Greatest college players of all time. Best College Football Players of All Time, Ranked - 247Sports Serenas first title came in early 1999, and later that year, she also claimed her maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open. 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. 1 for 270 total weeks through his career. If we dont dig deeper to understand the quality of titles, we may undervalue a players achievements because a win at a 1000 level is significantly more impressive than a 250. He . Johnson reached No. He also has the most variety of Grand Slam titles, winning at least two at every major championship. 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. Although it would be a few years before her next Grand Slam title in 2002, Serena has claimed 23 throughout her ongoing career. However, she was denied the opportunity by the WTA due to age restrictions. Top 20 Best Tennis Players Of All Time (Men) - SportsKhabri Born on March 7, 1960, in Ostrava, Czechoslovakia, Ivan Lendl had an impressive career that began in 1978 when he turned pro. 4. Toward the end of 2003, Henin managed to find her way to the world No. Definitely. In their 34 meetings, his record was 14-20. Moving on to the list comes the 15 best tennis players of all time with three bonus ones. The USA tops the list with 52 victories, more than twice as many as the next best country - Sweden.. He only won five Grand Slams, but thats because he was playing right during the start of the Open Era. BTW: Whitlinger beat Hagey to claim the singles crown, and would coach Stanford for a decade. Bjrn also won 66 titles. In 1984, he had a stellar year with his only finals appearance at the French Open and titles at Wimbledon and the US Open. In the 1970s, Lavers dominance in Grand Slam events diminished due to his commitments with the National Tennis League and World Champion Tennis tours, where he remained dominant. 1 ranking, which she held for 117 weeks throughout her career. Given enough time, another player will come along that does what many now believe to be impossible. But in 73 they didnt just lose one top player, they lost their top two. I am a former college tennis player that competed on a highly successful, top-10 Division I team at the University of Minnesota. The left-hander could spin the ball anywhere, and had put-away volleys that were unseen at the time. In addition to her results in singles, Chris Evert also achieved success in doubles with three Grand Slam titles. 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. Whos on our list for the best male or female tennis players of all time? Sampras would claim five total US Open titles, two Australian Open titles, and seven Wimbledon titles for a total of 13 Grand Slam victories. During the tennis boom, nobody was bigger, and he had rivalries with Bjorn Borg, Jimmy Connors, and Ivan Lendl at some point. However, she remained competitive through her later years, even becoming the oldest player on the WTA tour to win a title at 39. Husband to Steffi Graf, a shoo-in for one of the top spots in the best female tennis players of all time, Agassi comes in at number 8 on the tennisbros.com's list. And he won the singles at the 63 US Nationals at Forest Hills. Since then, Court racked up more Grand Slam titles than any player in history male or female. Not surprisingly, the 78 team had some feisty moments. New posts Search forums. In 1998, she didnt earn any titles, but she saw plenty of success, including a top 20 ranking. To that end, here are a few additional women that didnt make the top ten, but we felt worth mentioning. Georgia tennis and John Isner go hand in hand. Over the course of four seasons, Johnson was named an ITA All-American seven times. You could even take it a step further and evaluate the perceived level of competition present at the tournaments where a player won or how convincingly they defeated their opponents during matches. Vernon Gholston - 6'3, 260 lbs. While still at USC, he managed to win three doubles Grand Slams and reach two other Slam finals. For 12 years the collegiate championships had been Prime Time for LA either USC or UCLA won. Writer Frank Deford suggested Toleys fellow coaches might well consider scheduling a separate tournament of their own at that asylum in Hartford., 2. Norrie finished his collegiate career ranked No. Bob won the singles championship yet he was only their No. Stanford, 1973-1974 Once told he was too clumsy to be a Davis Cup ball boy, Stan went on to win seven Davis Cups. College Tennis is for Losers - Dave Mullins - Tennis Recruiting The Top 10 Greatest Women's Tennis Players of All Time He goes into the event ranked No. Amazingly, at UCLA, Jimbo often played No. Whether you agree with it or not as a criterion, its frequently woven into arguments of whos the best. 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. In 1998, she won her first WTA tournament, which she followed up with a few additional titles that year. 1. He is one of three men to end each of the last 10 years ranked in the top 20 and with 30+ wins. Theyre both remarkable and critical to the health and ecosystem of the sport as a whole. Would have to argue that the 2007 UGA team, led by John Isner, that went 32-0, only lost 1 point in NCAAs, had the #1 singles player and #1 doubles team in the country, the US Open Jr Doubles Champs at #3 deserves to be in the Top 10. The greatest tennis player of all time has to be none other than Roger Federer. ***Title totals include pre and post Open Era where relevant. From ITA Player to Watch to ITA All-American in singles, Tennys anchored his name in the Volunteer history books. The greatest male tennis player of the last 50 years - the Guardian John McEnroe. He holds the joint-record for the most grand slams in history and has consistently dominated the court since he turned pro in 1998. 8. Yet if you lose a top player, all can be lost. Jeremy on May 15, 2020: Furthermore, and appeared in the finals of nearly every one of these events except the Wembly Pro in 1963 and won all three events in 1967 a professional Grand Slam. 9. In 61, sophomore Chuck McKinley reached the Wimbledon final, where he lost to Rod Laver. Connors' career spanned an incredible 24 years and saw him win 147 career titles including 8 Grand Slam titles. Top 100 College Football Players Of All Time Quiz - By forrestsancomb. USC, 1967-1968 By the time he was 21 years old, he already had a U.S. Open and Wimbledon title to his name. Top 10 Greatest Men's Tennis Players of All Time: 10. In 73, Stanford was on the cusp of greatness. 1 for the first time, a position he held for a total of 170 weeks throughout his career. 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. Without a doubt, shes one of the greatest female tennis players ever. 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. His dominance at an older age shows just what he was possible of if he came along a little bit later. With that said, there is still time for Nadal, and I do believe if his body can hold up, he can overtake Federer. 2, Frank Froehling, who was ranked No. UCLA, 1971 Trinity turned tenniss California dream into a nightmare. Dick Butkus. 1 in the world in 1983, and he held that post for a total of 270 weeks throughout his career. Like Rod Laver, Ken Rosewell came along when the Open Era was just beginning. However, at this stage in his career, Djokovic is particularly unique in that he continues to dominate and remain healthy, which means hes only going to extend his results and further cement his position as the greatest player ever to live. 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. He made his ATP Tour debut reaching the quarterfinals at 2020 Delray Beach. Furthermore, she contested 14 Grand Slam finals, where she was the runner-up. 1 player in the world. These days, the Australian Open is a staple and a guaranteed stop for every player who qualifies. 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. Top ten ranked male tennis players (1912-1972) Born on June 14, 2969, Steffi Graf is a German tennis player. In 2008, Nadal became the worlds No. In his prime, Andy Murray was every bit as good as any of the Big Three tennis players. During the four years Dominik Koepfer spent at Tulane, he set records and recorded firsts for the Green Wave. 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. That statistic would show how consistently the . For all those reasons, this is a justifiable choice. In addition to his Grand Slam success, Federer has claimed 103 ATP titles, the most ever behind Jimmy Connors in the Open Era. He closed out his career with USC on a 72 match win streak. Compared to last year, her UTR has even improved considerably, well done Daevenia! Top 10 Tennis Players Of All Time He finished with 14 Grand Slams and 64 career titles, and he was nearly impossible to beat on grass courts and very fast hard courts. 1 through 4 and gladly made sacrifices for a team that went 28-0 and scored 26 shutouts. Led by Dick Stockton, who became world No. Koepfer also became the first Tulane player to be ranked No. 1, which she held for 325 weeks, only surpassed by Martina Navratilova and Stefi Graf. However, when narrowing it down to the best of the best, here are the top 10 best tennis players of all time. The list of accomplishments during his college career isnt short for Tennys Sandgren. However, in 2005, he earned his first Grand Slam singles title, winning the French Open to wrap up a dominant clay-court season and becoming one of only two male players to win the French Open on his first attempt. All Rights Reserved. Despite the wound healing relatively quickly, the attack took its toll on Seles, who didnt return to the tour until 1995, resulting in her missing ten Grand Slam events during that time. Born in Serbia on May 22, 1987, Novak Djokovic is currently my pick for the best mens tennis player of all time. Potential student-athletes must meet minimum standards or benchmarks for acceptance into their particular school, with GPA, SAT scores, ACT scores taken into account. 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. The team they beat Earnhart and Bond were also Trojans. 1 in doubles. Winning Ugly by Brad Gilbert, Steve Jamison. Weeks at number 1: 72. John McEnroe Tennis Academy at SPORTIME Randall's Island. Wolf turned professional a little over a year ago in July of 2019. 8. For starters, many players compete in doubles for the extra prize money. Jimmy Connors. 5. Not surprisingly, Stanfords Dick Gould, who was said to reload rather than recruit, managed to get him to drop by the Farm for one historic season. Tennis Channel/USTA College Tennis Top 25. Trinitys No. 163 which is a career record. Henin saw success immediately on the WTA tour, winning her first tour event as a wildcard at the Belgian Open in Antwerp. 1. He was twice a semifinalist at Wimbledon in 1960 and 1961, reaching as high as World No. He broke the top 100 following a run to the Lyon semifinals in 2018. 2. Stefen Edenberg (born 19 January 1966) is a former Swedish world number 1 tennis player in singles and . First, the age and timing of head-to-head matchups can significantly influence the eventual record between two players. 4. 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. However, with such great emphasis placed on Grand Slams when considering the greatest players of all time, its worthy of reference and consideration. Lutz won the NCAA singles in 67, but lost the 68 final to Smith. In total, Nadal has claimed an unprecedented 13 French Open titles. As a senior he got it right he beat Fred Stolle to win Wimbledon without dropping a set. Perhaps most notably, tennis was heavily divided up until the Open Era, which began in 1968. 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. Newsflash: The Bryans became the best doubles team in history. Tennis participation in the U.S. 2021 | Statista Andre Agassi. 1. ranking, but despite her success, she only held that post for two weeks throughout her career. He started his professional career in 2003 and soon after becoming professional, Djokovic started a journey of success that continues. Hes been as consistent as any player in tennis history, and even as he approaches 40 years old, he still is a Grand Slam threat. This fact was significant because these were arguably his peak years, winning five of his eight Grand Slam titles during this time and denying him the opportunity to complete a Grand Slam that year when he won all other majors. In total, Goolagong won 86 titles, with 68 of them coming in the Open Era. Before the Bryans, the Woodies, and Mac and Fleming, there was Stan Smith and Stanford transfer Bob Lutz. Some might think this pick is a bit controversial, but its hard to argue with the statistics. In 2004, Henin won the Australian Open, but an infection kept her off the court for much of the year. He made a huge statement winning a pair of titles at the French Open and Australian Open for his career. Nakashima turned pro ranked No. Help us better understand the makeup of our tennis community. Agassi was well known for his rivalry against all-time great Pete Sampras. Of course, the point isnt to diminish the value of any players success at the tournament. His Grand Slam titles include seven at the Australian Open, one at the French Open, eight at Wimbledon, and give at the US Open. Tennis' Top 20 of All Time - ESPN.com He won the 1995 French Open, but he dominated in plenty of tournaments on clay courts as well. His success started in the 1980s with numerous titles and his first Grand Slam victory over John McEnroe at the French Open, a year McEnroe was virtually untouchable. Pistol Pete never had clay-court success, which is what will ultimately keep him out of the top spot. College Tennis News - The Best Female Tennis Players of All Time Home Bracket Singles Bracket Doubles Bracket. He became the first mens player to sweep the NCAA individual titles in 15 years. However, despite significant success over the next few years, King didnt win her first Grand Slam title until 1966 at Wimbledon. 1952 Modesto Junior College Team, they beat Stanford , CAl, USF, they had Jerry DeWitts, Whitney Reed, Ralph Freund , Fritz Earle, Coach Fred Earle, DeWitts 22nd in the U.S, Whitney Reed 15th in U.S., also Stan Canter on team , 6th in junior singles in Eastern U.S., some rankings actually went up.Big Seven Champs. Stanford, 1973-1974 Sandy Mayer, Pat DuPre, Jim Delaney, John Whitlinger. . Perhaps this is a bit low for some, but its very hard to compare eras that are so far apart. When evaluating the best tennis players ever, some people believe its necessary to consider a players ability to compete in doubles because its an essential discipline that the sport has to offer. Federer turned pro in 1998, and it didnt take long before his career began to pick up steam. Each is worth considering when ranking players. 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. He finished his career with four Grand Slams, but he might most be remembered for his 16 ATP tour championships in one season in 1977. Find the Countries of Europe - No Outlines Minefield. The number 1 in our best table tennis players list is a Chinese player, Ma Long. Harvard's second-place finish is driven by the Danish-born Caroline Wozniacki, who became the first Scandinavian woman to rank as the top player in the world, a title she held for 71 weeks between 2010 and 2011. Seles claimed her final Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in 1996 and was a successful player until 2003, although her official retirement didnt come until 2008. In the heart of the Depression, a hard-working Paris, Texas boy earned a bicycle from the Saturday Evening Post. Marcos Girons debut at the US Open came in 2014 when he earned a wild card into the Grand Slam after winning the NCAA Singles Championships. Andre Agassi is the only other player to accomplish this feat. 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. Stanford, 1978 John McEnroe, Matt Mitchell, Bill Maze, Peter Rennert, Lloyd Bourne. Skip to primary navigation; . 5. "When I was coming up, the years between 18 and 22, there were a lot of girls who were breaking into the Top 100, Top 50, and Top 10, so I knew those were kind of the peak years. 120 of the Best Tennis Books | Hand-picked Favorites He was also a great doubles player, holding the #1 ranking in the world in singles and doubles at one point in his career. During the 13 years that she won at least one Grand Slam event, she was absent from the event seven times. Throughout his entire career, Djokovic has had 85 career titles. However, should we value player Bs three additional Grand Slam titles over player As 125 extra titles in total? Henin would claim seven Grand Slam titles, one at the Australian Open, four at the French Open, and two at the US Open. After qualifying at ATP Masters 1000 Cincinnati, Wolf reached a career high ranking of 143. Your Safe Play Approval Expires in $(daysToExpire) days! UCLAs Arthur Ashe and Charlie Pasarell were the most impactful roomies in tennis history. However, Evert posted a handful of impressive results as early as 1970 while competing as a junior, including a win over world No. Federer first claimed the world No. Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the essential meaning of best as: By definition, the word best is subjective. Moreover, the Dutch is in place #59 of the best college tennis players of the moment, her highest ranking ever. He claimed three Grand Slams and five ATP Masters titles with significant wins against his two biggest rivals, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. McEnroe earned himself 7 Grand Slam titles four at the US Open and three at Wimbledon. 5/28/2021. In July of 2011, Djokovic became world No. 6/22/2021. 269. His determination keeps him in any match. Not only did Mackenzie McDonald etch his name in the UCLA record books he left his mark on the NCAAs as well. 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. 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. Nadals career started early. Heading into the 2020 US Open, McDonald is ranked No. There are really no holes in Federers game, other than having just one French Open title. For starters here are our top ten men's teams. Indeed, the Buckeyes are just as attractive to aspiring college . But they faced off in a dicey semi against each other in the NCAA championships and then had to play doubles together. He is a three-time Olympic gold medalist (2016, 2020, 2020), three-time . The greatest Australian mens tennis player ever now has an arena named after him in Melbourne. Contact Us - Privacy Policy - Affiliate Disclaimer. He became the first player from South America to ever win a Grand Slam event on the mens side. The argument is that no single player controls the outcome of a given doubles match, let alone a teams performance throughout an entire tournament. Greatest Tennis Players of All Time. However, we removed a lot of nuances when we broke the two out and therefore decided to rank men separately from women. 6. During her career, Seles won 53 titles and ended with a winning record of 595-122. Andre Agassi turned pro in 1986 at the age of 16 and, in two short years, rocketed to a ranking of world No. Women's Tennis. For example, Bjrn Borg played professional tennis for roughly ten years, while Jimmy Connors played for more than double that at 24 years. Billie Jean King. From 2004 to 2007, Federer asserted significant dominance winning 11 of the 15 Grand Slam events during this period. His highest career ranking is No. With that said, his achievements are thoroughly impressive, especially considering the short timeline of his career. In his final season with the Bruins, Maxime Cressy alongside Keegan Smith brought home the 14th NCAA Doubles title in UCLA history. 368. However, as far as Grand Slam titles go, his record-tying 20 include one at the Australian Open, two at Wimbledon, and four at the US Open. However, as it stands now, I think Federer is more deserving of this spot. 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. If most of a players head-to-head matches against Rafa fall on clay, he will likely have a losing record overall against him. 3 behind Jeff Borowiak, who would become No. He came back from two sets down to beat him 36, 26, 64, 75, 75. No problemo. Venus turned pro at the early age of 14 in 1994 when she played her first WTA tournament. Lastly, if a player is consistently engaging in competitive matches and sometimes beating players in the top 300 (in tournament play, not practice) in the ATP or WTA rankings, then they may be ready physically, mentally and technically to play professional tennis on a full time basis. Both Sandy Mayer, who weeks later reached the Wimbledon semis and would rise to No. Monica Seles returned to the French Open a year later after a solid start to the season and captured her first Grand Slam victory defeating world No. Its up to any individual to determine how they perceive these factors when ranking the greatest players of all time. Here are the ten best tennis players of all time. Djokovic also leads in Masters titles, and has the greatest finals win percentage. 7. He became the first African-American to win a Grand Slam title on the mens side, and his activism off of the court makes him a legend.