50+ Famous Male Tennis Players

Active Male Tennis Players

Some of the best-known tennis players in the world are still competing at the top of their game on the ATP Tour, so we’ll start with them.

Keep in mind that some of these players are nearing the end of their careers, and others have had injuries, so although you might not see them or have heard of them recently, they’re still active.

Novak Djokovic

One of the greatest female tennis players of all time, Steffi Graf, is a legend of the sport.
Novak Djokovic’s success in recent years has helped him quickly become known as one of the greatest tennis players ever to live. Perhaps most notably, he’s currently tied for the second-most Grand Slam singles titles with Roger Federer, nine of which are Australian Open titles.

Indicative of his dominance, Novak currently holds the record for the most weeks as world No. 1, with 364 weeks.

However, Novak is well-known for other reasons beyond the court, including his gluten-free diet, temper, and default from the 2020 US Open. More recently, he received significant global media coverage when the Australian government denied his visa due to his vaccination status when trying to compete in the Australian Open.

Roger Federer

Until a few years ago, many viewed Federer as the GOAT in tennis. While many still believe this to be the case, the conversation has shifted toward Djokovic and Nadal as injuries have sidelined him.

Although Roger’s accomplishments throughout his career are numerous, his record eight Wimbledon titles are one of the most significant.

Federer’s talent and success speak volumes, but he’s also well known for his sportsmanship, friendly demeanor, style on the court, and lucrative sponsorship deals. He continues to be one of the sport’s most important ambassadors and one of the best-known players worldwide.

Rafael Nadal

In 2022, Rafael Nadal became the first man ever to reach 21 Grand Slam titles, further solidifying his place as one of the best players ever.

Perhaps most notably in his career, he’s known as the king of clay, with 13 French Open titles on clay courts, the most in any major. He’s also won an Olympic gold medal in singles and doubles for Spain.

Beyond his on-court success, Nadal is well-known for his tennis academy in Mallorca, Spain, his friendly and respectful demeanor, unique on-court routines, and affinity toward yachts.

Andy Murray

At the height of his career, many considered Andy Murray part of the big four, including Djokovic, Federer, and Nadal. Although he hasn’t achieved nearly the success of those three, he was one of the few players able to break through to win Grand Slams during their reign.

Unfortunately for Andy Murray, he’s well known for having back surgery in 2013 and then hip surgery in 2018. He even has a Netflix documentary covering the struggles he went through having hip surgery and fighting to return to the highest levels of the sport. Murray is also well-known for supporting women in tennis and, more broadly.

Daniil Medvedev

Russian tennis player, Daniil Medvedev, is one of the few players outside of Andy Murray to rise to the top of the game. In 2021, he defeated Novak Djokovic at the US Open, preventing him from achieving a Grand Slam, winning all four majors in a calendar year.

On the court, he’s developed a reputation for his temper, often fighting with fans and umpires, but improvements in this area combined with his success have earned him respect by many. He’s also well known for his unorthodox style when playing tennis.

Highest Rank: 1
Country: Russia
Birthday: February 11, 1996
Grand Slam Titles: 1 singles / 0 doubles
Career Titles: 13 singles / 0 doubles
Olympic Medals: 0 singles / 0 doubles
Instagram: @medwed33 / 960k followers

Alexander Zverev

One of the sport’s most promising up and comers, Alexander Zverev, has been a consistent performer on the ATP Tour for years, including the accumulation of five Masters 1000 titles and Olympic gold. As one of the biggest servers on tour, he’s ironically well-known for choking on serve and double-faulting.

In 2020, Zverev’s ex-girlfriend Olga Sharypova accused him of physical and emotional abuse, which received significant media attention and has tarnished his reputation. At the Mexican Open in 2022, Zverev returned to the spotlight when he struck the umpire’s chair with his racquet multiple times, which unsurprisingly went viral.

In 2019, Zverev and Federer played an exhibition match in Mexico City that claimed the world record for most attendees breaking 42,000.

Dominic Thiem

Austrian tennis player Dominic Thiem has delivered exceptional results throughout his career, including his first Grand Slam victory in 2020 after reaching three previous finals at the majors.

He’s also one of the few players who consistently challenged the big three, with multiple wins against Nadal and Djokovic and a winning record against Federer. Recently, a recurring wrist injury sidelines him for the second half of 2021 and the first few months of 2022.

Stan Wawrinka

Although Swiss tennis player Stan Wawrinka has mostly lived in the shadows of Roger Federer throughout his career, he’s one of the most successful players to compete against the big three. All three of his Grand Slam titles came against Nadal and Djokovic.

Stan is also a gold medal winner in doubles, which came in 2008 when he partnered up with countryman Roger Federer.

More recently, Stan had a foot surgery that saw him miss most of the 2021 season. In 2022, he’s returned to the tour.

Nick Kyrgios

Once pegged as the bad boy of tennis, Nick Kyrigios is well known for his explosive game, trick shots, and ability to take out some of the biggest names in the sport, including the big three, all three of which he defeated the first time he ever played them.

Despite his natural talent, Nick’s results are streaky at best as he struggles to apply himself consistently, often undone by outbursts on the court aimed at the umpire or fans.

However, his unorthodox approach to the game, outspoken opinions, and sharing of intimate details, including his struggles with depression and substance abuse, have earned him a large fan base that regularly draws some of the biggest crowds in the sport.

Stefanos Tsitsipas

One of the game’s most prominent up and comers, Stefanos Tsitsipas, has achieved impressive results during his relatively short career on tour, including seven titles and three semi-final appearances at the Australian Open and a finals appearance at the 2021 French Open.

Tsitsipas has a powerful game with a big forehand and equally impressive one-handed backhand. Tsitsipas is one of a few tennis players who vlogs on YouTube and has amassed an impressive following there.

On other social media platforms, Stefanos is relatively well known for the reflective thoughts that he posts.

Grigor Dimitrov

Bulgarian tennis player Grigor Dimitrov has been a mainstay on the pro tour for years and has achieved plenty of success. Along with his eight titles, he’s been to every Grand Slam tournament semi-finals except for the French Open.

Early in his career, many fans drew strong comparisons between his style of play and Roger Federer, earning him the label “Baby Fed.” However, he was never a fan wanting fans to appreciate his unique style.

Matteo Berrettini

Italian tennis player, Matteo Berrettini, has one of the game’s biggest serves and forehands, which, combined with consistent performance in recent years, has earned him a top ten ranking.

Although he still has lots to prove, he’s managed to win five singles titles and has achieved two semi-finals and one final appearance in Grand Slam events. Matteo will be one to watch in the next few years.

Diego Schwartzman

At 5′ 7″ tall, Diego Schwartzman is one of the shortest players on the men’s tour, but don’t let the height fool you. He’s impressive off both wings, is very quick, and plays well on the defense.

Diego has earned four titles during his career and regularly makes deep runs at the Grand Slams, with a career-best appearance in the semi-finals of the 2020 French Open on clay, one of his best surfaces.

From his dancing to goofing off outside of tennis, Diego is known for his happy-go-lucky demeanor and is well-liked by his competitors.

Kei Nishikori

As one of only two male Japanese players to ever rank in the top five, Kei Nishikori has gained tons of exposure for his success on the court, backed by lucrative endorsement deals that have further broadened his exposure throughout Asian countries.

In addition, Kei won a bronze medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics when he defeated Rafael Nadal. In doing so, he brought home the first Olympic tennis medal to Japan in 96 years.

Jannik Sinner

One of the youngest top 100 players on the pro tour, Jannik Sinner, has achieved significant results early in his career. He has five singles titles and has reached the quarterfinals of Grand Slam events twice.

Jannik has a well-balanced game that includes exceptional movement on the court and impressive groundstrokes. On the court, he’s level-headed and calm, which he’s received praise for on numerous occasions.

Off the court, Jannik is an avid and talented skier. As a kid, he was one of Italy’s top skiers, and it remains a passion of his.

Andrey Rublev

Considered by many of his peers to be one of the hardest working players on tour, Russian tennis player Andrey Rublev’s consistency has earned a spot in the top five. Rublev is an aggressive baseliner who possesses a lethal forehand and all-around solid game.

Rublev earned himself the nickname “bweh,” referring to the sound he makes when striking the ball, and fans regularly feature him in memes as a cat with his signature bandana and long hair.

Felix Auger-Aliassime

Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, otherwise known as FAA, a nickname given to him because his name isn’t easy to pronounce, is a promising up and comer on the ATP Tour with all of the key ingredients to becoming one of the game’s most successful players.

Although he’s achieved consistent performance on tour, Felix has struggled in big moments. Up until 2022, he had a record 0-8 in finals appearances, which he eventually overcame, winning the 2022 Rotterdam Open by defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets.

Felix is liked by many for his friendly demeanor, and his popularity will likely only grow as he continues to achieve success.

Carlos Alcaraz

One of Spain’s biggest up-and-coming names, Carlos Alcaraz, is one of the tour’s youngest top 20 players. Beyond his talent on the court, one of the main reasons he’s become so well-known is due to the comparisons fans have drawn to him and Rafael Nadal.

In 2022, he became the youngest men’s champion at the Miami Open.

Denis Shapovalov

Although Denis only has one title to his name, his deep runs at Grand Slam tournaments have helped increase his exposure, and he’ll likely remain a top contender in the coming years.

In the 2017 Davis Cup, Denis found his way into the media for accidentally hitting the chair umpire in the eye at a Davis Cup rubber, which led to a quick disqualification for unsportsmanlike conduct. The unfortunate event subsequently led to Canada losing to Great Britain.

Beyond the court, Denis became well known after rapping in front of the crowd at the 2019 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. In 2020, he recorded and released two singles, “Night Train” and “Drip.”

Gael Monfils

One of the ATP’s most athletic stars, Gael Monfils, is a showman on the court known for his speed, slides, trick shots, and lighthearted demeanor. Gael has earned 11 titles during his career and made a handful of deep runs at all of the Grand Slam tournaments.

Nicknamed “La Monf,” he’s well-liked among players and fans and is married to Ukrainian player Elina Svitolina.

John Isner

One of tennis’ tallest athletes, John Isner, is 6′ 10″ and possesses a huge serve that is one of the fastest on the men’s tour and led him to hit the second-most aces in ATP history. He also has a powerful forehand that he uses in conjunction with his serve to close out points quickly.

John has been on tour for many years and has earned 16 titles and a top ten ranking in 2018. In 2010, John played the longest match in tennis history against Nicolas Mahut at Wimbledon, which lasted 11 hours and 5 minutes and took place over three days.

Off the court, John has received some pushback from users on social media for his political views that he’s not shy to share.

Alex de Minaur

Australian tennis player Alex de Minaur is perhaps best known for his speed on the court and never giving up on points. For this, he’s earned the nickname “Speed Demon” or simply “Demon.” As far as results, he’s delivered a consistent performance with five titles.

He also has the nickname “Minotaur” because of how fans commonly pronounce his name.

Taylor Fritz

One of America’s promising young talents, Taylor Fritz, is 6′ 5″ and possesses a big serve. Although his results have improved in recent years, including four third-round appearances at Grand Slams, he’s only managed to win two titles to date.

Benoit Paire

Having earned a few titles and made solid runs at Grand Slam tournaments, Benoit Paire is a talented French tennis player who’s well-known for his flashy style and loves playing for fans and hitting trick shots.

Off the court, Paire is often spotted partying and having a good time, drawing criticism and those believing he’s not taking things as seriously as possible. According to him, he’s busy living and likes to balance his tennis career with having fun with friends and family.

David Goffin

Belgium tennis player David Goffin is a consistent performer on tour. Over the years, he earned five titles and has reached the quarterfinals of every Grand Slam tournament except the US Open.

In 2018, he suffered an unfortunate injury to his eye when a ball ricocheted off his racquet at the net and caused him to miss a few tournaments. Recently, David has struggled with injuries that have made it challenging to perform consistently and at his best.

Reilly Opelka

Tied with Ivo Karlovic as the tallest ATP tennis player ever at 6′ 11,” Reilly Opelka is an American tennis player who’s best known for his big serve. Many fans give big servers like Reilly a tough time because their game centers around their serve, referring to them as “Serve Bots.”

Although others may not appreciate the nickname, he’s embraced it, and fans have even spotted him wearing a “Serve Bot” t-shirt. Regardless of your stance on big serves like Opelka, he’s using it to his advantage and continues to find success on the court.

Marin Cilic

Ranked as high as No. 3 in the world, Croatian Marin Cilic has delivered exceptional results over the years, including a Grand Slam title at the US Open in 2014 and two finals appearances at the Australian Open and Wimbledon. Marin reached 550 match wins in 2022, becoming the 40th man in the Open Era to achieve the feat.

Unfortunately for Marin, he tested positive for the banned substance nikethamide in 2013, resulting in a nine-month ban from tennis that, upon appeal, the Court of Arbitration for Sport reduced to four months.

Alexander Bulbik

Known for his big serve and somewhat unpredictable performances on the court, which regularly include trick shots and underarm serves, Alexander Bulbik is one of the less successful players on my list.

However, despite that, he frequently finds himself covered by the ATP due to his unorthodox performances on the court. He’s also seen some criticism for his lack of commitment and generally casual approach to the sport, which he’s gone on record saying he wouldn’t be playing if the financial incentives weren’t in place.

Bernard Tomic

Despite his talent and reasonable success on tour, the Australian tennis player Bernard Tomic is perhaps best-known for his controversial behavior, run-ins with the law, and a general irreverence for the sport.

Notably, Bernard has come under fire for tanking matches. In 2019, he lost to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in 58 minutes, which led to the tournament fining his full prize money for not giving his best effort.