Roger Federer Named His Pick for the Greatest Tennis Player of All-Time

When it comes to naming the greatest tennis player of all-time, Roger Federer figures prominently at the top of that conversation. The Swiss star dominated the game during the 2000s and 2010s, and competed in some incredible matches and rivalries, not least against the likes of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray, among others.

His 4 hours and 48-minute battle against Nadal in the 2008 final at Wimbledon is to this day still referenced as one of the greatest showpiece finales of all-time in tennis, if not the best. Despite coming short in the five-set thriller to his Spanish long-term rival, Federer still went on to conquer tennis for a few more years to come. All in all, he won 20 major men’s singles titles, including a quite remarkable eight Wimbledons, which saw him lift the trophy five times in a row too.

Federer has simply seen it and done it all, so is in a better position than most to have his say on tennis’ GOAT debate. But when talking about some of the players who had inspired him over his career, he took the chance to pay a glowing tribute to one individual in particular, and declared them to be the best tennis player in history.

Roger Federer Revealed Who He Thinks is The Greatest Tennis Player in History

Federer has generally been quietly spoken since his playing days ended, while he was often magnanimous in defeat when he was on the court and more calm in demeanour than some of his fiercest rivals.

Despite playing against the likes of Nadal, Djokovic and Murray, Federer didn’t go with any of the three for his choice of the greatest tennis player of all-time. Indeed, given his own accolades, he would have been forgiven for choosing himself for that GOAT title too, but instead he bestowed that honour on top of one of the best women’s players the game has ever seen: Serena Williams.

Speaking to The Wall Street Journal, the Swiss superstar said:

After then clarifying that he meant Williams being the greatest tennis player overall rather than just for females, Federer added that wading into the GOAT conversation is always going to prove to be tricky. He added:

Serena Williams’ Tennis Success May Never Be Matched Again

Serena Williams is rightfully considered among the greatest tennis players of all-time, let alone among just women. Her 23 majors are the most in the Open Era, and the second-most of all-time, while she is also the only player to achieve a career Grand Slam in both singles and doubles competition.

Williams would win her first major aged just 18 when she got her hands on the 1999 US Open, while her run from the 2002 French Open to the 2003 Australian Open was legendary. It was a period that saw her win all four majors consecutively, and quite remarkably, triumphing over big sister, Venus Williams, in the final.

Despite injuries and a decline in form seeing her success slow down somewhat, Williams returned to her best a few years later, beginning with her triumph at Wimbledon in 2012. That would see her claim Olympic gold, and then go on a run of clinching eight out of the next 13 majors. It was at the 2017 Australian Open that she would win her 23rd and final major title, surpassing Steffi Graf’s record from the Open Era.

Williams’ longevity is regarded as one of her greatest strengths, given that there was an 18-year gap from her first major to her last. That consistency and having to play against some of the game’s best players across many years led Federer to further praise Williams and how the two of them have been a conduit between generations so to speak.