How does one register as the best tennis player of this century? One person even surpasses the Big Three!

22/12/2025 23:43:00 pandatv

The evaluation of the best tennis players of this century continues, and today we focus on the very top tier. Four individuals make up this elite class: the Big Three and Serena Williams.

Throughout history, fans have passionately discussed the rankings of the Big Three, and now with Serena included, how will these rankings be altered?

[4] Rafael Nadal

Nadal was the first to increase the Grand Slam title count from 20 to 21, ultimately finishing with 22 titles, including two Australian Opens, two Wimbledons, four US Opens, and an unprecedented fourteen French Open titles. He is also the first player to complete a career Grand Slam.

In 2005, at just 19 years old, Nadal won the French Open on his debut, a feat never before seen in history as a “rookie champion.”

On the court, Nadal always gives his all, treating every ball and every point as if it were the last. As the unparalleled king of clay, his achievements on this surface are unmatched and likely to remain so.

[3] Roger Federer

As one of the most influential players in tennis history, Federer has countless memorable moments. One of the most iconic “passing-of-the-torch” moments occurred in the 2001 Wimbledon fourth round, when 19-year-old Federer faced seven-time champion Sampras and won in five sets, still sporting a ponytail.

Two years later, Federer lifted his first Wimbledon trophy, marking the start of nearly four to five years of dominance in the tennis world. Except for the French Open, which Nadal firmly controlled, Federer triumphed at the other three Grand Slams.

Considered one of tennis’s most iconic figures, Federer won a total of 103 singles titles in his career, ranking second in the Open Era. Among these were 20 Grand Slam titles, breaking the previous record of 14 set by former great Sampras, which once seemed unbeatable.

[2] Novak Djokovic

Djokovic won his first Grand Slam at the 2008 Australian Open, though few expected him to challenge the dominance of Federer and Nadal at the time. However, Djokovic later proved that having dreams is truly remarkable.

After years of chasing, he eventually surpassed both Federer and Nadal. Today, every time he competes, he rewrites records. He holds the record for the most men’s Grand Slam singles titles (24), is the only player to win double career Golden Masters, and has also secured the Davis Cup and Olympic singles gold for his country, which he values deeply.

[1] Serena Williams

Serena actually won her first Grand Slam at the last major of the previous century (the 1999 US Open), which seemed to foreshadow the storm she would bring in the new century. Indeed, until her retirement in 2022, she remained one of the most influential players in women’s tennis, with a powerful voice both on and off the court. Her career achievements include multiple singles and doubles career Grand Slams, several Olympic gold medals, and being one of the most dominant female champions in history.