In the history of men’s tennis, John Isner has participated in and won the most tiebreaks, while Novak Djokovic has the greatest winning percentage.
Here are the top seven male tennis athletes who have exceptional playing careers and achieved excellent and world-breaking rankings.
Novak Djokovic – 66.3%
Novak Djokovic has won 334 out of 504 tiebreakers, adding another feather to his already impressive resume and demonstrating his resilience under pressure. Moreover, Djokovic has a 78.4% (40–11) victory percentage, which is the greatest record in five-set matches.
Roger Federer – 65.4%
Roger Federer concluded his career with a 466–247 win-loss record, falling short of 500 tiebreaker victories.
Arthur Ashe – 65%
Arthur Ashe, with a 165-89 win-loss record, is one of three players to win 65% of their tiebreakers. The great American, a three-time Grand Slam champion, is among those affected by the tiebreakers’ late implementation.
Andres Gomes – 63.2%
The legendary Andres Gomez of Ecuador dominated the clay courts. He only achieved a Grand Slam there, defeating Andre Agassi in the 1990 French Open final. Furthermore, he only participated in three tiebreakers, all of which occurred in the opening two rounds. In tiebreakers, Gomez concluded with a win-loss record of 182-106.
Pete Sampras – 62.8%
Pete Sampras was also an expert at utilizing his greatest weapon—his serve—to escape difficult circumstances. Exactly 522 tiebreakers were played by the 14-time Grand Slam champion, and he prevailed in 328 of them.
Andy Roddick – 62.1%
Andy Roddick was renowned for his ability to escape difficult situations with powerful serves, and it goes without saying that he excelled in tiebreakers. Throughout the course of his 12-year career as a singles player, the 2003 US Open champion won 303 of 488 tiebreakers. His overall win-loss record was 612–213 (74.2%).
John McEnroe – 61.8%
John McEnroe, the seven-time Grand Slam champion, has an 883–198 lifetime win-loss record in singles. He only participated in 306 tiebreakers during his remarkable career. With a record of 189-117 in tie-breakers, he ended his athletic journey.
As with any sport, tennis has several metrics for determining which player is the best, such as the number of grand slam victories, Olympic medals, records broken, and total matches won.
However, there is one other indicator that can tell us specifically how good of a tennis player an individual is: Winning percentage.
In essence, it is a ratio of the total number of victories to the total number of matches played.
Here are the top five players:
1. Novak Djokovic- Djokovic recently won the Rolex Paris Masters, which further increased his winning percentage. In the last three years, Djokovic has consistently been in the top five tennis players with the highest winning percentage.
In 2021, Djokovic was in fourth place with 85.9%, and in 2022, he climbed up two spots and landed in second place with 83.2%. And now, in 2023, as the season comes to an end, Djokovic has risen to the top, edging past his two greatest adversaries, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, with 83.68%.
Djokovic currently holds 97 ATP singles titles in his career, including 24 grand slams.
2. Rafael Nadal- In second place is none other than the Spanish phenom Rafael Nadal, with 82.92% winning percentage. Touted as the ‘King of Clay’, Nadal has won 92 ATP singles titles, with 63 of those victories coming on clay.
In 2021, Nadal ranked second in terms of winning percentages, with 87.3%. In the following year, Nadal peaked and took the number one spot with 83.3%.
3. Bjorn Borg- Coming in third is the Swedish tennis player who has won numerous notable matches throughout his career, Bjorn Borg. In 2021, Borg was ranked number 1 with a winning percentage of 89.8%.
In 2022, however, Borg was overtaken by Djokovic and Nadal to fall to third place with a percentage of 82.4%.
Federer an Connors
4. Roger Federer- Federer comes in fourth with 81.98%. Although Federer retired from the sport last year after the Laver Cup, his memory of playing tennis is still very much alive in the minds of tennis enthusiasts.
In October, the 20-time grand slam champion also made a brief appearance at the ATP Rolex Shanghai Masters to receive the “Icon Athlete” award.
In 2021, Federer ranked third with 86.2%, and in the following year, he moved to the fourth spot with 82%.
5. Jimmy Connors- In fifth place is American tennis player, Jimmy Conors with 81.82%. From 1974 to 1977, Connors established a record by being the top-ranked player in the Association of Tennis Professionals for 160 consecutive weeks and a career total of 268 weeks.
In addition, an article from ChaseYourSport wrote that Connor was also the first male player to hold the top spot for more than 200 weeks.
From 2021 to 2023, Connors consistently held fifth place in the winning percentage ranking.
Highest career winning percentage in ATP tennis history:
The 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic is continuing his unrelenting ascent through the ranks, having achieved an unprecedented accomplishment by holding the top spot for 419 weeks. Djokovic continues to imprint his name more deeply into the history of the game, expanding his incredible record with every day that goes by.
But on Sunday, he will be adding yet another gem to his collection when, at 36 years and 321 days, he breaks Roger Federer’s record and becomes the oldest World No. 1 ever. In a sport where legends are made, Djokovic’s unwavering domination and unmatched longevity are proof of his excellence, enthralling spectators across the globe and cementing his status as one of tennis’s real titans.
The Decade-Defying Dominance of Djokovic
Seen as one of the best players in tennis history, Novak Djokovic demonstrated his extraordinary endurance and steady success as he approached his fourth decade of play. The Serbian legend turned thirty on May 22, 2017, and since then, he has won an astounding thirty-one tour-level titles, including ten ATP Masters 1000 wins from 40 matches, two ATP Finals championships from seven, and twelve Grand Slam victories out of a possible forty.
With every outstanding performance on the court, his legend is cemented as his undying commitment to greatness captivates viewers around the globe.
On July 4, 2011, at the tender age of 24, Novak Djokovic began his climb to the top of the men’s tennis rankings. This achievement came one day ahead of his fearsome rivals, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, who took the top spot at the age of 22.
Even with a new group of elite players on the ATP Tour, Djokovic’s unwavering skill has guaranteed his place at the top of the rankings. Though Carlos Alcaraz’s ascent to the top of the ATP Rankings at the age of 19 in September 2022 is impressive, Djokovic’s unmatched rule at the pinnacle of the game continues to loom large over the tennis scene.
Tennis is a racket sport that can be played as an individual or as a team of two players. The Game is believed to be first played in the 19th Century in England, United Kingdom. The basic concept of the game is to hit a ball with a racket in the opponent’s court in such a way that the opponent is unable to hit the ball back. The player who is unable to return the ball will not gain a point, while the opposite player will. The racket has cords that help the player to hit the ball.
The game of tennis is governed by International Tennis Federation whose headquarters is situated in London, England, United Kingdom. ITF has formed 108 years ago on 1 March 1913 and currently, 211 National Associations are Members of the Federation. David Haggerty is the president of the ITF. The ITF organizes the Grand Slam events, annual team competitions for men (Davis Cup), women (Billie Jean King Cup), and mixed teams (Hopman Cup), as well as tennis and wheelchair tennis events at the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games on behalf of the International Olympic Committee.
Top 10 Most Controversial Tennis Players of All Time
Sports is no stranger to controversies, may it be on field cheating, any aggressive move, inappropriate statement or off-field controversy. Some controversies are proved to be in favour of the player and give them fame while some defame them. Let’s have look at the 10 Most Controversial Tennis Players of All Time.
10. Daniel Köllerer
Daniel Köllerer is a former Austrian professional Tennis Player born on 17 August 1983 in Wels, Austria. Daniel was involved in lots of controversies like racial abuses to a Brazilian player by calling him monkey in June 2010 and for match-fixing in 2011. He became the first tennis player to face a lifetime ban for match Fixing. He was fined $100,000 USD by the Tennis Integrity Unit for this act.
9. John McEnroe
John Patrick McEnroe Jr. is an American former professional tennis player born on February 16, 1959, in Wiesbaden, Germany. John was a very successful Tennis Player who attained world no.1 ranking in both singles and doubles with 77 singles and 78 doubles wins. Despite being such a good player, John used to remain in controversy due to his arrogant behaviour with umpires and tennis authorities.
8. Jimmy Connors
James Scott Connors is a former American world no. 1 Tennis Player who was born on 2 September 1952 in California, United States. James is one of the most successful and prominent figures in Tenni.s, his achievements include eight major singles titles (a joint Open Era record five US Opens, two Wimbledons, one Australian Open), three year-end championships, and 17 Grand Prix Super Series titles. He was very aggressive when it came to Matches and that behaviour was clearly visible with chair umpires, the public and his opponents. His aggressive behaviour made him a hot topic of controversies.
7. Andre Agassi
Andre Kirk Agassi is an American former world No. 1 tennis player born on April 29, 1970, in Nevada, United States. Andre is an eight-time major champion and a 1996 Olympic gold medalist, as well as a runner-up in seven other Grand Slam tournaments. Andre became a controversial topic after his autobiography release where he shared topics about his drug problem, his lies, unhappiness and other things which no one knew.
6. Ilie Nastase
Ilie Theodoriu Năstase is a Romanian former world No. 1 tennis player who was born on 19 July 1946 in Bucharest, Romania. Ilie was the first player to be ranked no. 1 on the computerized ATP Rankings. Năstase is one of the 10 players in history who have won over 100 total ATP titles, with 64 in singles and 45 in doubles. Ilie used to trash talk to players, break rackets when in anger and face criticism for painting his face black in a Doubles match.
5. Marat Safin
Marat Mubinovich Safin is a Russian retired world No. 1 tennis player born on 27 January 1980 in Moscow, Soviet Union. Marat had anger issues on the court which included throwing rackets in anger, debating with chair umpires. He was also known for his nightlife, partying and driving fast and luxury cars.
4. Andy Roddick
Andrew Stephen Roddick is an American former world No. 1 tennis player who was born on 30 August 1982 in Texas, United States. Andy would sometimes smash his opponents, insult chair umpires, lose points and get penalties for silly reasons.
3. Michael Chang
Michael Te-Pei Chang is an American businessman and former professional tenni.s player born on February 22, 1972. Chang is the youngest male player to win the Grand Slam Tournament at the age of 17 years 109 days. He was a topic of controversy due to his spectacular comeback in the finals.
2. Ernests Gulbis
Ernests Gulbis is a Latvian professional tennis player born on 30 August 1988 in Riga, Latvia. Gulbis is known as the wild child of tennis because of the controversial statements made by him. He used to do trash talking and thought that tenni,s should be like boxing and many players did not get along with him.
1. Lleyton Hewitt
Lleyton Glynn Hewitt AM is an Australian professional tennis player and former world No. 1 born on 24 February 1981. He was involved in a racism dispute while playing James Blake at the 2001 US Open. He behaved very intensely in court which landed him in controversies.
Even at 36 years old, Novak Djokovic astonishes the tennis community with his magnetic abilities, demonstrating beyond question that “age is just a number.” The fact that he has won an astounding 40 ATP Masters 1000 titles is proof of his unwavering supremacy on the court and his unwavering pursuit of excellence.
Only Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have won 400 matches at this level of play, making Djokovic a legendary player. Djokovic continues to be a powerful force, rewriting the history of tennis and cementing his place among the greatest of all time as he breaks records with panache and resolve.
Djokovic back after 5 years
Tennis virtuoso Novak Djokovic is back on the California courts after a five-year absence, and he is aiming for an unprecedented sixth title in the prestigious BNP Paribas Open, also referred to as Tennis Paradise. This audacious endeavor may enable him to surpass the five-time champion Roger Federer.
Amidst the growing excitement, Djokovic is also in danger of joining the select group of athletes who have won 1,100 matches; this feat is his to attain should he win the event without suffering any unanticipated walkovers.
When he looks back on his supremacy, his most recent victory in 2016 at this renowned event represented an incredible third straight victory. Everything is in place for Djokovic to take back his crown in the sun-kissed paradise of Tennis Paradise, leaving his mark on the annals of the game with each forceful serve and cunning move.
Thriller
Djokovic experienced hardship in the thrilling opening match of the BNP Paribas Open as he lost the first set and fell behind Aleksandar Vukic 0-3 in the opening set.
But Djokovic made a comeback, winning the third set and breaking back to ensure his victorious return to Indian Wells since 2018. On the court, Djokovic demonstrated his tenacity and dedication to perfection with an astounding 83% first-serve victory percentage and a noticeable improvement in his forehand.
Tennis legend and former World No. 1, Roger Federer, graced Wimbledon’s Centre Court for a momentous ceremony, paying tribute to his extraordinary career that unfolded within its hallowed grounds. The anticipation soared as Wimbledon’s official Twitter account shared a captivating photo of Federer’s majestic arrival, greeted with a cheerful “Good morning.”
Accompanied by his wife Mirka, the Swiss maestro, who announced his retirement last September, had largely kept his distance from the sport after a heartfelt farewell at the Laver Cup. However, just last month, Federer received further recognition for his exceptional accomplishments at the grass-court tournament in Halle.
Wimbledon holds a special place in Roger Federer’s heart, where he began his remarkable journey toward greatness. From securing his first Grand Slam title in 2003 to reaching seven consecutive finals and emerging victorious in five (2003-2007), Federer’s legacy at the tournament is unparalleled. As Wimbledon pays tribute to his phenomenal career, fans eagerly anticipate reliving the magical moments that defined his lasting impact.
8 Wimbledon Victories for Federer: A legendary legacy
The Wimbledon Maestro. From 2003 onwards, he reigned supreme, capturing four consecutive titles and captivating the world. Yet 2008, destiny took an unexpected turn as Nadal halted his historic pursuit. Witness the epic Wimbledon narrative of the battle of the legends as it takes place.
Year
Result
Win/Loss
2003
Champion
7-0
2004
Champion
7-0
2005
Champion
7-0
2006
Champion
7-0
2007
Runner-up
6-1
2008
Runner-up
6-1
2009
Champion
7-0
2010
Quarterfinal
4-1
2011
Quarterfinal
4-1
2012
Semifinal
5-1
2013
Second Round
2-1
2014
Runner-up
6-1
2015
Runner-up
6-1
2016
Semifinal
5-1
2017
Champion
7-0
2018
Quarterfinal
4-1
2019
Runner-up
6-1
2020
Did not play
–
2021
Quarterfinal
4-1
2022
Did not play
–
In his last SW19 appearance in 2021, Roger Federer reached the quarterfinals before falling to Hubert Hurkacz. With eight Wimbledon trophies, Federer holds the Open Era record. However, Novak Djokovic has the chance to match his illustrious tally this year, setting the stage for an enthralling showdown on the grass courts of Wimbledon.
