Roger Federer enjoyed a legendary tennis career, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest players of all time.
Between 2003 and 2018, Federer won 20 Grand Slam titles and held the world number one ranking for 310 weeks.
The Swiss star holds several ATP records, including the number of Wimbledon titles (8), the number of consecutive weeks at number one (237), and the number of consecutive Grand Slam finals contested (10).
Achieving as much as he did during his career, Federer inserted himself into the G.O.A.T. (Greatest of all time) conversation, alongside some of his biggest rivals, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.
But who did the 44-year-old pick as his five greatest tennis players of all time?
Roger Federer names Pete Sampras in his five greatest players of all time
During an interview with Burna Boy, Federer named his five greatest tennis players ever.
“For me, I needed my GOAT, people who were on the wall at home, and I wanted to be like them,” he said.
“For me, that was Stefan Edberg, Swedish guy. He always attacked the net and was super elegant. He was the coolest.
“And then Boris Becker. They used to play against each other, so I was always watching them.
Stefan Edberg and Boris Becker’s head-to-head record
- Stefan Edberg (10-25) Boris Becker
“Pete Sampras was the next and then, of course, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.”
There’s no doubt the five players Federer named are some of the greatest of all time, but where do they rank according to the stats?
Comparing Roger Federer’s top five greatest players of all time
Edberg, Becker, Sampras, Djokovic, and Nadal all won multiple titles in tennis, but who tops the pile?
Stefan Edberg’s career achievements
- Grand Slams won – 6
- Weeks at number one – 72
- ATP titles – 41
- ATP Finals wins – 1
- Masters 1000 titles – 8
- Top 10 wins – 99
- Olympic medals – Bronze (1988)
Boris Becker’s career achievements
- Grand Slams won – 6
- Weeks at number one – 12
- ATP titles – 49
- ATP Finals wins – 1
- Masters 1000 titles – 13
- Top 10 wins – 121
Pete Sampras’ career achievements
- Grand Slams won – 14
- Weeks at number one – 286
- ATP titles – 64
- ATP Finals wins – 5
- Masters 1000 titles – 11
- Top 10 wins – 124
Rafael Nadal’s career achievements
- Grand Slams won – 22
- Weeks at number one – 209
- ATP titles – 92
- Masters 1000 titles – 36
- Top 10 wins – 186
- Olympic medals – Gold (2008)
Novak Djokovic’s career achievements
- Grand Slams won – 24
- Weeks at number one – 428
- ATP titles – 100
- ATP Finals wins – 7
- Masters 1000 titles – 40
- Top 10 wins – 262
- Olympic medals – Gold (2024)
| Player | Grand Slams won | Weeks at number one | ATP titles | ATP Finals wins | Masters wins | Top 10 wins | Olympic medals |
| Stefan Edberg | 6 | 72 | 41 | 1 | 8 | 99 | Bronze (1988) |
| Boris Becker | 6 | 12 | 49 | 1 | 13 | 121 | – |
| Pete Sampras | 14 | 286 | 64 | 5 | 11 | 124 | – |
| Rafael Nadal | 22 | 209 | 92 | – | 36 | 186 | Gold (2008) |
| Novak Djokovic | 24 | 428 | 100 | 7 | 40 | 262 | Gold (2024) |
The numbers clearly point towards Djokovic being the greatest tennis player of all time, at least out of those mentioned by Federer.
Djokovic has won more Grand Slams and held the number one ranking for longer than anyone else.
And, at the Olympic Games last year, the Serb picked up the one title that had eluded him throughout his career.
Adding a gold medal to his long list of achievements, Djokovic stood atop the tennis world once more.
Aged 38, Djokovic is still looking to add to his trophy cabinet, and has a great chance of doing so at this week’s Shanghai Masters.
40 times a Masters 1000 champion, the world number five won’t have to play a top-20 player until the semifinals in China, as he looks to win his 41st title.
In the second round, Djokovic defeated Marin Cilic in straight sets to book his spot in round three.
There, Djokovic will play German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann on Sunday, October 5.
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