Every tennis decade has its own idea of greatness. Some champions ruled with serve-and-volley tennis; others built their success on heavy topspin, relentless defense or all-court skill. Looking at the greats by decade shows how the game changed—and why the best players are not always easy to compare across eras.
This guide covers the sport’s leading men and women from the 1920s through the 2020s. The lists are not strict rankings: they consider major titles, dominance, influence and the strength of each player’s era. The 2020s are still in progress, so that decade’s story is not finished.
Tennis greats by decade at a glance
| Decade | Notable men | Notable women |
|---|---|---|
| 1920s | Bill Tilden | Suzanne Lenglen, Helen Wills |
| 1930s | Don Budge, Fred Perry | Helen Wills Moody, Alice Marble |
| 1940s | Jack Kramer, Pancho Gonzales | Pauline Betz, Louise Brough |
| 1950s | Pancho Gonzales, Lew Hoad | Maureen Connolly, Althea Gibson |
| 1960s | Rod Laver, Ken Rosewall, Roy Emerson | Margaret Court, Billie Jean King |
| 1970s | Björn Borg, Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe | Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova |
| 1980s | Ivan Lendl, Mats Wilander, Boris Becker | Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf |
| 1990s | Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Jim Courier | Steffi Graf, Monica Seles, Martina Hingis |
| 2000s | Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic | Serena Williams, Justine Henin, Venus Williams |
| 2010s | Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Andy Murray | Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka, Victoria Azarenka |
| 2020s so far | Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner | Iga Świątek, Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff |
1920s and 1930s: early icons and all-court skill
American Bill Tilden was the defining men’s player of the 1920s. He won 10 major singles titles, including seven U.S. Championships, and helped make tennis a major spectator sport. His strong serve and commanding groundstrokes suited an era when players often came to the net to finish points.
On the women’s side, French star Suzanne Lenglen was famous for her athletic movement and attacking style. Helen Wills rose to prominence late in the decade and carried her success into the 1930s. Wills Moody and Alice Marble became leading champions in that next decade, while Don Budge and Fred Perry stood out among the men. Budge made history in 1938 by winning all four major singles titles in one calendar year.
1940s and 1950s: tennis through a disrupted era
World War II interrupted the sport, making the 1940s harder to compare with a normal decade. Jack Kramer became a major force after the war, while Pancho Gonzales began a long career that stretched into the 1960s. Pauline Betz and Louise Brough were among the leading women of the period.
Gonzales was still a giant in the 1950s, especially in professional tennis, which was separate from the amateur major championships at the time. Lew Hoad was another standout. Maureen Connolly won all four majors in 1953, and Althea Gibson broke barriers as the first Black player to win a major singles title, taking the French Championships in 1956 before winning Wimbledon and the U.S. Championships in 1957.
1960s: the Open Era begins
The 1960s connect amateur tennis with the modern professional game. Rod Laver won the calendar-year Grand Slam in 1962 as an amateur and again in 1969, after the Open Era began in 1968. Ken Rosewall’s long career crossed both sides of that divide, while Roy Emerson collected 12 major singles titles, all before the Open Era began.
Margaret Court dominated the women’s game, and Billie Jean King combined major success with a lasting impact beyond the court. Their records came in a period when the rules around professional participation were changing, so raw title totals need historical context.
1970s: rivalries and a new television age
Björn Borg’s calm manner and heavy topspin helped him win five straight Wimbledon titles from 1976 to 1980. Jimmy Connors brought fierce energy and consistency, while John McEnroe’s touch and serve-and-volley game made him one of the sport’s most compelling players.
Chris Evert’s steady baseline play and accuracy defined women’s tennis for much of the decade. Martina Navratilova, who would become the leading force of the 1980s, was already emerging. Their rivalry became one of tennis’s great tests of contrasting styles: Evert’s consistency against Navratilova’s attacking instincts.
1980s and 1990s: power, precision and changing styles
Ivan Lendl’s powerful, disciplined baseline game helped shape modern tennis. Mats Wilander and Boris Becker also won majors, while Navratilova continued to dominate with serve-and-volley tennis and all-court skill. Steffi Graf arrived near the end of the decade, beginning a run that included a Golden Slam in 1988: all four majors and the Olympic singles gold in the same year.
Graf remained central in the 1990s, alongside Monica Seles, whose two-handed groundstrokes and early ball-striking overwhelmed opponents before an attack on her changed her career. Martina Hingis became a major champion as a teenager. Among the men, Pete Sampras built his reputation on a huge serve and quick finishing volleys; Andre Agassi offered a contrasting, aggressive return game. Jim Courier also won four majors during the decade.
2000s and 2010s: the Big Three era
Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic shaped men’s tennis for much of the 2000s and 2010s. Federer made attacking tennis look effortless, Nadal turned defense and topspin into weapons—especially on clay—and Djokovic became famous for his return, flexibility and ability to absorb pace. Andy Murray broke into their major-title dominance and became a leading rival, winning three major singles titles.
Serena Williams was the leading women’s player of the period, combining a powerful serve with extraordinary movement and composure under pressure. Venus Williams, Justine Henin and others also left a major mark. In the 2010s, Naomi Osaka’s hard-court success and Victoria Azarenka’s two Australian Open titles added to a changing field of champions.
2020s so far: a new generation takes shape
Djokovic remains part of the decade’s story, but Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have become the leading young men. Alcaraz brings explosive movement and variety; Sinner is known for clean, early ball-striking. Their rivalry is still developing, and the decade has plenty of tennis left to play.
Among the women, Iga Świątek has built a record of sustained success, especially on clay, while Aryna Sabalenka’s power has made her a major force on hard courts. Coco Gauff adds elite speed and court coverage to the mix. These players are already defining the decade, though it is too soon to know who will finish it with the strongest legacy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the greatest tennis player of all time?
There is no single answer that everyone accepts. Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, Margaret Court, Steffi Graf, Rod Laver and others have strong cases, depending on whether you value major titles, era dominance, versatility or influence. Comparing players across different equipment and competition formats is difficult.
Who dominated men’s tennis in the 2010s?
Djokovic, Nadal and Federer won most of the biggest men’s titles and remained at the top for much of the decade. Andy Murray was their closest regular challenger and won three majors.
Who won the most Grand Slam singles titles?
At the end of 2025, Novak Djokovic held the men’s record with 24 major singles titles. Margaret Court holds the overall women’s record with 24, while Serena Williams holds the Open Era women’s record with 23.
Why are tennis records from older decades hard to compare?
Players faced different rules, equipment, surfaces and schedules. For much of the pre-Open Era, leading professionals could not compete in the major championships, so major-title counts do not tell the whole story.
Final Thoughts
The greats of each decade reflect both their own talent and the tennis they inherited. Tilden and Lenglen helped establish early icons; Laver and Court bridged eras; Borg, Evert and Navratilova made rivalries central to the sport; and the Big Three sustained excellence across generations. The next chapter is still being written, which is part of what makes tennis history so rewarding to follow.
