It doesn’t matter what kind of sport you are talking about, when trying to decide who are the best players. This is always going to cause some debate. It is difficult to compare players, as technology has moved on so much in the world of tennis.
There are a lot of tennis players out there that could be considered legends for different reasons. However, in this article, we have managed to compile that number down to just 7 legends you should know about in the tennis world.
Roger Federer
Since going pro in 1998, Roger Federer has captivated the tennis community with his precise touch and stunning style of play. This has helped him win 20 Grand Slam championships.
At Wimbledon in 2003, Roger Federer captured his first Grand Slam victory. The Wimbledon grass has always been the Swiss's favorite surface, as he has honed the skill of winning Grand Slam titles over the years.
He routinely rises to the top of the tennis rankings lists as a result of his success. In his career, Roger Federer has spent 310 weeks at the top of the world rankings. Overall, Federer is a legend because he has won numerous tournaments, including two Olympic medals.
Rafael Nadal
Although his specialty may be clay, he has proved incredibly versatile. The lefty, who was raised in Mallorca, Spain, went pro in 2001 and won his maiden Grand Slam at the French Open in 2005.
At one point or another, he has won all four major championships, completing the career Grand Slam. When Nadal inevitably retires, we will all miss his tremendous shot making skills, which makes him a legend in the tennis world.
Serena Williams
Serena Williams has made every effort to leave a legacy that is filled with victories and achievements for herself. After Althea Gibson in 1958, Serena Williams, then 17 years old, became the second African-American woman to win the US Open title in 1999.
Serena Williams is an exceptional player who combines strength with a keen comprehension of the rules of the game. The American relies significantly on her strong and reliable serves. She challenges her opponents with her muscular ground strokes, both forehand and backhand. In total, Williams has won a total of 23 Grand Slam titles.
Novak Djokovic
Next on the list we have,
Novak Djokovic. Novak Djokovic has established himself as one of the top tennis players in the world. After going pro in 2003, it took Djokovic five years to win the Australian Open, his first Grand Slam trophy.
Another player who frequently relies on his baseline game and strong serves is Novak Djokovic. He is only the second male player to win all four Grand Slam tournaments in a single season. Due to his steady play, Djokovic frequently holds the top spot in the global rankings.
Steffi Graf
Steffi Graf, a German player who went pro in 1982, was well-known throughout the world for her playing style. This combined both quick footwork and strong ground strokes in equal measure.
Graf dominated women's tennis in the early years of the Open Era because of her adaptability and versatility. This then helped make her one of the most famous players of her generation.
The German won 22 Grand Slam championships and is the only player in history to achieve the Golden Slam. This entails winning the Olympic gold medal and all four Grand Slam championships in the same year.
Björn Borg
Borg was a founder of the baseline game and, like so many other individuals on this list, had a significant impact on the way the game is played today.
He is perhaps best known for his legendary rivalry with John McEnroe. The most striking aspect of Borg's statistics was his versatility, as evidenced by his six French Open titles and five Wimbledon titles.
The fact that so few people have been able to do this makes Björn Borg unquestionably a legend in the world of tennis.
Billie Jean King
Billie Jean King was a strong force on the court who could scramble about the court and hit powerfully when she got to the ball. She was known for her influence in tennis, both on and off the court. King is still the shortest person to ever win a grand slam at just over 5"4 tall, and she eventually took home 39 of them!
She is a huge advocate of gender equity in sports and helped establish social equality in tennis. Furthermore, she established the WTA and continued to play an important role in tennis long after her professional career came to an end in 1990. All of these things make Billie Jean King a true tennis legend.
Conclusion
There are a lot of legends in the world of tennis. We have offered just 7 of these awesome figures that have helped to make tennis the way it is today. Each person we have mentioned above is a true legend, and we hope you have enjoyed learning about them!
