Most Famous (Male & Female)
Australian Tennis Players
Home of the happy slam, Australia has consistently delivered some of the world’s most dominant and talented tennis players in history.
From Margaret Court, who holds the record for the most Grand Slam titles, to Rod Laver and, more recently, three-time Grand Slam champion Ashleigh Barty, there’s much to appreciate about Australian tennis.
This guide honors the country’s most famous and talented players, along with key stats and achievements for you to explore, including former world No. 1s, Grand Slam champions, Hall of Famers, and the top-ranked active players on the ATP and WTA tours.
Active Players
Although Australia isn’t quite as dominant as in the 60s and 70s, the country still consistently churns out some of the world’s best and has a rich history with the sport, including the Australian Open.
At the time of writing, Australia has five male players and two female players in the top 100 worldwide.
Male
In recent years, Nick Kyrgios and Alex de Minaur have tallied up some of the best results among men from Australia. However, plenty of others are making their mark on the ATP tour.
Here’s a list of the most successful active male tennis players who represent Australia, along with a few key stats.
| Player | Age | Birthday | Highest Rank | Titles |
| Nick Kyrgios | 30 | April 27, 1995 | 13 | 7 |
| Alex de Minaur | 26 | February 17, 1999 | 15 | 6 |
| Christopher O’Connell | 30 | June 2, 1994 | 78 | 0 |
| Jordan Thompson | 31 | April 20, 1994 | 43 | 0 |
| Thanasi Kokkinakis | 29 | April 10, 1996 | 69 | 1 |
| Jason Kubler | 31 | May 19, 1993 | 91 | 0 |
| Alexei Popyrin | 25 | August 5, 1999 | 59 | 1 |
| Aleksandar Vukic | 29 | April 6, 1996 | 117 | 0 |
| John Millman | 35 | June 14, 1989 | 33 | 1 |
| James Duckworth | 33 | January 21, 1992 | 46 | 0 |
| Rinky Hijikata | 24 | February 23,2001 | 159 | 0 |
| Li Tu | 28 | May 27, 1996 | 199 | 0 |
| Max Purcell | 27 | April 3, 1998 | 156 | 0 |
| Omar Jasika | 27 | May 18, 1997 | 229 | 0 |
| Dane Sweeny | 24 | February 12, 2001 | 160 | 0 |
Without a doubt, Nick Kyrigios is the best and most famous Aussies whose active. Aside from his indisputable talent, Nick has developed a massive fan following for his impressive shot-making and record against top ten players.
Female
On the women’s side, Ashleigh Barty might be one of the few names on the WTA tour that ring a bell, but she retired in 2022 as the most successful female from Australia in recent years.
Luckily, there’s plenty more talent making their way up the ranks. Here’s a list of the top active Australian female tennis players.
| Player | Age | Birthday | Highest Rank | Titles |
| Ajla Tomljanovic | 32 | May 7, 1993 | 33 | 0 |
| Daria Saville | 31 | March 5, 1994 | 20 | 1 |
| Priscilla Hon | 27 | May 10, 1998 | 118 | 0 |
| Jaimee Fourlis | 25 | Septemer 17, 1999 | 147 | 0 |
| Kimberly Birrell | 27 | April 29, 1998 | 154 | 0 |
| Maddison Inglis | 27 | January 14, 1998 | 112 | 0 |
| Olivia Gadecki | 23 | April 24, 2002 | 156 | 0 |
| Astra Sharma | 29 | September 11, 1995 | 84 | 1 |
| Storm Hunter | 30 | August 11, 1994 | 119 | 0 |
| Lizette Cabrera | 27 | December 19, 1997 | 139 | 0 |
| Arina Rodionova | 35 | December 15, 1989 | 116 | 0 |
Although Daria Saville’s highest rank and title count outshines Ajla Tomljanovic, Ajla has developed a more significant fan following, so she is a better-known player overall. More recently, she also made her way into the spotlight, defeating Serena Williams in the third round of the US Open, Serena’s final WTA appearance before retiring.
Men
Looking back through history, Australian men, including Rod Laver, Roy Emerson, and Ken Rosewall, were some of the most influential figures in tennis who had a tremendous impact on the sport.
However, there are many more noteworthy players from Australia that you may be less familiar with who are worth exploring. In the following sections, I review each of them, including some of their most significant accomplishments that underscore their impact.
Rod Laver
One of Australia’s best-known tennis players, Rod Laver, established himself as the most dominant tennis player in the 1960s with a powerful serve-and-volley game and aggressive groundstrokes.
He first started playing tennis ahead of the Open Era as an amateur in 1956 before turning pro in 1963. In 1961 he was recognized as the world’s No. 1 tennis player and achieved a career-high of No. 3 as officially recognized by the ATP’s computer rankings in 1974.
His best-known accomplishment is winning a Grand Slam twice during his career, in 1962 and 1969, which requires a player to win all four majors in a year and the only male to accomplish the feat in the Open Era. He claimed eleven Grand Slam singles and six doubles titles and is the second of four players to win each major twice.
It’s worth noting his professional status prohibited him from participating in any of these events for five years of his career. However, during that time, he won eight professional majors.
Throughout his career, he claimed 200 singles and 28 doubles titles, ending his career with a 75% win record in singles and doubles. And from 1959-1962 and again in 1973, he helped lead the Australian Davis Cup Team to victory.
Nicknamed the Rocket by his Davis Cup team captain, Rod is widely celebrated as one of the best tennis players ever. In 2000, Center Court at the National Tennis Center in Melbourne, host to the Australian Open, was renamed Rod Laver Arena, one of many recognitions of his career.
In 1981, the Tennis Hall of Fame inducted him as a member. Fans can spot Rod at many tennis tournaments throughout the year, most notably the Grand Slams.
In 2017, Rod had the Laver Cup named after him, which is an annual team competition that hosts some of the best players from around the world as a team competition.
| Age | 86 |
| Birthday | August 9, 1938 |
| Retired | Yes |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73m) |
| Hall of Fame | 1981 |
| Highest Rank | 1 |
| Career Titles | 200 |
| Grand Slam Titles | 11 singles / 6 doubles |
| Olympic Medals | 0 singles / 0 doubles |
John Newcombe
One of Australia’s most accomplished tennis players, John Newcombe, a.k.a., Newk, enjoyed massive success during the 60s and 70s.
Famously, he is one of only a handful of players to have achieved a world No. 1 ranking in singles in doubles, accomplishing the feat in 1967 and 1965, respectively.
John started his career as an amateur in 1960 before turning pro in 1967, which lasted until his retirement in 1981. During that time, he won seven Grand Slam titles in singles and seventeen in doubles. In total, he claimed 68 titles in singles and 33 in doubles.
His win-loss record in singles was an impressive 73% (1,072-401) after playing nearly 1,500 matches and 74% in doubles (333-115). John was also an active member of the Australian Davis Cup team, helping lead them to victory for four straight years from 1964-1967 and again in 1973.
In 1968, John famously signed on for a three-year professional contract as part of the Handsom Eight, or the original eight players that participated in the World Championship Tennis. Years later, in 1986, John was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
In 1995 and 2000, John coached the Australian Davis Cup team and, these days, runs the John Newcombe Tennis Ranch & Academy in Texas.
| Age | 80 |
| Birthday | May 23, 1944 |
| Retired | Yes |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83m) |
| Hall of Fame | 1986 |
| Highest Rank | 1 |
| Career Titles | 68 |
| Grand Slam Titles | 6 singles / 17 doubles |
| Olympic Medals | 0 singles / 0 doubles |
Ken Rosewall
One of Rod Laver’s top rivals, Ken Rosewall, had an illustrious tennis career, achieving success in singles and doubles.
Ken started playing tennis as an amateur in 1950 before eventually turning pro in 1956. Throughout his career, he achieved a world No. 1 ranking and won eight singles and nine doubles Grand Slam titles. He also won fifteen professional majors, during which time he couldn’t participate in Grand Slams due to his professional status.
His career record surpasses 70% in singles, winning 1,811 of his 2,521 matches. In total, he claimed 147 titles.
Ken played on the Australian Davis Cup team throughout his career and helped lead his team to victory in 1953, 1955, 1956, and 1973. In 1980, he became a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame and, along with Rod Laver, is widely considered one of the best to play the game.
| Age | 90 |
| Birthday | November 2, 1934 |
| Retired | Yes |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70m) |
| Hall of Fame | 1980 |
| Highest Rank | 1 |
| Career Titles | 147 |
| Grand Slam Titles | 8 singles / 7 doubles |
| Olympic Medals | 0 singles / 0 doubles |
Roy Emerson
Another of Australia’s most talented tennis players in history, Roy Emerson, was a dominant force during the 60s.
He started playing tennis as an amateur in 1953 before becoming a professional in 1968. He won twelve Grand Slam singles and sixteen doubles titles during his career and, in 1961, reached the No. 1 ranking. In total, he won 77% of his singles matches with a 1,397-416 record and earned himself 110 titles, 6 of which are recognized by the ATP.
Roy helped lead the Australian Davis Cup team to victory on eight occasions. In 1982, the Tennis Hall of Fame honored him with an induction, one of several public recognitions of his achievements.
| Age | 88 |
| Birthday | November 3, 1936 |
| Retired | Yes |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83m) |
| Hall of Fame | 1982 |
| Highest Rank | 1 |
| Career Titles | 110 |
| Grand Slam Titles | 12 singles / 16 doubles |
| Olympic Medals | 0 singles / 0 doubles |
Lleyton Hewitt
A fixture of Australian tennis, Lleyton Hewitt is well known for his speed, defensive baseline game, and shot selection, which helped propel him to the pinnacle of the sport, including the world’s No. 1 ranking in 2001.
Lleyton turned pro in 1998 and amassed thirty titles during his career, including two Grand Slam victories, one at the US Open in 2001 and another at Wimbledon in 2002. Although he never captured his home slam, he was an Australian Open finalist in 2005, where he fell to Russian tennis player Marat Safin in four sets.
A proficient volleyer, Lleyton also enjoyed success in doubles, including three career titles, a Grand Slam victory in 2000 with partner Max Mirnyi, and a career-high ranking of No. 18.
In 1999 and 2003, Lleyton helped lead Australia to Davis Cup victories. He competed in the 2008 Olympic Games, where he achieved his best Olympic result, losing in the quarterfinals to Rafael Nadal.
Since retiring from singles in 2016 and doubles in 2020, Lleyton has remained active in the world of tennis, including Davis Cup. In 2022, Lleyton was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
| Age | 44 |
| Birthday | February 24, 1981 |
| Retired | Yes |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78m) |
| Hall of Fame | 2021 |
| Highest Rank | 1 |
| Career Titles | 30 |
| Grand Slam Titles | 2 singles / 1 doubles |
| Olympic Medals | 0 singles / 0 doubles |
Patrick Rafter
Before Lleyton Hewitt arrived on the scene, Patrick Rafter had already established himself as a dominant Australian who is famous for his unrelenting serve and volley game.
Patrick first joined the ATP tour as a professional in 1991, and eight years later, he became the world’s No. 1 player. However, it was short-lived, only lasting a week, the shortest reign of any ATP No. 1 in history.
During his career, Rafter consistently performed as one of the best and earned himself two Grand Slam victories at the US Open in 1997 and 1998. However, he was also a semi-finalist at the Australian Open and the French Open and a finalist twice at Wimbledon.
Patrick also earned himself a doubles Grand Slam victory in 1999, partnering with Jonas Björkman of Sweden. In total, he won 11 singles titles and ten doubles titles.
In 1999, he helped Australia to their Davis Cup victory; in 2000, he represented at the Olympic games, falling in the second round.
Despite his success, Patrick’s career was relatively short, only lasting 11 years, with his retirement coming in 2002. Four years later, in 2006, he was inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame.
| Age | 52 |
| Birthday | December 28, 1972 |
| Retired | Yes |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85m) |
| Hall of Fame | 2006 |
| Highest Rank | 1 |
| Career Titles | 11 |
| Grand Slam Titles | 2 singles / 1 doubles |
| Olympic Medals | 0 singles / 0 doubles |
Nick Kyrgios
One of the most talented players to come out of Australia in recent years, Nick Kyrigios, is an intriguing player who’s as well-known for his on-court antics as he is for his tremendous talent.
Nick first joined the pro tour in 2013 and has racked up seven singles and four doubles titles, including a Grand Slam victory in 2022 with fellow countryman Thanasi Kokkinakis at the Australian Open.
Over the years, he’s made a name for himself as an incredibly entertaining player who loves to have fun on the court and is famous for hitting otherworldly trick shots that regularly make highlight reels.
One area where Nick has shined includes his performance against the big three, where he defeated each of them the first time he played against them. In total, he owns six victories over them, with one over Federer, three over Nadal, and two over Djokovic.
In 2022, Nick achieved a career-best singles result at Wimbledon, making the finals before eventually falling to Novak Djokovic. Unfortunately for Nick, ranking points did not apply to Wimbledon this year, so for now, his highest ranking stands at No. 13 due to his success in 2016.
| Age | 30 |
| Birthday | April 27, 1995 |
| Retired | No |
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93m) |
| Hall of Fame | No |
| Highest Rank | 13 |
| Career Titles | 7 |
| Grand Slam Titles | 0 singles / 1 doubles |
| Olympic Medals | 0 singles / 0 doubles |
Pat Cash
A prominent Australian player who went pro in 1982, Pat Cash established himself as a competitive serve and volleyer. If the name doesn’t ring a bell, seeing him in his trademark checkered headband might.
As an accomplished athlete, Pat won six singles and twelve doubles titles and ranked as high as No. 4 in singles and No. 6 in doubles. His best result came in 1987 when he defeated Ivan Lendl at the Wimbledon finals for his first and only Grand Slam victory. Although he came close to winning the Australian Open in 1987 and 1988, he never managed to get over the finish line, losing in the finals each time.
In 1983 and 1986, Pat Cash was a member of the Australian Davis Cup team, where he helped lead the team to victory. He also participated in the 1984 Olympic Games, falling in the first round.
Little known to many players, Pat started the tradition where players climb to their player’s box to celebrate with their team after winning, which he first did in 1987 after his Wimbledon victory.
Since retiring in 1997, Pat has worked as a TV host and commentator for CNN and the BBC, coached top players, and opened several tennis academies. More recently, he participated in the Masked Singer, a British TV series under the nickname, Bagpipes.
| Age | 59 |
| Birthday | May 27, 1965 |
| Retired | Yes |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83m) |
| Hall of Fame | No |
| Highest Rank | 4 |
| Career Titles | 6 |
| Grand Slam Titles | 1 singles / 0 doubles |
| Olympic Medals | 0 singles / 0 doubles |
Darren Cahill
Although an accomplished Australian who found success in singles and doubles, Darren Cahill is better known these days as a coach who has worked with some of the game’s most talented players, including Andre Agassi, Lleyton Hewitt, Simona Halep, and Jannik Sinner.
During his pro career in the 80s and 90s, he claimed two singles and thirteen doubles titles and reached a career-high of No. 22 and No. 10, respectively. Darren was a regular participant in Grand Slam events, making ten appearances and landing his best result in 1988 at the US Open. He reached the semifinals before losing to eventual champion Mats Wilander.
Darren also participated in the 1988 Olympic Games, where he lost in the second round to American Robert Seguso.
Since retiring, Darren has served as a tennis analyst with ESPN covering the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. During the Hopman Cup and Australian Open, he also works for Channel 7 in Australia.
However, some of his crowning achievements have been helping lead three separate tennis players to Grand Slam victories, including Simona Halep at the 2018 French Open, Lleyton Hewitt at the 2001 US Open, and Andre Agassi at the 2003 Australian Open.
| Age | 59 |
| Birthday | October 2, 1965 |
| Retired | Yes |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85m) |
| Hall of Fame | No |
| Highest Rank | 22 |
| Career Titles | 2 |
| Grand Slam Titles | 0 singles / 0 doubles |
| Olympic Medals | 0 singles / 0 doubles |
Alex de Minaur
Nicknamed the Demon, Alex de Minaur is another highly successful Aussie known for his incredible speed, defensive skills, and the fact that he never backs down or gives up.
Alex joined the pro tour in 2015 and has earned himself six ATP 25 singles and one Masters 1000 doubles title since then. His best Grand Slam results include a quarterfinals appearance at the 2020 US Open and fourth-round appearances at the Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2022.
In 2022, Alex became the 109th man to represent Australia in the Davis Cup, a moment he memorialized by getting a tattoo of the number on his chest. Although his team didn’t manage to win, they did make it to the finals, where they lost to Canada.
Alex is a relatively young player with plenty of years ahead of him as a pro, so his best is still to come.
| Age | 26 |
| Birthday | February 17, 1999 |
| Retired | No |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83m) |
| Hall of Fame | No |
| Highest Rank | 15 |
| Career Titles | 6 |
| Grand Slam Titles | 0 singles / 0 doubles |
| Olympic Medals | 0 singles / 0 doubles |
Mark Philippoussis
Although Mark never achieved the level of success found by Lleyton and Patrick, he was a highly competitive and successful Australian who was well known for his big serve.
Mark turned professional in 1994 and represented his country for 14 years on the ATP tour. During that time, he claimed eleven singles and three doubles titles, reaching a career-high ranking of No. 8 in singles and No. 18 in doubles.
His best results in singles came during the 1998 US Open and 2003 at Wimbledon, where he made it to the finals on both occasions. In 1999 and 2003, he played and won the Davis Cup with the Australia team, which included Hewitt in both years, and Rafter in 1999. Mark also competed at the Olympic Games in 1996 and 2000, reaching the third round.
Since retiring, Mark has participated in two television shows and started a clothing company, As We Create.
| Age | 48 |
| Birthday | November 7, 1976 |
| Retired | Yes |
| Height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96m) |
| Hall of Fame | no |
| Highest Rank | 8 |
| Career Titles | 11 |
| Grand Slam Titles | 0 singles / 0 doubles |
| Olympic Medals | 0 singles / 0 doubles |
Sam Groth
Although Sam Groth never managed to break into the top 50 in the world, he made a name for himself as the player with the fastest serve on record in 2012 when he hit a 163.4 mph (263 kph) ace.
Sam first joined the ATP tour in 2006 but never managed to win a title or make it to the finals of a singles tournament. Despite that, he was a reasonably consistent performer, posting decent results at the majors, including two third-round appearances at the Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2015. On the back of these results, he achieved his best-ever ranking of No. 53 that year.
Some of his best results came as a doubles player, where he won two titles, had a winning career record, and reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open twice and the semifinals at the French Open.
Sam also represented his country in the 2015 and 2017 Davis Cup, where Australia lost in the semifinals. In 2018, he retired after competing in the qualifiers of the Australian Open, where he lost to Taylor Fritz.
Since retiring, he’s also become a politician, sitting as a state MP in Victoria and representing the Liberal Party.
| Age | 37 |
| Birthday | October 19, 1987 |
| Retired | Yes |
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93m) |
| Hall of Fame | No |
| Highest Rank | 53 |
| Career Titles | 0 |
| Grand Slam Titles | 0 singles / 0 doubles |
| Olympic Medals | 0 singles / 0 doubles |
Bernard Tomic
Despite achieving a fair amount of success since joining the ATP tour in 2008, Bernard Tomic is, unfortunately, better known for his controversial behavior and legal issues than his talent on the court.
As a pro, Bernard has won four ATP titles and achieved a career-high ranking of No. 17 in 2016. Some of his best performances in singles have come at the Australian Open, where he reached the fourth round three times. He also reached Wimbledon’s quarterfinals in 2011.
Bernard represented Australia during their team’s 2015 semifinal Davis Cup run and the 2012 Olympic Games.
| Age | 32 |
| Birthday | October 21, 1992 |
| Retired | No |
| Height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96m) |
| Hall of Fame | No |
| Highest Rank | 17 |
| Career Titles | 4 |
| Grand Slam Titles | 0 singles / 0 doubles |
| Olympic Medals | 0 singles / 0 doubles |
Honorable Mention
Although I’ve covered some of the best-known and most talented male tennis players to come out of Australia, a handful deserve honorable mention, which I’ve included below. If you’re up for it, I suggest you also take some to research and explore them too.
| Player | Age | Birthday | Retired | Height | Hall of Fame | Highest Rank | Career Titles | Grand Slam Titles | Olympic Medals |
| Norman Brooks | Died 1968 (90) | November 14, 1877 | Yes | 5 ft 11 in (1.80m) | 1977 | 1 | 19 | 3 singles / 4 doubles | 0 singles / 0 doubles |
| Frank Sedgman | 97 | October 29, 1927 | Yes | 5 ft 11 in (1.80m) | 1979 | 1 | 49 | 5 singles / 9 doubles | 0 singles / 0 doubles |
| Mark Woodforde | 59 | September 23, 1965 | Yes | 6 ft 2 in (1.87m) | 2010 | 4 | 4 | 0 singles / 12 doubles | 0 singles / 1 gold doubles / 1 silver doubles |
| Neale Fraser | 91 | October 2, 1933 | Yes | 6 ft 1 in (1.85m) | 1984 | 1 | 37 | 3 singles / 11 doubles | 0 singles / 0 doubles |
| Tony Roche | 79 | May 17, 1945 | Yes | 5 ft 10 in (1.77m) | 1986 | 2 | 46 | 1 singles / 13 doubles | 0 singles / 0 doubles |
| Lew Hoad | Died 1994 (59) | November 23, 1934 | Yes | 5 ft 10.5 in (1.79m) | 1980 | 1 | 52 | 4 singles / 8 doubles | 0 singles / 0 doubles |
| Jack Crawford | Died 1991 (83) | March 22, 1908 | Yes | 6 ft 1 in (1.85m) | 1979 | 1 | 66 | 6 singles / 6 doubles | 0 singles / 0 doubles |
| Todd Woodbridge | 54 | April 2, 1971 | Yes | 5 ft 10 in (1.78m) | 2010 | 2 | 19 | 0 singles / 16 doubles | 0 singles / 1 gold doubles / 1 silver doubles |
| Adrian Quist | Died 1991 (78) | January 23, 1913 | Yes | Unknown | 1984 | 3 | 46 | 3 singles / 14 doubles | 0 singles / 0 doubles |
| Fred Stolle | 86 | October 8, 1938 | Yes | 6 ft 3 in (1.91m) | 1985 | 1 | 39 | 2 singles / 10 doubles | 0 singles / 0 doubles |
| Anthony Wilding | Died 1915 (31) | October 21, 1883 | Yes | 6 ft 2 in (1.87m) | 1978 | 1 | 123 | 6 singles / 5 doubles | 1 bronze singles / 0 doubles |
| Ashley Cooper | 88 | September 15, 1936 | Yes | 6 ft 1 in (1.85m) | 1991 | 27 | 1 | 4 singles / 4 doubles | 0 singles / 0 doubles |
| Gerald Patterson | Died 1967 (71) | December 17, 1895 | Yes | Unknown | 1989 | 1 | 28 | 3 singles / 6 doubles | 0 singles / 0 doubles |
| James Anderson | Died 1973 (79) | September 17, 1894 | Yes | Unknown | 2013 | 3 | 15 | 3 singles / 2 doubles | 0 singles / 0 doubles |
Women
From Marget Court, the all-time leader in Grand Slam titles, to Ashleigh Barty, who helped put Australian tennis back on the map, there are plenty of noteworthy WTA players to explore.
The following list is a selection of active and retired female tennis players from Australia worth spending some time getting to know as a fan.
Margaret Court
One of the most accomplished tennis players in history, Margaret Court is a former world No. 1 in singles and doubles who holds an astonishing 64 Grand Slam titles, 24 in singles, 19 in doubles, and 21 in mixed doubles.
Margaret started playing tennis as an amateur in 1960 and remained that way until the Open Era in 1968. At 18, she won her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, which she’d win seven consecutive times, eight in total. Fifteen years later, she won her final Grand Slam titles, one in mixed doubles at Wimbledon and another in Doubles at the US Open.
She first ascended to world No. 1 in singles in 1962 and in doubles in 1963, where she dominated the sport for years. Participating in the Fed Cup, she helped Australia to four wins in 1964, 1965, 1968, and 1971.
Since retiring in 1977, Margaret’s achievements have been recognized on several occasions, including a 1979 International Tennis Hall of Fame induction and in 2003, when Melbourne Park renamed one of the show courts to Margaret Court Arena.
In more recent years, Margaret has found her way into the media less for her achievements in tennis and more for her critical views on same-sex marriage, which many prominent members of the tennis community have criticized.
| Age | 82 |
| Birthday | July 16, 1942 |
| Retired | Yes |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75m) |
| Hall of Fame | 1987 |
| Highest Rank | 1 |
| Career Titles | 192 |
| Grand Slam Titles | 24 singles / 19 doubles |
| Olympic Medals | 0 singles / 0 doubles |
Evonne Goolagong
Like Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong achieved success in tennis at an early age, winning her first Grand Slam titles in singles and doubles at 19.
During her career, Evonne won 14 Grand Slam titles, seven in singles, six in doubles, and one in mixed doubles. She claimed 86 singles titles in total, 68 of which came in the Open Era. Evonne won another 46 titles in doubles, showcasing her versatility on the court.
In 1971, she was considered the world’s No. 1 player, which she also achieved in 1976 as part of the WTA tour’s rankings. Playing for her country in the Fed Cup, Evonne helped bring the title home to Australia in 1971, 1973, and 1974.
Evonne retired from tennis in 1983. Five years later, the International Tennis Hall of Fame inducted her as a member.
| Age | 73 |
| Birthday | July 31, 1951 |
| Retired | Yes |
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68m) |
| Hall of Fame | 1988 |
| Highest Rank | 1 |
| Career Titles | 86 |
| Grand Slam Titles | 7 singles / 6 doubles |
| Olympic Medals | 0 singles / 0 doubles |
Ashleigh Barty
Ashleigh Barty is the best female tennis player to come out of Australia in recent history and is as well known for her friendly demeanor as her strategic all-court play, which helped lift her to the top of the game.
Ashleigh turned pro in 2010 and had a relatively modest start to her career before taking a hiatus from the sport in 2014. At the time, she suggested the tour had been “too much too quickly” and wanted to take time to experience life as a normal teenager.
In 2016, she came back to the WTA tour and quickly returned to form. Ashleigh won her first singles title in 2017. Then, shortly after, in 2018, she claimed her first Grand Slam victory at the French Open.
During her career, she also claimed titles at Wimbledon in 2021 and the Australian Open in 2022, the latter breaking a 43-year drought as the first Australian woman to lift the trophy since 1978.
In total, she won 15 singles and 12 doubles titles, including a Grand Slam Victory at the 2018 US Open with CoCo Vandeweghe. Ashleigh also represented Australia at the 2020 Olympics, winning a bronze medal in mixed doubles with John Peers. Although she never claimed a Fed Cup with her team, she did come close in 2019 as runner-up.
To the surprise of many in the tennis community, Ashleigh Barty retired in 2022 after her Australian Open title. She left the sport ranked No. 1, a feat she first achieved in June 2019.
| Age | 29 |
| Birthday | April 24, 1996 |
| Retired | Yes |
| Height | 5 ft 5 in (1.66m) |
| Hall of Fame | No |
| Highest Rank | 1 |
| Career Titles | 15 |
| Grand Slam Titles | 3 singles / 1 doubles |
| Olympic Medals | 0 singles / 0 doubles |
Samantha Stosur
A highly accomplished and versatile tennis player, Samantha Stosur enjoyed a lengthy career on tour. She first went pro in 1999 and retired 23 years later in March 2022.
Although she never ascended to the world No. 1 ranking, she came close in 2011 when she reached the No. 4 spot. However, she did attain a world No. 1 ranking in doubles in 2006.
Samantha is a five-time Grand Slam champion. She won the US Open in singles in 2011 and then in doubles, the French Open in 2006, the Australian Open in 2019, and the US Open in 2005 and 2021. She also came close to winning the French Open in 2010, when she fell in the finals against Francesca Schiavone.
In total, she claimed nine singles titles and 28 doubles titles, with a winning record in both disciplines, 57%, and 64%, respectively.
Samantha often represented her country, participating in the 2012 and 2021 Olympic Games, the Fed Cup, and the Hopman Cup. Although she never posted a win, Australia made it to the finals of the Fed Cup in 2019 and 2022. Overall, she had a stellar career with incredible longevity.
| Age | 41 |
| Birthday | March 30, 1984 |
| Retired | Yes |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75m) |
| Hall of Fame | No |
| Highest Rank | 4 |
| Career Titles | 9 |
| Grand Slam Titles | 1 singles / 4 doubles |
| Olympic Medals | 0 singles / 0 doubles |
Ajla Tomljanovic
Born in Croatia, Ajla Tomljanovic started competing for Australia in 2014 when she obtained permanent residency. Four years later, after being granted Australian Citizenship, she was allowed to represent the country at all WTA events outside the Grand Slams.
Ajla first turned pro in 2009, and although she hasn’t won a title yet, she’s posted some terrific results throughout her career and has been a mainstay on the WTA tour, recently reaching her career-best ranking of No. 33 in the world in October 2022.
Her noteworthy results at Grand Slams include two quarterfinal appearances, two at Wimbledon in 2021 and 2022, and another at the US Open in 2022. On four occasions, she’s come close to winning an ATP 250 title, but she’s still chasing that accomplishment.
From 2017 to 2018, she dated Nick Kyrgios and, more recently, Italian tennis player Matteo Berrettini, two relationships that most certainly helped increase her exposure in the tennis community.
Perhaps one of the biggest wins of her career, she is famous for having beaten Serena Williams in the final match of her career. Ajla won the third-round meeting in three sets, a highly televised event, helping to raise her exposure worldwide even further.
Finally, Ajla has been one of the players showcased in the TennisChannel reality series, My Tennis Life in 2021 and 2022.
| Age | 32 |
| Birthday | May 7, 1993 |
| Retired | No |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80m) |
| Hall of Fame | No |
| Highest Rank | 33 |
| Career Titles | 0 |
| Grand Slam Titles | 0 singles / 0 doubles |
| Olympic Medals | 0 singles / 0 doubles |
Daria Saville
Born in Russia, Daria Saville initially competed as a Russian athlete before immigrating to Australia in 2015 and, since then, has competed under the Australian flag. Her nickname is Dasha.
Throughout her career, she’s won four titles, one in singles and three in doubles. Her singles title came in 2017 when she defeated Dominika Cibulková at the Connecticut Open. That year, she attained her highest rank in singles at No. 20 worldwide.
Her best results at Grand Slam events include two fourth-round appearances at the Australian Open in 2016 and 2017. One of her more memorable results came at the 2016 Hopman Cup, where she helped lead her team to victory alongside Nick Kyrgios.
Daria changed her last name from Gavrilova to Saville after marrying her long-time partner, Luke Saville.
| Age | 31 |
| Birthday | March 5, 1994 |
| Retired | No |
| Height | 5 ft 5 in (1.66m) |
| Hall of Fame | No |
| Highest Rank | 20 |
| Career Titles | 1 |
| Grand Slam Titles | 0 singles / 0 doubles |
| Olympic Medals | 0 singles / 0 doubles |
Astra Sharma
One of the lesser-known Aussies, Astra Sharma, was born in Singapore before her parents moved to Australia. As a result, she’s only ever competed under the Australian flag.
In 2021, Astra earned her first WTA title by defeating the No. 1 seed Ons Jabeur at the Charleson Open in South Carolina, which helped push her ranking up to a career-high of No. 84 in the world.
Astra is also proficient and a regular participant in doubles, having made seven Grand Slam appearances and winning three titles with a career-high ranking of No. 91 in 2022. Her best result in the discipline came in 2019 when she reached the Australian Open finals with her partner John-Patrick Smith off of a wildcard main draw entry.
| Age | 29 |
| Birthday | September 11, 1995 |
| Retired | No |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78m) |
| Hall of Fame | No |
| Highest Rank | 84 |
| Career Titles | 1 |
| Grand Slam Titles | 0 singles / 0 doubles |
| Olympic Medals | 0 singles / 0 doubles |
Casey Dellacqua
Casey Dellacqua is better known for her accomplishments in doubles, but she also achieved plenty of success in singles, reaching a career-high ranking of No. 26.
Casey turned pro in 2002 and, throughout her career, had a winning record of 348–214 in singles. However, she never managed to bring home a title. Her best results at Grand Slams include three fourth-round appearances, twice at the Australian Open and once at the US Open.
Impressively, she’s a seven-time Grand Slam doubles finalist, having reached the mark at all four majors. Unfortunately, she never claimed a title but won seven WTA titles outside the Grand Slams. As a result, she bested her singles ranking in doubles, reaching world No. 3 in 2016.
In 2011, Casey did make it over the hump at a Grand Slam with a win in mixed doubles partnering with Scott Lipsky at the French Open.
Casey also competed in the Fed and Hopman Cups competing for Australia but never managed to win either event. In 2008 and 2012, she also competed as an Olympic athlete.
In 2018, Casey retired after a 16-year career. Since then, she has surfaced as a tennis commentator at the Australian Open.
| Age | 40 |
| Birthday | February 11, 1985 |
| Retired | Yes |
| Height | 5 ft 5 in (1.65m) |
| Hall of Fame | No |
| Highest Rank | 26 |
| Career Titles | 0 |
| Grand Slam Titles | 0 singles / 1 doubles |
| Olympic Medals | 0 singles / 0 doubles |
Honorable Mention
I’ve covered some of the top talents to make their way out of Australia throughout history, but others deserve recognition. With that in mind, I’ve included several additional players below.
Each contributed to the sport with significant accomplishments, so if you’re up for exploring further, I’d encourage you to look them up.
| Player | Age | Birthday | Retired | Height | Hall of Fame | Highest Rank | Career Titles | Grand Slam Titles | Olympic Medals |
| Nancye Wynne Bolton | Died 2001 (84) | December 2, 1916 | Yes | 5 t 10 in (1.78m) | 2006 | – | – | 6 singles / 10 doubles | 0 singles / 0 doubles |
| Daphne Akhurst | Died 1933 (29) | April 22, 1903 | Yes | Unknown | 2013 | 3 | – | 5 singles / 5 doubles | 0 singles / 0 doubles |
| Joan Hartigan | Died 2000 (88) | June 6, 1912 | Yes | Unknown | No | 8 | – | 3 singles / 0 doubles | 0 singles / 0 doubles |
| Margaret Molesworth | Died 1985 (90) | October 18, 1894 | Yes | Unknown | No | 10 | – | 2 singles / 3 doubles | 0 singles / 0 doubles |
| Esna Boyd Robertson | Died 1966 (67) | September 21, 1899 | Yes | Unknown | No | 10 | 37 | 1 singles / 4 doubles | 0 singles / 0 doubles |
| Coral McInnes Buttsworth | Died 1985 (85) | June 7, 1900 | Yes | Unknown | No | – | – | 2 singles / 1 doubles | 0 singles / 0 doubles |
| Kerry Melville Reid | 77 | August 7, 1947 | Yes | 5 ft 6 in (1.67m) | No | 7 | 22 | 1 singles / 3 doubles | 0 singles / 0 doubles |
Greatest of All Time
Although there are plenty of exceptional tennis players to come out of Australia, the accomplishments of Margaret Court and Rod Laver stand out from the crowd as the greatest of all time.
Margaret Court – Female
In tennis, winning a Grand Slam in any discipline is a life-changing experience that very few players ever have the pleasure of accomplishing. That’s why Margaret Court’s 64 Grand Slam titles are mindblowing.
That in of itself is credibility to be considered one of the best players to have ever lived. However, there are plenty of other reasons she’s Australia’s greatest of all time.
For starters, she ranked No. 1 in singles and doubles, a feat even fewer players achieve. Margaret also completed a Grand Slam, winning all four majors in a year. She even became a mother in 1972 and returned to play tennis, winning three of the four Grand Slams the following year.
Add four Fed Cup titles for her country and her incredible longevity, playing for 17 years from 1960-1977, before and after the Open Era, and her success is undeniable. Even her Open Era winning percentage of 91%, going 608-60, is hard to fathom.
Hands down, Margaret Court, is the greatest female tennis player to have ever come from Australia.
| Age | 82 |
| Birthday | July 16, 1942 |
| Retired | Yes |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75m) |
| Hall of Fame | 1987 |
| Highest Rank | 1 |
| Career Titles | 192 |
| Grand Slam Titles | 24 singles / 19 doubles |
| Olympic Medals | 0 singles / 0 doubles |
Rod Laver – Male
Like Margaret, many of Rod Laver’s accomplishments in tennis are unrivaled, which, combined with his kind and gentle demeanor, have made him one of the sport’s most beloved ambassadors.
Easily one of his most significant accomplishments is achieving a Grand Slam twice in two different years, once before and after the Open Era. It is a feat that no other player has accomplished to date, and he’s the only male player to have achieved it in the Open Era.
Of course, like many of the sport’s most talented athletes, he achieved success in singles in doubles. In total, he won 20 Grand Slam titles across singles, doubles, and mixed doubles.
Rod also helped lead his Davis Cup victory to wins in 1959-1962 and 1973. He also won 200 titles (72 in the open era), a number that no other player in history has matched, male or female.
By any stretch, Rod Laver is one of the greatest players of all time and certainly the best to come from Australia.
| Age | 86 |
| Birthday | August 9, 1938 |
| Retired | Yes |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73m) |
| Hall of Fame | 1981 |
| Highest Rank | 1 |
| Career Titles | 200 |
| Grand Slam Titles | 11 singles / 6 doubles |
| Olympic Medals | 0 singles / 0 doubles |
Grand Slam Champions
There are four Grand Slam tournaments held yearly, including the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open.
Beyond being the most prestigious and offering the most prize money, they’re the most widely covered tournaments of the year, resulting in near-instant fame when a player manages to win one.
The following is a complete list of Australians who have won these tournaments since Wimbledon first started in 1877.
| Year | Australian Open | French Open | Wimbledon | US Open |
| 1877 | ||||
| 1878 | ||||
| 1879 | ||||
| 1880 | ||||
| 1881 | ||||
| 1882 | ||||
| 1883 | ||||
| 1884 | ||||
| 1885 | ||||
| 1886 | ||||
| 1887 | ||||
| 1888 | ||||
| 1889 | ||||
| 1890 | ||||
| 1891 | ||||
| 1892 | ||||
| 1893 | ||||
| 1894 | ||||
| 1895 | ||||
| 1896 | ||||
| 1897 | ||||
| 1898 | ||||
| 1899 | ||||
| 1900 | ||||
| 1901 | ||||
| 1902 | ||||
| 1903 | ||||
| 1904 | ||||
| 1905 | Rodney Heath | |||
| 1906 | Anthony Wilding | |||
| 1907 | Horace Rice | Norman Brookes | ||
| 1908 | ||||
| 1909 | Anthony Wilding | |||
| 1910 | Rodney Heath | Anthony Wilding | ||
| 1911 | Norman Brookes | Anthony Wilding | ||
| 1912 | Anthony Wilding | |||
| 1913 | Ernie Parker | Anthony Wilding | ||
| 1914 | Arthur O’Hara Wood | Norman Brookes | ||
| 1915 | ||||
| 1916 | ||||
| 1917 | ||||
| 1918 | ||||
| 1919 | Gerald Patterson | |||
| 1920 | Pat O’Hara Wood | |||
| 1921 | Rhys Gemmell | |||
| 1922 | James Anderson Margaret Molesworth |
Gerald Patterson | ||
| 1923 | Pat O’Hara Wood Margaret Molesworth |
|||
| 1924 | James Anderson Sylvia Lance Harper |
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| 1925 | James Anderson Daphne Akhurst |
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| 1926 | John Hawkes Daphne Akhurst |
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| 1927 | Gerald Patterson Esna Boyd Robertson |
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| 1928 | Daphne Akhurst | |||
| 1929 | Daphne Akhurst | |||
| 1930 | Edgar Moon Daphne Akhurst |
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| 1931 | Jack Crawford Coral McInnes Buttsworth |
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| 1932 | Jack Crawford Coral McInnes Buttsworth |
|||
| 1933 | Jack Crawford Joan Hartigan |
Jack Crawford | Jack Crawford | |
| 1934 | Joan Hartigan | |||
| 1935 | Jack Crawford | |||
| 1936 | Adrian Quist Joan Hartigan |
|||
| 1937 | Vivian McGrath Nancye Wynne |
|||
| 1938 | ||||
| 1939 | John Bromwich Emily Hood Westacott |
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| 1940 | Adrian Quist Nancye Wynne Bolton |
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| 1941 | World War II | |||
| 1942 | World War II | |||
| 1943 | World War II | |||
| 1944 | World War II | |||
| 1945 | World War II | |||
| 1946 | John Bromwich Nancye Wynne Bolton |
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| 1947 | Dinny Pails Nancye Wynne Bolton |
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| 1948 | Adrian Quist Nancye Wynne Bolton |
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| 1949 | Frank Sedgman | |||
| 1950 | Frank Sedgman | |||
| 1951 | Nancye Wynne Bolton | Frank Sedgman | ||
| 1952 | Ken McGregor Thelma Coyne Long |
Frank Sedgman | Frank Sedgman | |
| 1953 | Ken Rosewall | |||
| 1954 | Mervyn Rose Thelma Coyne Long |
|||
| 1955 | Ken Rosewall Beryl Penrose |
|||
| 1956 | Lew Hoad Mary Carter Reitano |
Lew Hoad | Lew Hoad | Ken Rosewall |
| 1957 | Ashley Cooper | Lew Hoad | Malcolm Anderson | |
| 1958 | Ashley Cooper | Mervyn Rose | Ashley Cooper | Ashley Cooper |
| 1959 | Mary Carter Reitano | Neale Fraser | ||
| 1960 | Rod Laver Margaret Smith Court |
Neale Fraser | Neale Fraser | |
| 1961 | Roy Emerson Margaret Smith Court |
Rod Laver | Roy Emerson | |
| 1962 | Rod Laver Margaret Smith Court |
Rod Laver Margaret Smith Court |
Rod Laver | Rod Laver Margaret Smith Court |
| 1963 | Roy Emerson Margaret Smith Court |
Roy Emerson Lesley Turner Bowrey |
Margaret Smith Court | |
| 1964 | Roy Emerson Margaret Smith Court |
Margaret Smith Court | Roy Emerson | Roy Emerson |
| 1965 | Roy Emerson Margaret Smith Court |
Fred Stolle Lesley Turner Bowrey |
Roy Emerson Margaret Smith Court |
Margaret Smith Court |
| 1966 | Roy Emerson Margaret Smith Court |
Tony Roche | Fred Stolle | |
| 1967 | Roy Emerson | Roy Emerson | John Newcombe | John Newcombe |
| 1968 | Bill Bowrey | Ken Rosewall | Rod Laver | Virginia Wade |
| 1969 | Rod Laver Margaret Smith Court |
Rod Laver Margaret Smith Court |
Rod Laver | Rod Laver Margaret Smith Court |
| 1970 | Margaret Smith Court | Margaret Smith Court | John Newcombe Margaret Smith Court |
Ken Rosewall Margaret Smith Court |
| 1971 | Ken Rosewall Margaret Smith Court |
Evonne Goolagong Cawley | John Newcombe Evonne Goolagong Cawley |
|
| 1972 | Ken Rosewall | |||
| 1973 | John Newcombe Margaret Smith Court |
Margaret Smith Court | John Newcombe Margaret Smith Court |
|
| 1974 | Evonne Goolagong Cawley | |||
| 1975 | John Newcombe Evonne Goolagong Cawley |
|||
| 1976 | Mark Edmondson Evonne Goolagong Cawley | |||
| 1977 | Kerry Melville Reid (Jan) Evonne Goolagong Cawley (Dec) |
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| 1978 | Chris O’Neil | |||
| 1979 | ||||
| 1980 | Evonne Goolagong Cawley | |||
| 1981 | ||||
| 1982 | ||||
| 1983 | ||||
| 1984 | ||||
| 1985 | ||||
| 1986 | ||||
| 1987 | Pat Cash | |||
| 1988 | ||||
| 1989 | ||||
| 1990 | ||||
| 1991 | ||||
| 1992 | ||||
| 1993 | ||||
| 1994 | ||||
| 1995 | ||||
| 1996 | ||||
| 1997 | Patrick Rafter | |||
| 1998 | Patrick Rafter | |||
| 1999 | ||||
| 2000 | ||||
| 2001 | Lleyton Hewitt | |||
| 2002 | Lleyton Hewitt | |||
| 2003 | ||||
| 2004 | ||||
| 2005 | ||||
| 2006 | ||||
| 2007 | ||||
| 2008 | ||||
| 2009 | ||||
| 2010 | ||||
| 2011 | Samantha Stosur | |||
| 2012 | ||||
| 2013 | ||||
| 2014 | ||||
| 2015 | ||||
| 2016 | ||||
| 2017 | ||||
| 2018 | ||||
| 2019 | ||||
| 2020 | ||||
| 2021 | Ashleigh Barty | |||
| 2022 | Ashleigh Barty |
In total, Australian tennis players have won 171 Grand Slam tournaments, with Ashleigh Barty being the most recent champion, having defeated American Danielle Collins in straight sets.
World No. 1s & Hall of Famers
Any player who establishes themselves as a world No. 1 or becomes inducted into the hall of fame does so by performing exceptionally well over a consistent period, resulting in worldwide exposure and attention.
As of 2022, only 27 men and 28 women have held the No. 1 ranking, and the International Tennis Hall of Fame has only inducted 262 individuals, highlighting how rare and exceptional these achievements are.
Over the years, several Aussies have found their way into the spotlight, achieving one of these feats.
No. 1s
Here’s a complete list of all the Australians who have achieved a No. 1 singles ranking in tennis. Ashleigh Barty is the most recent player from the country to earn the top spot.
Male
- Lleyton Hewitt
- John Newcombe
- Patrick Rafter
Female
- Evonne Goolagong
- Ashleigh Barty
The following players aren’t officially recorded as world No. 1s but were widely considered the best tennis players by multiple reliable sources during their prime.
Male
- Rod Laver
- Ken Rosewall
- Norman Brooks
- Roy Emerson
- Frank Sedgman
- Neale Fraser
- Lew Hoad
- Jack Crawford
- Fred Stolle
- Anthony Wilding
- Gerald Patterson
Female
- Margaret Court
I’ll update this list as new players achieve the top ranking.
Hall of Famers
The following is a comprehensive list of the Australians who have earned a Hall of Fame induction, including Lleyton Hewitt, one of the most recent additions to receive the honor.
Male
| Player | Year |
| Lleyton Hewitt | 2022 |
| David Hall | 2015 |
| James Anderson | 2013 |
| Mark Woodforde | 2010 |
| Todd Woodbridge | 2010 |
| Own Davidson | 2010 |
| Patrick Rafter | 2006 |
| Mervyn Rose | 2001 |
| Malcolm Anderson | 2000 |
| Ken McGregor | 1999 |
| Ashley Cooper | 1991 |
| Gerald Patterson | 1989 |
| John Newcombe | 1986 |
| Tony Roche | 1986 |
| Fred Stolle | 1985 |
| Neale Fraser | 1984 |
| John Bromwich | 1984 |
| Adrian Quist | 1984 |
| Roy Emerson | 1982 |
| Rod Laver | 1981 |
| Lew Hoad | 1980 |
| Ken Rosewall | 1980 |
| Frank Sedgman | 1979 |
| Jack Crawford | 1979 |
| Harry Hopman | 1978 |
| Sir Norman Brookes | 1977 |
Female
| Player | Year |
| Daphne Akhurst | 2013 |
| Thelma Coyne Long | 2013 |
| Nancye Wynne Bolton | 2006 |
| Lesley Turner Bowrey | 1997 |
| Hana Mandlikova | 1994 |
| Evonne Goolagong | 1988 |
| Margaret Smith Court | 1979 |
The Hall of Fame inducts tennis players annually in July, so I’ll be sure to revisit and update this list as new players accomplish the feat.
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