Tennis
The 10 Greatest Grass Court Tennis Players of All Time
A key battleground in elite tennis , grass courts demand a strong skillset. Precision and adaptability are crucial, as is having some tactical nous, such as serve and volleying. Success on grass can ultimately define a player’s career, but who is the greatest grass court player ever? Roger Federer, Martina Navratilova, and Novak Djokovic have frequently cropped up in the debate, given their respective achievements on the hallowed Wimbledon turf.
Roger Federer/Getty Images
Our in-depth guide shines a light on the top 10 tennis players on grass courts, using a combination of longevity, titles, and legacy as primary factors. We used raw data, such as players’ careers, which is based on Grand Slam success, and allied that with historical impact on the sport to reach a sensible conclusion.
Ranking Factors
SportsBoom’s research was based on three determining factors:
- Longevity – The duration of a player’s top-level career on grass surfaces.
- Titles – Number of championships won on grass, including Wimbledon and other historical grass tournaments.
- Legacy – How the player is remembered by peers, coaches, and the broader tennis community.
Methodology
We applied a multi-layered approach to discover the greatest grass court tennis players. This included collating data from historical records, official tournament archives, and tennis databases.
Players were ranked from 10 to 1, balancing total tiles, longevity, and historical significance. Fusing these elements incorporated the ‘SB Market Index’, our robust custom-built system, which ensured the results were accurate and transparent.
Industry Insights
According to GiveMeSport, ATP, and WTA, dominance on grass requires a mixture of skill, timing, and adaptability, as the surface plays faster than clay or hard courts. Legends like Roger Federer and Martina Navratilova are celebrated not just for their titles, but for their consistency and tactical mastery under pressure.
Across all surfaces provided, it is evident that historical dominance alone does not guarantee legacy - players must continuously adapt to remain at the top and leave a lasting mark on grass courts.
Grass Court Achievements Table
| Rank | Player | Career | Wimbledon Titles (Singles) | Wimbledon Titles (Doubles) | Australian Open Titles | Total Singles Titles on Grass |
| 1 | Roger Federer | 1998-2022 | 8 | - | - | 19 |
| 2 | Novak Djokovic | 2003-Active | 7 | - | - | 8 |
| 3 | Martina Navratilova | 1974-2006 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 32 |
| 4 | Pete Sampras | 1988-2003 | 7 | - | - | 10 |
| 5 | Serena Williams | 1995-2022 | 7 | 6 | - | 8 |
| 6 | Bjorn Borg | 1973-1984, 1991-1993 | 5 | - | - | 11 |
| 7 | Steffi Graf | 1982-1999 | 7 | 1 | - | 7 |
| 8 | John McEnroe | 1978-2006 | 3 | 5 | - | 8 |
| 9 | Billie Jean King | 1959-1983 | 6 | 10 | 1 | 22 |
| 10 | Christine Evert | 1972-1989 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 17 |
SB Market Index Table
| Player | Longevity | Titles | Legacy | SB Market Index |
| Roger Federer | 10 | 10 | 10 | 98 |
| Novak Djokovic | 9 | 9 | 9 | 95 |
| Martina Navratilova | 10 | 10 | 9 | 97 |
| Pete Sampras | 9 | 9 | 8 | 93 |
| Serena Williams | 10 | 9 | 9 | 96 |
| Bjorn Borg | 8 | 8 | 8 | 90 |
| Steffi Graf | 9 | 8 | 8 | 91 |
| John McEnroe | 9 | 7 | 8 | 90 |
| Billie Jean King | 10 | 9 | 9 | 94 |
| Christine Evert | 9 | 8 | 8 | 89 |
The ‘SB Market Index’ combines longevity, titles, and legacy to produce an overall score (out of 100) reflecting a player’s dominance and influence on grass courts
Player Highlights
Roger Federer
One of the undisputed kings of grass, Roger Federer had an incredible win percentage on the surface (86.9%). Between 2003 and 2007, he was untouchable at Wimbledon, reeling off five titles in a row, and he wound up with eight. Elegance and an aggressive two style were two of his trademarks, and given his achievements on the surface, he topped our rankings.
Novak Djokovic
Despite being the only active player on this list, Novak Djokovic, who spent the most number of weeks at No.1, found Wimbledon a happy hunting ground, and his longevity pays testament to the type of player he has been. Seven Wimbledon titles attest to this, and apart from great attacking instincts, Djokovic’s defensive resilience is something to be admired, frustrating his opponents.
Martina Navratilova
A brilliant left-handed player, Martina Navratilova won 12 Grand Slam titles on the surface, and she was a domineering figure. Nobody has surpassed her record haul of 9 single crowns at Wimbledon, but she was also a doubles maestro, making her one of the most versatile players in the game, and she returned an excellent ‘SB Market Index’ score.
Pete Sampras
Wimbledon was a fortress for Pete Sampras in the 1990s. Famed for his booming huge serve and volleying game, Sampras, who is widely regarded as one of the best American players of all time, collected seven titles at SW19. He won all seven of the finals he contested, a 100% conversion rate, and his precision means he routinely comes up in conversation about grass court greats.
Serena Williams
While she wasn’t as prolific as Navratilova, Serena Williams still cut an imposing figure on grass. Often, she blew away her opponents with her power, winning seven singles titles at Wimbledon, but she also teamed up with her older sister, Venus, to clinch six doubles titles. A true superstar!
Bjorn Borg
His career may have been short compared to the other legends on this list, but Bjorn Borg’s ice-cold demeanour won five Wimbledon titles in a row from 1976 to 1980. At times, he was simply unstoppable, and he also lays claim to holding the longest winning streak in men’s history (49 matches).
John McEnroe
There were times when John McEnroe’s temper spilt over, but he formed one of the greatest rivalries in tennis with Borg. McEnroe shone at both singles and doubles, and he was one of the fiercest competitors of his generation
Billie Jean King
Billie Jean-King was a trailblazer, and she championed the cause for equality in tennis. The American enjoyed an illustrious career, and she enjoyed many thrilling clashes with Margaret Court. King was a worthy inclusion in our carefully curated list.
Christine Evert
Christine Evert holds the honour of winning Wimbledon and the Australian Open at a time when both Slams were held on grass. She is also one of the few players to have won the Wimbledon singles and doubles titles in the same year (1976). She was extremely agile and had the required tactical nous to stand tall in a highly competitive era of women’s tennis.
Conclusion
In summary, Roger Federer’s overall impact on grass court tennis meant he topped the ‘SB Market Index’ ranking, and at times, he was in a league of his own with his graceful movement. Federer also had one of the best backhands in the game, which further underlined what he achieved when in his pomp.
Grass, as we have seen, demands precision, power, and adaptability. The players featured on this list have enduring legacies, and they have inspired the future generation. Their exploits continue to be cherished and they remain the yardstick by which to measure success on the surface.
Charles Perrin is a highly experienced sports betting content writer with over six years of working with some of the leading sportsbooks in the UK, including bet365 and William Hill.