Throughout the years, tennis has been home to numerous iconic players. From the early years featuring greats like Margaret Court to more recent times with players such as Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, and Serena Williams, the sport has consistently witnessed individuals who redefine the game and leave their mark with sheer brilliance. Tennis history is full of exceptional talents who have made an incredible mark on the sport. To be considered the best tennis player, one must have achieved remarkable success to be at the top of Tennis grand slam winners. In this blog, we take a look at the top six tennis players who have won the Highest grand slam titles, with a special spotlight on Novak Djokovic, who continues to break records and dominate the tennis world.

Top Tennis Grand Slam Winners of All Time: Who Has Won The Highest Grand Slam Titles?

Tennis has four major tournaments, known as the Grand Slam tournaments. These are the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open. The Australian Open has been held at Melbourne Park in Melbourne since 1905. The French Open, which began in 1925, is played at Roland Garros in Paris. Wimbledon, the oldest major dating back to 1877, takes place at the All England Club in London. The US Open, established in 1968, takes place at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City. Who has won the Highest grand slam titles? Let's look at the all-time leaders for men's and women's Tennis grand slam winners.

1. Novak Djokovic (24 Grand Slam titles)

A surprise and wild entrant to the elite league of tennis, Novak Djokovic has carved a place as the best tennis player in the world. After starting his professional career in 2003, Djokovic took five years to win his first Grand Slam trophy at the Australian Open. Known affectionately as Djoker, he currently holds 24 Grand Slam titles, seven ATP Finals crowns, and a record 40 ATP Masters 1000 titles, in addition to over 90 tour title wins. No other men's singles player in tennis history has won more Grand Slam titles than Novak Djokovic. Virat Kohli and Novak Djokovic have been "text buddies" for a long time, but their online friendship can see the light of the real world soon with the T20 World Cup 2024. Despite winning three Grand Slams last season, Novak Djokovic is not among the top 50 World's richest athletes. On the other hand, Novak Djokovic will be hoping to finish his Roland Garros record on a high with a win at the French Open 2024.

2. Margaret Court (24 Grand Slam titles)

Talking about the magic number 24 in Grand Slam tennis history books, before Novak Djokovic, there was Margaret Court. The Australian was born in 1942 in Albury, New South Wales. Court holds the record for Highest grand slam titles in tennis history, with 66 victories, including 24 singles titles. Court, a natural left-hander, was coached into switching to her right hand. In 1960, at the age of 18, she won the first of seven consecutive singles titles at the Australian Open. In 1970, she was all over the Tennis news by becoming the first woman in the Open Era (1968-onwards) to win a calendar Grand Slam. Margaret Court achieved 11 wins at the Australian Open, including seven consecutive wins from 1960 to 1966. She also secured victory at the US Open five times (in 1962, 1965, 1969, 1970, and 1973) and the French Open five times (in 1962, 1964, 1969, 1970, and 1973). Wimbledon was the most challenging Grand Slam for Court, and she won it only thrice, in 1963, 1965, and 1970.

3. Serena Williams (23 Grand Slam titles)

Serena Williams has worked tirelessly to create a legacy of triumphs and records for herself. Although she officially turned pro in 1995 at 14, Serena Williams faced restrictions due to the age limitations set by the WTA for professional tennis players. In 1999, at the age of 17, Serena Williams became only the second African-American woman to win the US Open title since Althea Gibson in 1958. She completed a calendar Slam with some outstanding performances in just three years. The American legend holds the record for the most Grand Slam titles won in the Open era in women's tennis, with 23 titles. This puts her just one title behind Margaret Court's record of 24. Serena has achieved the top ranking on the WTA Player ranking charts on eight separate occasions between 2002 and 2017, spending 319 weeks as the world No. 1.

4. Rafael Nadal (22 Grand Slam titles)

Known as the "King of Clay," Rafael Nadal's athleticism and relentless determination have made him one of the most formidable opponents on any surface. Born in Mallorca, Spain, the left-handed player turned pro in 2001 and won his first Grand Slam in 2005 at the French Open. As a teenager, Nadal led Spain to a Davis Cup title a year before his debut at the French Open, making him a highly sought-after player. Nadal's 22 Grand Slam titles place him fourth on the list. His unparalleled success on clay courts, where he has won a record-breaking 14 French Open titles, has solidified his status as one of the greatest players in tennis history. Talking about Rafael Nadal French Open 2024, Olympic tennis returns to clay for the first time since 1992. However, with Rafael Nadal announcing that 2024 could be his final season, it remains to be seen whether he will be fit for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games to claim his first Olympic gold in singles since Beijing 2008. However, the best-of-three-set Olympic format could benefit Nadal if he faces physical challenges.

5. Steffi Graf (22 Grand Slam titles)

Steffi Graf turned professional in 1982 and was adored by the world for her playing style, which combined swift footwork and powerful groundstrokes. Her versatility and ability to adapt to any playing surface made her one of the most successful players of her generation. Graf dominated women’s tennis in the early years of the Open Era. It is believed that Steffi Graf popularized the baseline game, which later champions like Serena Williams mastered. The German won 22 Grand Slam titles, a record Serena Williams later broke. They are the only player in history to complete a Golden Slam, which includes winning all four Grand Slam titles and the Olympic gold in the same season. Steffi Graf accomplished this feat in 1988. In addition, Steffi Graf and Margaret Court are the only players to complete a calendar Slam five times in their career. Graf's victories came in 1988, 1989, 1993, 1995, and 1996.

6. Roger Federer (20 Grand Slam titles)

The list of the Highest grand slam titles is incomplete without him. Since turning professional in 1998, Roger Federer has captivated the tennis world with his smooth touch and breathtaking game. He has won 20 Grand Slam titles, a record surpassed only by his fiercest rivals, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Roger Federer secured his first Grand Slam victory in 2003 at Wimbledon, defeating Andy Roddick in the semi-finals before comfortably winning over Mark Philippoussis in a three-set match to claim the title. Over the years, the Swiss maestro has perfected the art of winning Grand Slam titles, with Wimbledon's grass being his favourite surface. Roger Federer has secured a record eight titles at Wimbledon. Roger Federer's exceptional performance has propelled him to the top of the tennis player ranking charts numerous times. Federer has achieved over 1,000 wins on the ATP Tour and has won two Olympic medals. He secured gold in men's doubles in Beijing in 2008 and silver in singles in London in 2012. Federer is widely recognized as one of the best tennis players in the world.

Highest grand slam titles won by a player: Men's singles

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Highest Grand Slam titles won by a player: Women's singles