Jul 31, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Novak Djokovic of Serbia kisses the champions trophy after defeating Kei Nishikori of Japan to win the Rogers Cup tennis tournament at Aviva Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
10 best male tennis players in the Open Era: there are many to choose from, but only a select few can make the list. These are the best in men’s tennis.
10 best male tennis players: the top 10 list features both active and retired men’s singles players. The sport may very well be currently witnessing some the best tennis ever played. But, there are without a doubt retired players who belong on the list of the best male tennis players in Open Era.
A notable active player to just miss the top 10 is Andy Murray. While the Scot does have the 9th most finals appearances in Open Era and 3 Grand Slam titles, he will need to continue on his current hot streak to top some of the best in Open Era.
May 2, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Tennis player Andre Agassi and wife Steffi Graf in attendance before the boxing fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
10 Best Male Tennis Players in Open Era
#10 – Andre Agassi
Andre Agassi is a former world No. 1 tennis player. He holds 8 Grand Slam singles titles, including 4 at the Australian Open.
The American Agassi also took home a gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games. Agassi played strong from deep in the court, dominating opponents with his aggressive baseline tennis. The majority of his major tournament titles came on hard court surfaces, although he found success across all surfaces.
Agassi boasts one of the best all-time win rates in Open Era tennis.
Apr 20, 2013; New York, NY, USA; Tennis player John McEnroe reacts during game one of the first round of the 2013 NBA playoffs between the New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden. Knicks won 85-78. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports
10 Best Male Tennis Players in Open Era
#9 – John McEnroe
John McEnroe is iconic. He is one of the most entertaining players to ever grace a tennis court.
He is a former world No. 1 tennis player, holding 7 Grand Slam singles titles. McEnroe also earned a record 8 season-ending finals titles. The American McEnroe won 4 of his 7 Grand Slam titles on his home soil at the US Open.
Best known for his on the court antics, John McEnroe now entertains tennis fans through his commentary. His style of play made it difficult for opponents to strategize against him. While his net play is superior to most, he also was able to mix up his playing style enough to confuse and dismantle opponents.
Jul 10 2016; London, United Kingdom; General view of centre court at the trophy presentation after the Andy Murray (GBR) and Milos Raonic (CAN) men
10 Best Male Tennis Players in Open Era
#8 – Jimmy Connors
Jimmy Connors is a former world No. 1 tennis player.
The American has 8 Grand Slam titles to his name, 5 of which came at the US Open. Connors holds the record as the only men’s singles player to earn over 100 tournament titles in his career. At 109, he is 15 titles ahead of the second best player and over 20 titles ahead of any active tennis players.
Connors also played the most matches and holds the record for most match wins in Open Era. He is over 200 match wins ahead of the second best player and any active players in the sport.
Jul 2, 2016; London, United Kingdom; General view of courts 14 -17 on day six of the 2016 The Championships Wimbledon. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
10 Best Male Tennis Players in Open Era
#7 – Bjorn Borg
Bjorn Borg earned an impressive 11 Grand Slam singles titles.
The Swedish tennis superstar is a former world No. 1. The majority of Borg’s major tournament titles came at Roland Garros where he won 6.
Borg’s career might be the most interesting narrative in the sport of tennis. His success came early in life and the stardom forced the Swedish tennis star to step away from the sport of the age of 26. He attempted a brief but unsuccessful comeback. One can only imagine what records Borg would have shattered if he continued his unparalleled play that dominated the 1970s in tennis.
Sept 3, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Ivan Lendl the coach of Andy Murray in attendance during the match on day six of the 2016 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
10 Best Male Tennis Players in Open Era
#6 – Ivan Lendl
Ivan Lendl is a former world No. 1 tennis player.
He is in the news in recent years for his coaching of tennis star Andy Murray. Lendl has 8 Grand Slam singles titles to his name. Lendl is largely considered to be the player that introduced “power tennis” to the sport. His style of play featured intense topspin and strength that he used to dominate opponents.
Murray is no doubt graced by having one of the greatest in the sport of tennis by his side. Under his tutelage, Murray became a world No. 1 himself.
Jun 3, 2015; Paris, France; Rafael Nadal (ESP) waves goodbye to the crowd after his match against Novak Djokovic (SRB) on day 11 of the 2015 French Open at Roland Garros. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
10 Best Male Tennis Players in Open Era
#5 – Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal has 14 Grand Slam singles titles and counting.
The Spanish tennis superstar is a former world No. 1. He has been called “The King of Clay” as Nadal holds an impressive 9 Grand Slam titles at Roland Garros.
Nadal is a fan favorite. He captures tennis fans with his charisma and aggressive play. Often times, he covers the court when it seems near impossible to do so. Nadal is tied for second just behind Roger Federer in total Grand Slam titles. Despite recent injuries to the Spanish tennis star, he is no doubt a favorite to make a run at more major tournaments in the coming seasons.
June 3, 2016; Paris, France; Rod Laver (AUS) receives an award from the FFT president Jean Gachassin for winning two French Open titles in 1962 and 1969 on day 13 of the 2016 French Open. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
10 Best Male Tennis Players in Open Era
#4 – Rod Laver
Rod Laver had a career that bridged the gap between pre Open Era tennis and the world we know today. His record of 200 singles titles would dwarf those set by others solely playing in the Open Era.
The Australian tennis star has 11 Grand Slam singles titles to his name and is a former world No. 1. It is often difficult to debate where Laver falls in the list of the greatest tennis players of all-time. Many experts have him at No. 1. Laver is a former amateur world No. 1 as well and contributed to 5 Australian titles for the Davis Cup in an era when the cup was considered on par with the Grand Slams. There is no question that Laver belongs on the list.
Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
10 Best Male Tennis Players in Open Era
#3 – Pete Sampras
Pete Sampras is a former world No. 1.
His career featured an intense rivalry with Andre Agassi, where Sampras flew by Agassi in Grand Slam titles. He holds 14 Grand Slam titles to his name, which ties him with Rafael Nadal for the time being and places him second overall.
Sampras won 7 Wimbledon titles but also proved himself as one of the best all-around players in the history of the sport. His style of play ranged from aggressive baseline defensive volleying to a powerful first serve. His ability to defeat players in a variety of ways and on a variety of surfaces separated him from most everyone that he faced.
Mar 20, 2016; Indian Wells, CA, USA; Novak Djokovic (SRB) holds his trophy after defeating Milos Raonic (not pictured) in the men
10 Best Male Tennis Players in Open Era
#2 – Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic might very well end up as the greatest player to ever grace a tennis court. The Serbian tennis superstar still has many years left to play and he already holds 12 Grand Slam singles titles.
Djokovic is a former world No. 1 with 5 ATP World Tour Finals titles to go along with his major tournaments. The Serbian’s dominance is especially apparent as he has played against the likes Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Andy Murray among others throughout the entirety of his career. His ability to play on any surface and break away from his baseline dominance when necessary sets him apart from everyone else in the sport. He will continue to add to his win totals over the next decade.
Aug 17, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Roger Federer celebrates after defeating David Ferrer (not pictured) on day seven of the Western and Southern Open tennis tournament at Linder Family Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
10 Best Male Tennis Players in Open Era
#1 – Roger Federer
Roger Federer is the best player in the Open Era.
A former world No. 1, the Swiss tennis star holds a record 17 Grand Slam singles titles. It is a record the likes of Djokovic and Murray are chasing, but that he will continue to defend so long as he keeps playing.
The Swiss tennis star has reached each Grand Slam finals at least 5 times and holds 7 Wimbledon titles. Federer’s career bridged the gap between the Sampras-Agassi era and the Murray-Djokovic era. He has seen success against the likes of Agassi and Djokovic along with many others. Jimmy Connors expressed awe for Federer’s style of play. He must be considered the greatest on any surface until another can prove otherwise.
Jul 12, 2015; London, United Kingdom; Roger Federer (SUI) at the trophy presentation after his match against Novak Djokovic (SRB) on day 13 of The Championships Wimbledon at the AELTC. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
10 Best Male Tennis Players in Open Era
Roger Federer tops the list of the greatest men’s singles players in the Open Era. Novak Djokovic is close behind the Swiss superstar and may very well pass him in the coming decade, but for now the title is Federer’s to own.
The list of the top 10 best players in Open Era is made up of men who have competed in different decades. Many played one another and many often leave room for the debate when ranking them. There is no doubt, however, that these 10 players are among the greatest to ever play the sport of tennis and that all belong in the conversation.
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