Pete Sampras Named His 5 Greatest Male Tennis Players of All-Time

The debate for the greatest tennis player of all-time is one that has raged on furiously for a number of decades. From superstars of the late 20th century, to modern-day talents like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, there are a number of tennis stars who can genuinely lay claim to being the best of the lot.

One man in particular, is perhaps more than qualified to have his say on the GOAT conversation: Pete Sampras. The American goes down in history as one of the most dominant champions to ever play the sport, winning 14 Grand Slam titles and showing the skill and temperament to have opposition players simply resigned to defeat even before playing him.

As the US Open gets underway, take a look at who Sampras – the winner of five US Opens over his career – named as the five greatest tennis players in history.

5

Rod Laver

Ranked as the world number one for five years in the mid to late 1960s, Rod Laver would win around 200 titles across his amateur and professional career – by far the most of any tennis player in history. Laver would win 11 Grand Slam tournaments, and completed the Grand Slam of winning all four majors in a single calendar year on two separate occasions – first in 1962, and then seven years later in 1969.

The extent of Laver’s greatness extended to just how incredible he was across all surfaces, winning titles on grass, clay, hard, carpet and wood. The Australian was also hugely successful while representing his country, contributing to five Davis Cup victories in an era where the tournament was considered just as significant and valuable as the four majors.

4

Roger Federer

Arguably the greatest tennis player of his generation, Roger Federer’s legendary battles with the likes of Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray will stand the test of time. The Swiss star blended elegance and style with unrivaled consistency and work ethic, and holds the record for the most consecutive weeks as world number one with 237.

Federer would win 103 singles titles on the ATP Tour which is the most of any player since the start of the Open Era in 1968, and has 20 majors to his name. Federer’s dominance at Wimbledon in particular is arguably his biggest achievement and legacy in the game, having won there eight times.

His run from 2004 to 2009 saw him compete in 20 out of the 24 major singles finals, while he would finally complete the career Grand Slam when he beat long-time rival Nadal at the 2009 French Open.

3

Bjorn Borg

While modern tennis fans have been treated to iconic rivalries involving the likes of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, Bjorn Borg’s own thrilling contests with the likes of Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe are still regarded as some of the greatest matches in history. Borg would win 11 majors over his career, including six at the French Open and showcasing unreal dominance at Wimbledon by going through a period of winning it five years in a row.

Borg was a teenage wonderkid who helped raise the popularity of tennis during the 1970s, while his match with McEnroe in the 1980 Wimbledon final remains one of the best games to ever have been played. Borg’s early retirement from the sport – he did so aged 25 after losing to McEnroe in both the Wimbledon and US Open Finals in 1981 – hasn’t deterred anyone – including Sampras – from involving him in the conversation for the greatest tennis players of all-time.

2

Ivan Lendl

Ranked as the world number one for 270 weeks – the fourth-most of any player in tennis history – Ivan Lendl won 94 singles titles in his career. The Czechoslovakia-born star won eight majors, including three apiece at the French and US Opens, and then another two at the Australian Open. Lendl also tasted significant heartbreak too, suffering defeat in a major final 11 times.

Lendl remains the only man in tennis history to register a winning percentage of over 90% in five different years, doing so in 1982, 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1989. More than some of his other rivals for the spot of greatest tennis player of all-time, Lendl was absolutely dominant when it came to head-to-heads with some of the other greats he played against – against Jimmy Connors, he went 22-13, while against John McEnroe, he was 21-15.

1

Pete Sampras

While Pete Sampras including himself in the conversation for the greatest tennis player of all-time might not seem that humble, he is absolutely deserving of his spot in his top five. The American became the youngest-ever winner of a major when he won the US Open aged just 19 in 1990, while he would win his first Wimbledon title just three years later.

Sampras’ dominance of the 1990s would see him finish as world number one at the end of the year for a record six consecutive seasons from 1993 onwards. His 14th and final major came at the 2002 US Open, when he defeated long-time rival Andre Agassi, before retiring from the sport of tennis aged just 31.

The master of the serve-and-volley, Sampras’ incredible serve is widely regarded as one of the best of all-time, and was a major tool in his route to success.