List of the top male tennis players of the Open Era (1968-present), with two players tied for the 5th position (Singles) !!!
5. Rod Laver (Australia) — 11 major titles .
Rod Laver, the redheaded Aussie, is an absolute Genius and a tennis legend. Ranked number one globally for seven consecutive years (1964-1970), he holds a record 200 career titles (All Counted). Laver is the only player to secure the Grand Slam twice – once as an amateur in 1962 and again as a pro in 1969. Excluded from Grand Slam events during the mid-1960s due to amateur restrictions, he missed potential victories. In the open era from 1968 onwards, Laver’s dominance suggests he could have added many more Grand Slam titles to his remarkable legacy. Won Career prize money of $1,565,413 and 11 Grand Slam Singles Titles consisting of 3 Australian, 2 French, 2 US Open, 4 Wimbledon. He was also Inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame in the year 1981.
5. Bjorn Borg (Sweden) — 11 major titles .
Bjorn Borg, the long-haired Swede, captivated with his killer ground game in the late ’70s. Dominating Wimbledon for five consecutive years, Borg had unforgettable clashes with rivals like McEnroe and Connors. Despite retiring at 26 in 1983, he won 11 Grand Slam titles, all at Wimbledon and the French Open, a modern-era milestone. If he hadn’t retired prematurely, Borg could have easily been a top-three all-time great. He has won 101 career titles and a career prize money of $3,655,751. His 11 Grand Slam Singles Titles consists of 6 French, 5 Wimbledon and he was Inducted into Tennis Hall of Fame in the year 1987.
4. Pete Sampras (USA) — 14 major titles.
Pete Sampras is a tennis great, he left his mark with 14 Grand Slam titles and a six-year reign as the world’s number one. He was mostly dominant on hard courts and grass courts, his epic duels with Andre Agassi defined ’90s tennis. Despite retiring on a high with the 2002 US Open win, the absence of a French Open title places him at the number fourth spot in the debate on the greatest ever. He has won a career prize money of $43,280,489 and 64 career titles. His 14 Grand Slam Singles Titles consists of 2 Australian, 7 Wimbledon, 5 US Open and he was Inducted into Tennis Hall of Fame in 2007.
3. Roger Federer (Switzerland) — 20 major titles.
For years, Roger Federer was an easy pick as the tennis GOAT with his 20 Grand Slam titles and a record 310 weeks at world number one. Even at 40, he displayed top-tier skills. The 237-week streak as number one from 2004 to 2008 was unmatched. Winning the 2018 Australian Open solidified his GOAT status, but with Nadal and Djokovic gaining, the debate continues. His epic 2019 Wimbledon loss to Djokovic showed his enduring competitiveness.
Now, as Federer retired and as Nadal and Djokovic face challenges, men’s tennis enters a new era. The young players are set to make their mark in a domain once ruled by the big three. He has won an incredible 103 Career titles and his Career prize money is $130,594,339. His 20 Grand Slam Singles Titles consists of 6 Australian, 1 French, 5 US Open, 8 Wimbledon.
2. Rafael Nadal (Spain) — 22 major titles.
At 37, the fiery Spaniard, Rafa, also known as “The King of Clay,” has an impressive record with 22 Grand Slam titles, just behind Djokovic’s 24. Widely acclaimed as the greatest on clay, his 14th French Open win in 2022 showcased his dominance on that surface. Nadal’s start to 2022 with wins at the Australian and French Opens strengthened his case for the GOAT debate.
However, an abdominal injury in 2022 Wimbledon semifinals kept fans from a dream Djokovic-Nadal final. Despite this setback, Nadal participated in the 2022 US Open, reaching the fourth round but falling to Frances Tiafoe.
In 2023, a hip injury during the Australian Open led to surgery, sidelining Nadal for the year. With 2024 declared as his last, his absence from the Australian Open raises questions about his return to form. The tennis world eagerly awaits updates on Rafa’s comeback. Stay tuned! He would have surely been the GOAT if his Career would have been less prone to Injuries. A Spanish fighter and his never give up attitude truly makes him one of the greatest sportsmen of all time. He has won 92 career titles and won Career prize money worth $134,659,704. His 22 Grand Slam Singles Titles consists of 2 Australian, 14 French, 4 US Open, 2 Wimbledon and also he won 2008 Olympic Gold Medal in the Beijing Summer Olympics.
1. Novak Djokovic (Serbia) — 24 major titles.
At 36 Djokovic with 24 Grand Slam titles stands alone among male players, tying Margaret Court for the most all-time. A tumultuous 2022, marked by vaccination controversies and a missed US Open, gave way to a dominant 2023. Winning the Australian and French Opens, Djokovic reached 24 Grand Slam titles, securing his status as the greatest. The 2023 Wimbledon loss to Carlos Alcaraz hinted at a changing of the guard, but Djokovic’s triumphant US Open victory reaffirmed his dominance.
The 2024 season signals a transition from the big three to a new era. Djokovic’s loss to Yanik Sinner, who, along with Carlos Alcaraz, claims 3 Grand Slam titles in 2 years, suggests the next generation’s arrival. Djokovic’s record across surfaces and head-to-head success against Federer and Nadal solidify his title as the greatest of all time.
He is a true example of tenacity hard work and patience. He has won a record Career prize money of $181,599,018 and 98 career titles. His 24 Grand Slam Singles Titles consists of 10 Australian, 7 Wimbledon, 4 US Open, 3 French Open.
