Tennis Special Edition: Following Rafael Nadal’s U.S Open victory, who are the top four tennis players in the modern era?
Since the Spaniard tennis ace, Rafael Nadal captured the United States Open title in New York, the world number one has managed to change the previous line-ups, in many experts’ views.
Here is a list of top four tennis greats of the modern era.
4. Bjorn Borg
Borg, in the opinion of many analysts retired from the professional game of tennis way to early; however, he still managed to grab a total of eleven Grand Slam trophies under his belt. He was also one of the few tennis greats who have contributed a great
deal in changing the game with the help of their playing style. Borg was the first man who played with a top-spin, his foot work as well as double-handed back-hand was also something that was new for his opponents on the tour.
Borg’s fitness level along with his work ethics drastically changed the game, and gave a huge boost to the game of tennis in Sweden.
He captured a total of five Wimbledon trophies in a row, six French Open crowns and enjoyed the world number one position for 109 weeks, in the presence of arch rivals like Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe.
However, he has been placed at number four in our list, as Borg only managed to win on two surfaces throughout his career, clay and grass.
3. Rafael Nadal
After grabbing the United States Open tennis tournament in New York this season and completing his career Grand Slam, Nadal has become the first player after Rod to capture three major titles in a single year on consecutive basis.
The 24-year-old Spaniard has now a total of nine Grand Slam crowns under his belt, and therefore, well deserves to be in the top three without any question. The fact that Rafa has made that far at such a young age places him ahead of Bjorn Borg.
He is currently ranked number one in the world, and will end the season as the top-ranked tennis ace on the tour for the second time in the last three years.
Moreover, Rafa is also one of the contenders who altered the game with his intensity. Additionally, no one was as muscled and athletic as him. He plays with a much top-spin as compared to the rest on the tour. At such a young age, the Spaniard has won the
Davis Cup tennis competition on two occasions in his career.
And most of all, the world number one Rafael Nadal is extremely humble and classy, and serves as a role model for many active players on the tour.
These are some of the reasons why he is placed ahead of Bjorn Borg, and who knows when he outshines all of them to reach the top-spot in our list.
2. Pete Sampras
Pistol Pete, as he is usually called, is placed at number two in our list. Sampras still enjoys the record for a total of 286 weeks at the number one position.
He captured a total of fourteen major trophies; however, he never managed to win a single French Open title throughout his career. Pete also triumphed in the Davis Cup on three occasions, and had one of the best serves on the tour beyond any doubt.
1. Roger Federer
The greatest tennis player of all times is still undoubtedly the Swiss tennis maestro, Roger Federer.
The 29-year-old Roger might have lost versus Novak in the semi-final round of the United States Open tennis tournament and won just a single Grand Slam this season; however, he still is the owner of nearly every single record in the game of tennis.
The great Swiss stayed at the number one spot for a total of 285 weeks in his career, which places him one week behind Pete Sampras.
However, the Fed Express enjoys a total of sixteen major titles, a career Grand Slam as well as many other records that will perhaps never be broken by anyone on the tour.
He is unquestionably the greatest-ever tennis player beyond any measure of speculation.
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