5 Men's tennis players with the most Grand Slam appearances

Since the dawn of 'The Open Era' in the year 1968 when professional players were allowed to compete with amateur level players at the Grand Slam Majors, the number of players participating in Grand Slam tournaments saw a substantial spike. It is no surprise then that 9 of the top 10 all-time Grand Slams Singles' appearance record holders are all players who are either active or those who exclusively played during the Open Era. The only exception to this is Australian tennis legend, Roy Emerson who ranks 10th in the all-time list of Men's Grand Slam Singles' appearances with 59 appearances. We take a look at 5 players with the most Grand Slam Singles' appearances :

#5 Lleyton Hewitt

Lleyton Hewitt at the 2018 Wimbledon Championships

Australian Lleyton Hewitt popularly called 'Rusty' was a master of 5-set battles throughout his career. He is the youngest player in ATP ranking history to be ranked Number 1. He achieved this in November 2001 when he was just 20 years and 8 months old a couple of months after winning his first Grand Slam title at the 2001 US Open. Hewitt won the 2002 Wimbledon Championships.

Since his debut at 1997 Australian Open aged just 15, Hewitt played in 20 consecutive Australian Open tournaments until his retirement from the SIngles' format in 2016. In all, over a 20-year professional Singles' career, Hewitt made 66 Grand Slam Singles' appearances.

#4 Feliciano Lopez

Feliciano Lopez at the 2018 US Open

Coupled with a big serve and good approach shots including a delightful single-handed backhand, Feliciano Lopez is unlike his fellow Spanish compatriots and prefers the faster grass courts. Since turning professional in 1997, Feliciano Lopez holds the record for the most consecutive Grand Slam Singles' appearances at 68. He broke a tie with Roger Federer when he made his 66th consecutive appearance at the 2018 Wimbledon Championships.

#3 Mikhail Youzhny

Mikhail Youzhny at the 2018 Rogers Cup

Recently retired Russian Mikhail Youzhny nicknamed 'Colonel' had a career-high Singles ranking of 8 in the year 2008. The feisty competitor who has won the Davis Cup with Russia twice has reached the quarter-finals of all Grand Slams and made it beyond the quarter-finals on two occasions when he reached the semi-finals at the US Open in 2006 and 2010.

Since qualifying for the Main Draw of the Australian Open in 2001, Youzhny has played in a total of 69 Grand Slam Singles' tournaments.

#2 Fabrice Santoro

Fabrice Santoro at the 2018 Australian Open

Frenchman Fabrice Santoro was known for his longevity in tennis and had a 21 year long Singles' career between 1989-2010 inclusive. For a player whose highest ever Singles ranking was only 17, Santoro managed to win the most number of match wins over top-10 ranked players for a player never ranked in the top-10. His best Grand Slam result was a Quarterfinal at the 2006 Australian Open. He enjoyed better returns at Doubles and Mixed Doubles where he won 3 Grand Slam titles.

In all, Santoro made 70 Grand Slam Singles' appearances.

#1 Roger Federer

Roger Federer at the 2018 US Open

The man who is always at the forefront of the 'GOAT' debate not only has the most Grand Slam Singles' titles ever but also holds the record for the most Grand Slam Singles' appearances. And it certainly doesn't seem unlikely that Roger Federer will cease to add to his remarkable tally of Grand Slam appearances and Grand Slam titles.

Since making his Grand Slam debut in the 1999 French Open as a wildcard, Roger Federer has till date featured in a whopping 74 Grand Slam matches.