Most ATP and WTA titles won in Open Era

The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) governs the global elite tour for men's professional tennis, a stage where the world's best players battle for supremacy week in and week out. Since the dawn of the Open Era in 1968, which unified the professional and amateur ranks, the ATP Tour has provided the platform for legendary careers and unforgettable rivalries. While success in men's tennis is often measured by prestigious Grand Slam victories, sustained dominance is arguably best reflected by the total number of singles titles won throughout a career across all levels of the tour.

Accumulating ATP titles requires consistent high-level performance, versatility across different surfaces, and remarkable longevity. Reaching the upper echelons of the all-time titles list places a player in truly elite company. This list celebrates the ten men who have mastered the art of winning more than any others in the Open Era. Spanning multiple generations, these athletes represent diverse playing styles from serve-and-volley masters to relentless baseliners and have defined eras through their skill, determination, and historic achievements. Let's take a closer look at the top 10 players who have won the most ATP singles titles in the Open Era.

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The Romanian star Ilie Nastase was the first player to hold the ATP World No. 1 ranking when computer rankings began in 1973. He is known for his exceptional racket skills and flamboyant personality. The talented but often controversial Romanian won two Grand Slam singles titles: the US Open in 1972 and the French Open in 1973. He also won the prestigious season-ending Tour Finals four times. Nastase accumulated a total of 64 ATP singles titles during his notable career.

The American icon Pete Sampras is renowned for his powerful serve-and-volley game that brought him immense success, particularly on grass and hard courts. Sampras held the World No. 1 ranking for a total of 286 weeks and finished as the year-end No. 1 for an ATP record six consecutive years from 1993 to 1998. He has won 14 Grand Slam singles titles, a record at the time of his retirement, including a then-record seven Wimbledon titles and five US Open titles. "Pistol Pete" secured 64 ATP singles titles in his Hall of Fame career.

Swedish legend Bjorn Borg was a dominant force in the late 1970s and early 1980s, famed for his icy calm demeanour, "Ice Man" and revolutionary baseline game built on heavy topspin. He achieved remarkable success on the contrasting surfaces of Roland Garros and Wimbledon, winning 11 Grand Slam singles titles: six at the French Open and five consecutively at Wimbledon (1976-1980). His rivalry with John McEnroe is one of the most iconic in tennis. Despite retiring relatively early, Borg accumulated 66 ATP singles titles.

Rod Laver holds a unique distinction in tennis history as the only male or female player to achieve the Calendar Year Grand Slam (winning all four majors in a single year) twice, once as an amateur in 1962 and again in the Open Era in 1969. "Rocket" Rod possessed a masterful all-court game. While a significant portion of the Australian legend's career predates the formal ATP Tour structure, he amassed 72 recognised ATP singles titles during the Open Era, bridging different periods of the sport with his brilliance.

John McEnroe is well known for his sublime racket skills, fiery on-court persona, and mastery of the serve-and-volley game. The American star was a defining figure in the late 1970s and 1980s. He reached the World No. 1 ranking in both singles (for 170 weeks) and doubles, often holding both simultaneously. McEnroe secured seven Grand Slam singles titles, four at the US Open and three at Wimbledon and remains highly regarded for his doubles prowess as well. His intense rivalries defined an era, and he finished his career with 77 ATP singles titles.

The Spanish powerhouse known as the "King of Clay", Rafael Nadal, has produced arguably the most dominant record on a single surface in tennis history, securing an incredible 14 French Open titles. His relentless physicality and heavy topspin forehand have earned him 22 Grand Slam singles titles overall, which is the second most in the men’s category. He is one of only two men to achieve a Career Golden Slam (all four majors plus Olympic gold) and held the World No. 1 spot for 209 weeks. Nadal has amassed 92 ATP singles titles, competing through legendary rivalries with Federer and Djokovic.

Ivan Lendl initially represented Czechoslovakia and later the United States, dominating men's tennis in the 1980s with his pioneering focus on fitness and power baseline play. He is known for his stoic demeanour and powerful forehand and has managed to hold the World No. 1 ranking for an impressive 270 weeks. Lendl captured eight Grand Slam singles titles: three each at the French Open and US Open, and two at the Australian Open. While Wimbledon eluded him despite two final appearances, his impact on the modern game was immense. He overall accumulated 94 ATP singles titles.

Novak Djokovic holds the all-time record for the most men's singles Grand Slam titles (24). The Serbian phenomenon holds the record for the most weeks spent as World No.1, almost over 400 weeks. He is the only man in the Open Era to achieve the Triple Career Grand Slam (winning each major at least three times) and the Career Golden Masters (winning all nine Masters 1000 events, which he has done twice). Djokovic is known for his supreme athleticism, return game, and mental strength and remains a dominant force at 37. So far, he has won 100 ATP singles titles.

The universally admired Swiss maestro, Roger Federer, is celebrated for his elegant all-court game, fluid movement, and exemplary sportsmanship. He held the World No. 1 ranking for 310 weeks, including a record 237 consecutive weeks. Federer captured 20 Grand Slam singles titles, becoming the first man to reach that mark, and completed the Career Grand Slam. He also holds a record six ATP Finals titles. His rivalries, particularly with Nadal and Djokovic, are legendary. Federer retired in 2022, finishing his illustrious career with 103 ATP singles titles.

Jimmy Connors holds the record for the most ATP singles titles won in the Open Era. The fiercely competitive American lefty was known for his longevity, fiery attitude, flat groundstrokes, and exceptional two-handed backhand return. Connors held the World No. 1 ranking for 268 weeks and won eight Grand Slam singles titles- five US Opens, two Wimbledons, and one Australian Open. His career spanned more than two decades, marked by intense rivalries. Connors' remarkable tally of 109 ATP singles titles remains the benchmark in men's tennis.

The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) was founded in 1973 by the US tennis legend Billie Jean King. The WTA is responsible for organising the WTA tour, which includes top-tier tennis tournaments for women throughout the year. The tour includes four Grand Slam tournaments (Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open), the WTA Finals, nine WTA 1000 tournaments, 12 WTA 500 tournaments, and nearly 30 WTA 250 tournaments. All these tournaments collectively play a major role in determining the WTA rankings.

Let’s take a closer look at the top 10 players who have won the most WTA singles titles in the Open Era.

Monica Seles emerged on the tour as a teenage sensation. Seles won nine Grand Slam titles in her career, and eight of them came when she was a teenager. She was representing Yugoslavia at that time and became the youngest player to win the French Open at the age of 16 in 1990. However, tragedy struck in 1993 when she was just 19 years old; an obsessed fan of Seles’s rival, Steffi Graf, stabbed her while she was playing a match in Hamburg, Germany. It took her almost two years to recover, but Seles could not manage to reach the same heights again. She managed to win only one Grand Slam title after the incident.

Virginia Wade won three Grand Slam titles in singles and four Grand Slam titles in doubles. She is the only British woman in history who has won titles at all four majors. Wade’s highest career ranking in singles was second, while she was World No. 1 in doubles back in 1973. Although the French Open is the only Grand Slam title she failed to win in singles, she still managed to win 55 WTA titles throughout her career.

The former World No. 1 held the top of the rankings for a total of 98 weeks. She also finished as the year-end World No. 1 in singles in four different years. In doubles, she was also World No. 1 for 32 weeks. Lindsay Davenport won three Grand Slams: the Australian Open, the US Open, and Wimbledon. She also won an Olympic Gold medal and earned a place in the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Davenport won a total of 55 WTA titles in her career.

Billie Jean King's impact was huge in the tennis world, as she left a mark both on and off the court. On the court, King won 12 singles Grand Slam titles, reaching a total of 39 Grand Slam titles when including doubles. King’s win against Bobby Riggs in the 1973 "Battle of the Sexes" is regarded as one of the most historic moments in tennis. In a career that spanned close to 22 years, King claimed 67 WTA singles titles. Furthermore, she is the founder of the Women’s Tennis Association and has earned a spot in the Tennis Hall of Fame, a Congressional Gold Medal, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Evonne Goolagong was one of the leading players in the world during the 1970s and 1980s. The Australian won her first Grand Slam, the French Open, at the age of 19 in 1971. She also won the Australian Open in doubles the same year with her partner Margaret Court. Goolagong went on to win seven Grand Slam singles titles in her career, including four Australian Opens. She won a total of 68 WTA singles titles in her career.

Serena Williams is considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time. She holds the joint record for being World No. 1 for 186 consecutive weeks. Overall, she has held the World No. 1 position for 319 weeks. She has won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, the most won by any player in the Open Era. She has won a Career Grand Slam and is the only player who has completed a Career Golden Slam in both singles and doubles. The former World No. 1 won 73 WTA titles throughout her career.

Margaret Court holds the record for the most singles Grand Slam titles in tennis history, with 24. Court won all four Grand Slam singles titles, completing the Career Grand Slam in 1970. She also achieved a "career boxed set" by winning every possible major title (singles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles) at all four Grand Slam events. The Australian won the Australian Open consecutively from 1960 to 1966, winning her first at the age of 17. In a 17-year-long career, Court won 92 WTA titles.

Steffi Graf holds the record for being World No. 1 for the most weeks. Graf held the top spot for 377 weeks in her career. The German won 22 Grand Slam titles, which is the second most by any player in the Open Era and third most of all time. The former World No. 1 was also the first player to achieve the Career Golden Slam, winning all four major singles titles and an Olympic Gold medal in 1988. Graf won 107 WTA titles in her career.

Chris Evert dominated women's tennis during the 1970s and 1980s alongside her greatest rival, Martina Navratilova. The American won Roland Garros seven times, which is the most in women's tennis. Evert holds the joint record with Serena Williams for the most US Open titles, with six each. She won 18 major titles, and her singles match winning percentage of 89.97% is the second highest in the Open Era for both men and women. Evert won a total of 157 titles in her career.

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Martina Navratilova won the most titles on the WTA tour in the Open Era. She won a total of 18 Grand Slam singles titles throughout her career. The Czech-American is the only player in history who has held the World No. 1 ranking for more than two hundred weeks in both singles and doubles. The former World No. 1 won Wimbledon a record nine times. In a 42-year-long career, Navratilova won a record 167 titles.