Ranking the 5 greatest male tennis players of all time

The debate over the greatest men's tennis player of all time has been going on for a long while. Different players have emerged as candidates for this coveted title in different eras, with no clear consensus.

With the change of eras, there is a change in techniques, racket equipment, racket technologies, fitness levels, availability of trainers and fitness coaches, etc. Therefore, it becomes extremely difficult to compare players from different eras and judge who is the better player among them.

Earlier, players used to retire before their 30s, but now players play on till their late 30s and even into their 40s. The top 3 ATP ranked players as of February 2020 are all above 30, with Roger Federer being 38 years of age, Rafael Nadal being 33, and Novak Djokovic being 32.

On top of that, the rules for different eras differ too. There was a huge change in the rules before and after the Open Era. Before the Open Era, pros weren't allowed to contest in Grand Slams, due to which many players have a lower tally of Majors than if they would've been allowed to play.

Therefore, there are a lot of variable factors in comparing players from different eras. Since finding a single G.O.A.T. from players across different eras is difficult, here's a list of 5 players who I consider to be the greatest of all time, based strictly on the records that they own.

5. Pete Sampras

Pete Sampras

Pete Sampras was an American tennis player who played from 1988 to 2002. He won 14 Grand Slams, the most anyone had won until Roger Federer broke the record in Wimbledon 2009.

Along with 14 Majors, Sampras won 64 career titles overall, held the World No. 1 position for 286 weeks (a record in his time) and also finished the year as the No. 1 player 6 times - a record that has still not been broken today. He was known for his booming serves, with many believing his serve to be the greatest in the history of the sport.

Sampras had a very offensive game style, with the ability to hit winners from both the forehand and the backhand. His rivalry with Andre Agassi was the most prolific rivalry of his time, with some great matches taking place between the two.

Sampras' only weakness was clay, which didn't allow him to freely implement his offensive playing style owing to their slowness. But although he failed to win the French Open, his greatness remains unquestioned.

I place Sampras at No. 5 because of the 14 Grand Slams he won and his World No. 1 stats.

4. Rod Laver

Rod Laver

Rod Laver was an Australian tennis player who played from 1963 to 1979. He is the only player in this list who has played in both the Open Era as well as before that.

As the rules during before the start of the Open Era were a bit different than they are now, it is difficult to exactly quantify Laver's stats. For example, he won 200 titles, but only 54 of them are recognized by the ATP. Similarly, he won more than 1400 matches in his career, but again, the ATP records will show different numbers.

But one thing that is universally accepted is his 11 Grand Slams. Now, there are players who have won more Majors than Laver who are not on this list. What makes his 11 Slams special is the fact that he won all the four in a single year, and that too twice - once in 1962 and then again in 1969.

Due to the rules of his era, Laver wasn't allowed to compete in any Slam from 1963 to 1968. If he had competed in the 24 Majors during that period, his final tally would've likely been close to Federer's record of 20.

I place Laver above Pete Sampras even though the latter has won more Grand Slams because of the fact that Laver won the Calendar Slam twice in his career, and also taking into account the fact that he missed a lot of Slams due to the rules of his time.

3. Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic is a Serbian tennis player who is the current World No. 1. He has won 17 Grand Slams so far, having won his latest just a few weeks back at the Australian Open.

Djokovic currently has won 78 titles, among which are 34 Masters titles - one short of Nadal's 35. He has held the World No. 1 position for 277 weeks, and has been the year-end World No. 1 five times.

Djokovic is the only player to have won all the nine Masters at least once, a testament to his versatility and skill on all surfaces. He is also the only player after Rod Laver to have held all the 4 Grand Slams simultaneously.

The Serb is considered to be the greatest returner in the game, and his backhand is also rated as one of the best of all time. His winning H2H against both Federer and Nadal give him an advantage in the GOAT debate.

Djokovic is also one of the fittest players in the world, known for his ridiculous elasticity. Considering his age, he has a huge shot at breaking Federer's record of 20 Grand Slams.

I rate Djokovic at No. 3 just because he has fewer Slams than Nadal and Federer, which by the look of things, won't stay the same for too long.

2. Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal is a Spanish tennis player, who is currently ranked No. 2 in the world. He has won 19 Grand Slams in his career, among which are a ridiculous 12 French Open titles. His great defence and outstanding physicality have made him the best claycourt player of all time, earning the title 'King of Clay'.

Nadal plays each point, each game, each set as if his life depends on it. He keeps pushing his opponent in every point until the opponent gives up.

The Spaniard is known as the 'raging bull' because of his playing style, which involves giving 200% in each shot he hits, and beating his opponent physically and mentally. He is a mental fortress, with the determination to give more than his best in every match he plays.

Nadal's career has been filled with injuries, and yet he has managed to win a staggering 19 Grand Slams. One wonders how many would he have won if it weren't those for injuries.

I rate Nadal at No. 2 because he is still one Slam short of Federer's tally of 20. His two-Slam lead over Djokovic gives him a slight edge in this list, otherwise Nadal and Djokovic are pretty even.

1. Roger Federer

Roger Federer

Roger Federer is a Swiss tennis player, who is ranked No. 3 currently. He has broken and remade countless records.

Federer has won a staggering 20 Grand Slam titles, has been the World No. 1 for a total of 310 weeks (out of which he was the No. 1 for a record 237 consecutive weeks from 2004-08), has been the year-end World No. 1 five times, has won more than 100 titles and more than 1200 matches in his career, and has won the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award a record five times (consecutively from 2004-08 and then in 2017).

Federer has also won the Olympic gold medal in doubles (with Stan Wawrinka in 2008) and a silver medal in singles (in 2012). He has been in 10 consecutive Grand Slam finals, 23 consecutive Slam semifinals and 36 consecutive quarterfinals, all three being records.

The number of records Federer holds is almost too much to list here. But any record you look up, there is a very high chance you will find Federer's name in the top 3.

The Swiss' impeccable footwork and playing style make the game look ridiculously easy. The impact he has had on the sport is unparalleled, and he still continues to play tennis at a high level at 38 years of age.

Although the end of Federer's career is near, time stops everytime he steps on the court, which is his canvas. For me, Federer is the best because of his current Grand Slam record (albeit which could be broken soon by both Nadal and Djokovic), his World No. 1 records, his longevity, and just the way he plays the game.