Roger Federer retires: Ranking 10 greatest tennis players of all time
Roger Federer has officially announced his retirement from tennis at the ripe old age of 41, regardless of who your opinion is on the greatest of all time, the Swiss star is always going to be in the conversation.
With 20 Grand Slam titles to his name, there’s few that can boast a better CV than Federer, who will be sorely missed when he leaves the court professionally for the last time at The Laver Cup in London next week.
So, what better time than now to rank the ten greatest players of all time in tennis? There isn’t is the answer, so let’s see where I’ve ranked Federer!
10. Billie Jean King
Billie Jean King is an icon in the tennis world, dominating her field for almost a decade as she won an astonishing 129 titles which included 12 Grand Slams. Most can only dream of having a CV like hers, cementing her as tenth on this list.
9. Pete Sampras
Widely considered as the GOAT pre-Federer, it would have been harsh to exclude Pete Sampras. However, with a plethora of modern greats jumping him in my opinion, his inability to clinch a single title at the French Open damages his case, but his six consecutive years at number one can’t be overlooked.
8. Martina Navratilova
The Open Era hasn’t seen anyone like Martina Navratilova, winning an astonishing 167 titles during that time, which is still a record. A total of 59 Grand Slam crowns is mind blowing, with 18 of those in the singles events.
7. Bjon Borg
Bjon Borg has to feature on any list of the greatest tennis players ever, especially when you consider his five consecutive Wimbledon titles, and who could forget that monster match with John McEnroe? His entertainment value on the court was second to none and a player we were truly lucky to have on the courts.
6. Steffi Graf