women that didnt make the top ten, but we felt worth mentioning. Heres another hypothetical example to consider: Again, which player is more impressive. Active Career: 1983 - 1996. Some rules are different, i.e., on-court coaching is allowed on the WTA tour outside of the Grand Slam events. 368. The left-hander from the United States finished his career with seven Grand Slams, and he became an icon in the sport fairly early on. Wed love to hear from you in the comments below. When it comes to the Olympics, Serena is also highly accomplished. Highest Ranking. Stanford, 1973-1974 Sandy Mayer, Pat DuPre, Jim Delaney, John Whitlinger. Stefen Edberg. 1 ranking and, to date, has held that position for 319 weeks. Led by Dick Stockton, who became world No. However, in 1924, the Olympics dropped tennis due to disagreements between the International Olympic Committee and International Lawn Tennis Federation. Despite his record against Nadal, I give Federer the edge in my list of the all-time best tennis players for a few reasons. Novak Djokovic has won 19 singles Grand Slams and was ranked world number 1 in 2011. 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. Surprisingly, McEnroe was born in 1959 in West Germany with his parents stationed in the country because of his fathers role with the United States Air Force. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Your email address will not be published. A great doubles player on top of singles, hes one of the most well-rounded players of his era. He was named the ITA National Mens Senior Player of the Year a first for the program. Learn more about available mens tennis scholarships and mens tennis camps in your area. 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. Getting to Grand Slams finals was never an issue for Ivan Lendl. 9. Federer first claimed the world No. In the so-called open era of tennis, which began in 1968, players from 20 different nations won a Grand Slam title. As challenging as it is to make a list of the best female tennis players of all time, there has to be a cutoff, despite many other players significant achievements. Now let's look at how many weeks each player has been rated the No. In 1956, Laver started to pursue a career in tennis as an amateur and quickly established himself as a junior before winning his first Grand Slam singles title in 1960 at the Australian Championships, now the Australian Open. Losing 11 drops him a bit, but he was still a complete player nobody wanted to face in his prime. Borgs career was relatively short, especially compared to many other tennis players on our list. Forums. Bjrn also won 66 titles. In total, Nadal has claimed an unprecedented 13 French Open titles. Greatest college players of all time. He was named an ITA Singles All-American all three years. He was named the ITA National Player of the Year and an ITA Singles All-American for the second consecutive year. Although its easy to get wrapped up in the accomplishments of current players, most will likely be impressed by what they learn and gain a deeper appreciation for the sport as a whole and the players that helped shape it. A lot has changed in the sport, but its hard to argue that he doesnt deserve at least a little bit of consideration near the top. Like many players in his time, Bjrn only played the Australian Open once during his career, which potentially limited his Grand Slam count. Find the US States - No Outlines Minefield. Perhaps this is a bit low for some, but its very hard to compare eras that are so far apart. In his final season with the Bruins, McDonald won not only the NCAA Singles Championships, but also the NCAA Doubles Championships with Martin Redlicki. Men and women dont compete against each other in singles. Somewhat surprisingly, tennis didnt make it back into the Olympics until 1988, 64 years later. Without a doubt, shes one of the greatest female tennis players ever. When it came to team competition, King helped lead the United States to 11 victories, four of which she was the captain. Herschel Walker #2. 1 ranking for the first time and held it for a total of 286 weeks throughout his career. Nadal: 8. Sampras is well known for his rivalry with fellow American Andre Agassi, and it was unique because of Sampras dominant serve and Agassis return. He broke the top 100 following a run to the Lyon semifinals in 2018. We have compiled this list of 10 best tennis players of all time. Of course the level of tennis is the other major factor. 1 the most ever. As a professional, Isner has continued his excellence. Steve Johnson | University of Southern California. 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. Swiss player Roger Federer, the greatest player of all time is easily justifiable. During her career, Seles won 53 titles and ended with a winning record of 595-122. Unfortunately, that would be the only two career Grand Slams for him. However, while tennis is now an active sport in the Summer Olympics, it wasnt always that way. Evert is the only female tennis player to have won seven titles at the French Open. He finished his collegiate career ranked No. Instead, these tournaments only allowed amateurs to play, and these players didnt receive prize money. However, this list is based more on how players fared against the competition, as well as their overall play. During the four years Dominik Koepfer spent at Tulane, he set records and recorded firsts for the Green Wave. One thing is for sure, these types of lists will continue to change as new players emerge. Trinity turned tenniss California dream into a nightmare. Yea, if a tennis player is not in the top 50 by 18 they'll never make it. These character traits, when combined, will produce exceptional, top-tier results, as evidenced by the accomplishments of the coaches and their tennis programs. Winning Ugly by Brad Gilbert, Steve Jamison. Andy Lloyd was a Forest Hills quarterfinalist and Butch Newman lost only one dual match in his collegiate career. Advantage: Federer. Conversely, some players like Roger Federer manage to go injury-free for the better part of their careers. 1 ranking for longer than any other player in history at 345 weeks and currently has 85 titles to his name. 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. Stanford, 1998 8 - Andre Agassi. Navratilova is the record holder for the most titles in the Open Era with 167 and ended her career with a 1,442-219 record for an impressive win rate of 86.8%. In 1988, Sampras turned pro at 16 years old, and not long after, in 1990, he claimed his first Grand Slam title at the US Open, defeating Andre Agassi in straight sets. In 1967, she played at the Australian Open, her first Grand Slam event. He is currently ranked No. The US Open will be Jungs first tour-level event since the resumption of the ATP Tour. These days, the Olympics hold quite a bit of significance related to a players overall success and perception. Bjrn Borg resides in Monte Carlo, Monaco, but was born in Sweden on June 6, 1956. The Ohio State Buckeyes men's and women's varsity teams are among the best in the NCAA, too. 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. In 2006, Kevin Anderson and Ryan Rowe became only the third Illinois duo to capture the NCAA Doubles Championship. In 73, Stanford was on the cusp of greatness. Stanford, 1973-1974 She also won the Australian Open to start 1993 before a deranged fan stabbed her in April. He won the 1995 French Open, but he dominated in plenty of tournaments on clay courts as well. Does it make him a better player for staying injury-free all those years, which enabled him to miss a tournament rarely and give him more opportunities to win? John McEnroe. Outside of singles, Serena has had a successful career in doubles, primarily competing with her sister. Book. Johnson has finished the past six seasons ranked in the Top 100. She narrowly missed that feat before the Open Era in 1965, only losing in the French Open finals. However, our analysis suggests a bit of a different story, with her results overshadowing the past performance of other female tennis players who may deserve the title. 120. As a senior, Isner led the Bulldogs to a perfect 32-0 record and the programs fifth NCAA Team Championship. Born on June 14, 2969, Steffi Graf is a German tennis player. Trying to figure out the 25 greatest tennis players of all time can seem like a daunting task for a lot of people out there. Jan 9, 2013 . 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. During the tennis boom, nobody was bigger, and he had rivalries with Bjorn Borg, Jimmy Connors, and Ivan Lendl at some point. That is until the big three came along. He was named the ACC Freshman of the Year becoming only the 6th Cavalier to earn the honor in the programs history. ITA Mens All-American Singles Championship, US Open Singles Draw Features Six Former Women Collegiate Athletes, Coach Masterclass The ITA & Coach Governance, College Tennis In the Community: Teams Give Back In The Month of February, The Power of Community Davidson Kozlowski [Coaches Podcast], Division I Mens Collegiate Tennis Rankings sponsored by Tennis-Point February 28. Their loaded roster also included 77 collegiate champ Matt Mitchell. Still, the teams best singles players roommates Dennis Ralston and Rafael Osuna played each other in the US Nationals for three straight years and together won the 60 Wimbledon doubles crown. Theres only a handful of players who have done that, and Mats Wilander is one of them. Like Rod Laver, Ken Rosewell came along when the Open Era was just beginning. You have entered an incorrect email address! The game has changed so much throughout the years, making it virtually impossible to make direct comparisons. Can you imagine Federer and Nadal on the same college team? Throughout his career, Nadals most significant rivalries have come against the only two players I rank above him for the greatest male tennis players of all time. 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. Home to the US Open Grand Slam Tournament, New York City had long needed a vibrant tennis academy where kids could train. . Leaving his mark on the college tennis landscape in 2010, Bradley Klahn etched his name in Stanford mens tennis history when he captured the 2010 NCAA Singles Championship. Moreover, 9 of Novak Djokovics and 6 of Roger Federers Grand Slam titles came on this surface. Access available rankings data at ITA. Here we have listed our picks for the top 12 best tennis players of all time: Top 12 Best Tennis Players of All Time 12. Three collegians with St. Louis connections made their mark on college tennis Chuck McKinley, Arthur Ashe and a feisty fellow named Jimmy Connors. Even though he never won Wimbledon, he did win the Australian Open when it was on the grass. ***Title totals include pre and post Open Era where relevant. *Please note that not all the stats included above are relevant for consideration as the best player ever. Trinity, 1972 Its perfectly fine to say that Roger Federer is the best tennis player of all time. 1. They were just nails, from top to bottom. The now 39 year old, also holds the record for the most weeks as number one (310). UCLAs Arthur Ashe and Charlie Pasarell were the most impactful roomies in tennis history. But for years Trinity did not win an NCAA title because Wimbledon was scheduled at the same time. Although singles tennis is the more popular discipline, playing doubles still carries significant weight and requires a unique skill set that many fans believe distinguishes one player from the next. Hottest Female Athletes. Lutz won the NCAA singles in 67, but lost the 68 final to Smith. Here are a few of the factors that present challenges when drawing comparisons. His dominance at an older age shows just what he was possible of if he came along a little bit later. Once told he was too clumsy to be a Davis Cup ball boy, Stan went on to win seven Davis Cups.