Jimmy Connors holds the men’s Open Era record for the most tennis career singles titles, with 109. Roger Federer is next with 103, followed by Novak Djokovic, whose total reached 100 with his 2025 Geneva title. These figures count top-level tour singles championships—not Grand Slam wins alone.
On the women’s side, Martina Navratilova leads the Open Era list with 167 singles titles, ahead of Chris Evert’s 157. The numbers need a little context: records can vary depending on whether they include pre-Open Era events, doubles titles or lower-level tournaments. Here’s how the main career-title records compare.
Most men’s tennis career titles
The standard men’s comparison uses official ATP Tour-level singles titles from the Open Era, which began in 1968. By that measure, Connors remains the leader. He built his record over a long career, winning on different surfaces and returning to the top of the game well into his 30s.
| Player | Career singles titles | Quick note |
|---|---|---|
| Jimmy Connors | 109 | The Open Era men’s record holder |
| Roger Federer | 103 | Won titles on hard, grass and clay courts |
| Novak Djokovic | 100 | Reached the milestone at Geneva in 2025; still active |
| Ivan Lendl | 94 | Combined a long run of consistency with major titles |
| Rafael Nadal | 92 | Won 63 titles on clay |
| John McEnroe | 77 | Excelled in singles and doubles |
| Pete Sampras | 64 | Won 14 Grand Slam singles titles |
Connors’ 109 is an achievement of both quality and volume. Winning a tournament means succeeding across several rounds, often in a demanding week. Doing that more than a hundred times requires a high level for years, as well as the fitness to keep competing through long seasons.
Federer’s 103 shows how a player can build a huge total through sustained excellence across surfaces. Djokovic joined the century-title group at Geneva in 2025. His total is an active-player figure, so it can change as he competes. Lendl and Nadal are also well above 90, though their records reflect different strengths: Lendl’s powerful baseline game suited the faster courts of his era, while Nadal’s dominance on clay accounts for a large share of his titles.
Most women’s tennis career titles
For the women’s Open Era singles list, Navratilova’s 167 titles are the benchmark. Evert is second with 157. Both players won across a long stretch of the sport’s history, when the tour calendar and tournament structure differed from today’s.
| Player | Career singles titles | Quick note |
|---|---|---|
| Martina Navratilova | 167 | Open Era women’s record holder |
| Chris Evert | 157 | Won titles on several surfaces, especially clay |
| Steffi Graf | 107 | Held the top ranking for a long stretch |
| Serena Williams | 73 | Won 23 Grand Slam singles titles |
| Venus Williams | 49 | Won seven Grand Slam singles titles |
Margaret Court is often credited with 192 career singles titles in all-time lists. That figure includes events from before the Open Era, when professional and amateur tennis were organized differently. It’s an important historical record, but it is not a like-for-like comparison with the modern WTA Tour count. Navratilova’s 167 is the commonly cited women’s Open Era mark.
Why career-title totals can differ
“Career titles” sounds simple, but the total depends on what a record keeper counts. The tables above focus on singles titles at the main tour level. They don’t add a player’s doubles championships, Grand Slam junior wins or titles from lower-level circuits.
- Singles versus doubles: A player can win many doubles titles as well as singles titles. Those are separate records.
- Tour level: Some lists include Challenger, ITF or other lower-level tournaments; standard ATP and WTA tour totals generally do not.
- Era: Older records may include amateur events or tournaments that don’t fit today’s tour structure.
- Active players: Totals can change during a season, and even a single tournament win can shift the rankings.
These totals also measure something different from Grand Slam records. A Grand Slam title is one of tennis’s biggest prizes, but career-title counts reward success across the full tour calendar. A player may have fewer majors yet win consistently at many other events.
What a high title count tells you
A large title total usually points to longevity and repeatable performance, not just one brilliant season. To win tournaments regularly, players need to adapt to different opponents, surfaces and match conditions. They also have to handle the pressure of closing out matches when a trophy is within reach.
Surface variety matters, too. Nadal’s 92 titles include an extraordinary number on clay; Federer won across grass and hard courts as well as clay; and Connors built his total through success across a long stretch of the calendar. The raw number captures the wins, while a player’s surface record shows how those wins were earned.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has the most men’s tennis career titles?
Jimmy Connors has the most men’s Open Era tour-level singles titles, with 109.
Who has the most women’s tennis career titles?
Martina Navratilova leads the women’s Open Era singles list with 167. Margaret Court is credited with 192 in some all-time records that include pre-Open Era events.
Do these totals include doubles titles?
No. The figures in the tables are singles titles. Doubles championships are counted separately.
Are career titles the same as Grand Slam titles?
No. A career-title total includes eligible tour tournaments throughout the season, while a Grand Slam total counts only the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open.
Final Thoughts
Connors’ 109 men’s singles titles and Navratilova’s 167 women’s Open Era titles are the leading tour-level records most fans use for comparison. Federer, Djokovic, Evert and other great champions show how demanding it is to keep winning across seasons. Just check the category behind any total: singles or doubles, tour level or all-time, and Open Era or earlier history.
