Best Tennis Player

Pancho Gonzales, born Richard Alonzo Gonzales, was an American tennis player known for his powerful serve, athleticism, and competitive longevity. He won the U.S. National Championships in 1948 and 1949 before joining the professional circuit, where he was a leading player throughout much of the 195...

Don Budge made tennis history in 1938 by becoming the first player to win all four major singles championships in one calendar year. The American captured the Australian and French championships, Wimbledon and the United States Championships during that season. His late-1930s amateur career establis...

American tennis player Bill Tilden, who lived from 1893 to 1953, dominated men's singles in the 1920s. He won ten major singles titles, comprising seven United States Championships and three Wimbledon titles. He also won the World Hard Court Championships, a separate event whose historical name refe...

A Polish professional tennis player, Iga Świątek became her country's first Grand Slam singles champion by winning the 2020 French Open at nineteen. Her aggressive baseline game combines a heavy topspin forehand with quick movement and an ability to take time away from opponents. Her background on E...

Early ball striking and aggressive returns made Andre Agassi a distinctive baseline player. He used exceptional hand-eye coordination to take time away from opponents, often turning a serve return into the start of an attacking rally. His rivalries with Pete Sampras, Jim Courier, and Boris Becker pl...

Jack Kramer was an American tennis player and promoter, winning the Wimbledon men's singles title in 1947 and the US Open in 1946 and 1947. He was a strong advocate for professionalism in tennis, eventually establishing a professional tour that helped lead to the Open Era in 1968. Known for his powe...

American former professional tennis player Mike Bryan built his career chiefly in doubles, most famously alongside his twin brother Bob. Their partnership won numerous Grand Slam men's doubles titles and held the ATP's highest doubles position for an extended period. Coordinated movement and effecti...

Australian tennis player Lew Hoad was a major figure in the amateur game of the 1950s and was widely regarded as the leading amateur in 1956. That year he won the Australian Championships, French Championships and Wimbledon, then retained the Wimbledon singles title in 1957. These results gave him f...

Evonne Goolagong is a celebrated Australian tennis player recognized for her dominant style and remarkable achievements. She achieved seven Grand Slam singles titles, most notably winning Wimbledon in both 1971 and 1980. Goolagong reached the world’s top ranking during her career demonstrating excep...

Suzanne Lenglen remains one of the most dominant figures in early tennis history. The French player achieved unprecedented success during the 1920s, securing twelve Grand Slam singles titles and establishing herself as a global icon. Her powerful game and captivating presence transformed women’s ten...

Helen Wills Moody remains one of the most accomplished tennis players in history. She achieved unparalleled success during the early 20th century, winning a remarkable 31 Grand Slam titles primarily through dominance in singles competition. Her eight Wimbledon singles championships stand as a testam...

Maureen Connolly achieved unparalleled success in women’s tennis. She remains notable as the first player, male or female, to simultaneously win the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open singles titles within a single year – 1953. This historic feat cemented her legacy as a dominant f...

Justine Henin was a highly accomplished Belgian tennis player recognized globally for her exceptional skill and consistency. She achieved seven Grand Slam singles titles including three French Open victories and maintained the WTA’s world number one ranking for an impressive 117 weeks. Her strategic...

Martina Hingis was a highly influential Swiss tennis player recognized as the youngest person ever to reach World Number One. She achieved this remarkable feat at sixteen years old before winning five major Grand Slam singles championships. Hingis’s success established her as a dominant force in wom...

Evonne Goolagong Cawley was a dominant force in women’s tennis throughout the 1970s. The Australian achieved significant success as a singles player, securing seven Grand Slam titles including three Australian Open victories and four Wimbledon championships. Her aggressive playing style and powerful...

Mats Wilander was a highly influential Swedish professional tennis player. He achieved global recognition as a dominant force in the men’s singles game, peaking at world number one and winning seven Grand Slam titles during the 1980s. His aggressive baseline style and powerful serve were particularl...

Ken Rosewall was a dominant figure in early professional tennis, recognized for his powerful game and remarkable longevity. The Australian achieved significant success across singles events, winning twelve Grand Slam titles including seven men's singles championships. His sustained career, extending...

Jimmy Connors was a prominent American professional tennis player recognized as the highest-ranked male singles player in the world during the Open Era. He achieved significant success with 109 ATP singles titles and eight Grand Slam championships, notably the US Open four times. His aggressive play...

Ivan Lendl was a highly influential professional tennis player recognized for his aggressive, power-based style of play. He achieved significant success throughout the 1980s, culminating in eight Grand Slam singles titles and numerous weeks at world number one. His game influenced generations of pla...

Stefan Edberg was a highly influential Swedish professional tennis player. He achieved global recognition as a dominant force in the late 1980s and early 1990s, peaking at world number one. His distinctive serve-and-volley technique contributed significantly to his success. Edberg secured six Grand...

A German former professional tennis player, Boris Becker became internationally known by winning the Wimbledon men's singles title in 1985 as its youngest champion. He went on to collect six Grand Slam singles championships during a career closely associated with attacking tennis. A powerful serve a...

Venus Williams is an elite American tennis player recognized for her powerful game and dominant performances over a sustained period. She has secured multiple Grand Slam singles titles and numerous doubles championships, showcasing remarkable athleticism and strategic play. Her career impacts profes...

René Lacoste was a French tennis player who competed internationally during the 1920s and 1930s. He won seven Grand Slam singles titles and was one of the French players known as the Four Musketeers, a group that helped France win the Davis Cup during that period. Lacoste later co founded the Lacost...

Bob Bryan is an American former professional tennis player, born in 1978, who specialized in doubles alongside his twin brother, Mike. Competing together as the Bryan brothers, the pair achieved the world No. 1 doubles ranking and won 16 Grand Slam men's doubles titles over their career. Known for h...

Doris Hart was an American tennis player who achieved a career Grand Slam in singles and is one of only three players to complete a career boxed set, winning all four majors in singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles. Overcoming a severe knee impairment caused by osteomyelitis, she won 35 Grand...

John Newcombe was a highly successful Australian tennis player recognized for his powerful serve and aggressive style. He achieved significant success throughout the 1970s, peaking as world number one and winning seven Grand Slam singles titles including Wimbledon. His contributions extended to Aust...

Leander Paes is an Indian former professional tennis player, born in 1973, who specialized in doubles. During his career, he captured 18 Grand Slam titles, evenly divided between men's doubles and mixed doubles, achieving a Career Grand Slam in both categories. He also won a bronze medal in men's si...

Maria Bueno is a celebrated Brazilian tennis player recognized for her dominance during the mid-20th century. She achieved significant success in singles competition, securing seven Grand Slam titles between 1953 and 1964. Her achievements established her as South America’s leading female tennis com...

Althea Gibson revolutionized professional tennis. She was the first African American woman to achieve major success in the sport, notably winning the 1957 Wimbledon singles title and the 1958 US Open. Her groundbreaking accomplishments paved the way for future generations of Black athletes and funda...