Surface Kings: Who Dominates Clay, Grass, and Hard Courts?

With more than 100 million active tennis players worldwide, it can be difficult to decipher the best of the best when it comes to this sport. However, the various playing surfaces determine the trajectory of each player, shaping their path to greatness. From clay and hard courts to grass and carpet courts, each terrain comes with its challenges and players who dominate it.

Who Are the Clay-Court Kings?

As the first player to win 22 Grand Slam men’s titles and 14 career French Open Championships, Rafael Nadal has established himself as one of the best tennis players of all time with a huge following of fans and sports bettors. In fact, many punters say that wagering on Nadal at the French Open has been easy money for sports bettors as he has typically performed well over the years. Many dedicated fans are familiar with wagering on matches, however, some newer fans may wonder how to do it on tennis.

Although tennis enthusiasts can no longer wager on Nadal since his retirement, betting on other players and matches is now easier than ever with online sportsbooks. Nadal remains nearly unbeatable on his terrain, having obtained an impressive winning percentage at Roland Garros. Having ended his professional tennis career in November 2024, Nadal is at peace with his decision and content with the mark he left on the court.

Similar to Nadal, Björn Borg is another impressive Clay Court legend who is deserving of such a title. Ranked No 1 in men’s singles for 109 weeks by the Association of Tennis Professionals, the former Swedish tennis player has won 66 singles titles in his career. Having won Wimbledon five years in a row and six French Open titles, his aggressive playing style and impressive stamina have left him unmatched and made him a favourite of sports bettors. Borg now has a line of workout clothes styled after him, further solidifying his reputation as one of the greats.

Last is the Brazilian Magician, Gustavo Kuerten, who ranked number one in the men’s singles for 49 weeks in 2000. Kuerten was the first Brazilian man to win a Grand Slam title and went on to win three French Open titles. His nonchalant playing style in comparison to his amazing performance has solidified him as a fan favourite. And in turn, has earned him the title of ‘clay-court king’.

Who Are the Grass-Court Kings?

The grass court cannot be spoken of without mentioning Roger Federer, one of the tennis Big Three. The former Swiss tennis player ranked number one by the Association of Tennis Professionals for a whopping 310 weeks, on top of a consecutive 237 weeks. Having finished as the year-end no.1 player five times and holding eight Wimbledon titles, Federer is popular amongst tennis fans and sports bettors alike. Roger earned the title of being the most decorated player in Laureus World Sports Awards history after winning Sportsman of the Year a total of five times between 2005 and 2018. Dominating the grass court with elegance, precision footwork, and flawless serves, he will surely go down in history as one of the best tennis players ever.

Although retired, Pete Sampras, a former American tennis player, still ranks as one of the best, having finished as the year-end no.1 six consecutive times. While this is impressive, he set a record among young male players up until 2009 by winning 14 Grand Slam titles. Before Federer’s magnificent reign, Sampras held seven Wimbledon titles and dominated the Grass Court with his serve-and-volley style. He had no issue gaining free points this way, which made him one of the more feared opponents among other professional players. Earning a 77.4% career singles record, Sampras now ranks in the top ten all-time Open Era players after capturing 64 singles titles.

Who Are the Hard-Court Kings?

Novak Djokovic is one of the biggest tennis players in the world, with even non-sports fans knowing his name. This is well-deserved, as Djokovic has held the number one Association of Tennis Professionals title for a record-breaking 428 weeks across 13 different years. Furthermore, he went on to finish the year as the no.1 player a whopping eight times outside his record number of Australian Open titles and US Open Crowns. The Serbian player has also won 24 Grand Slam singles so far, further cementing his title as the greatest hard-court player in the world. With an impressive return serve and amazing consistency on the court, nothing but greatness can be expected from him going forward, exciting both fans and sports bettors alike. 

Another former American tennis player, Andre Agassi, has won 60 ATP Tour-level singles titles. He is another prominent figure worthy of being dubbed a hard-court king after winning a total of eight Grand Slam titles. Even though his professional career ended in 2006 at the age of 36, he is iconic for starting at the ripe age of 16 and making waves in the sporting world. Agassi further revolutionized baseline play in the 90s with his unique ability to dictate rallies and take the ball early.