Top 4 Greatest Clay Court Players in Tennis of All-Time

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Well, the traditional clay courts have been one of the most prestigious and challenging aspects of the professional tennis circuit since the beginning. The most prominent professional tennis tournaments played on the clay courts include the French Open, also often referred to as Roland Garros, and the ATP and WTA clay seasons, played in Monte Carlo, Madrid, Rome and Barcelona.

Over the years, numerous legendary tennis players, including Rafael Nadal, who is also often hailed as the “King of Clay”, Novak Djokovic and a few others, have undoubtedly ruled the clay courts with their explosive and brutal shots against opponent players. Have you ever wondered about the top four tennis players who have dominated the clay courts throughout their star-studded professional tennis careers? Well, let’s find out.

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In this article we will take a look at the top four best professional tennis players who have ruled the clay courts in their professional tennis careers so far.

Top 4 Greatest Clay Court Players in Tennis of All-Time

• Rafael Nadal

Often popularly hailed as the “King of Clay” owing to his unwavering and unmatched dominance on the clay courts, especially at the French Open (Roland Garros), Rafael Nadal is at the first spot in our list of the top four clay-court tennis players who have dominated the history of the game. Over the years, Rafael Nadal has clinched the French Open the highest record total of 14 times and holds the highest winning percentage of over 90% on the clay court surface.

Additionally, beyond the French Open, Rafael Nadal has also fearlessly dominated the other clay courts and has claimed multiple titles throughout his glorious professional tennis career, including eleven Monte Carlo titles, ten Rome titles and a phenomenal total of twelve Barcelona titles, making Nadal the most successful tennis player on the clay court.

A detailed anecdote of Rafael Nadal’s stats on clay is provided below:

• Bjorn Borg

The Swedish former professional tennis player Bjorn Rune Borg is at the second spot in our list of the top four best professional tennis players who have ruled the clay courts in their professional tennis careers. Ranked at the “No.1” position in men’s singles by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) for a record total of 109 weeks, Björn Borg entirely dominated the clay courts during the 1970s and early 1980s.

Throughout his star-studded professional tennis career that lasted for a decade, Björn Borg clinched the French Open titles a record total of six times and, at the time of his retirement from professional tennis, held the record for the highest number of French Open titles until Rafael Nadal surpassed him. With a winning percentage of over 86% on the clay courts, Björn Borg is still looked upon as one of the most successful tennis players on the clay court of all-time.

A detailed anecdote of Björn Borg’s stats on clay is provided below:

• Ivan Lendl

Often widely crowned as one of the greatest tennis players of all-time, the Czech-American former professional tennis player Ivan Lendl is at the third spot in our list of the top four best professional tennis players who have ruled the clay courts.

Throughout his glorious professional tennis career, Ivan Lendl clinched the prestigious French Open title a record total of three times in the years 1984, 1986 and 1987 and also reached the finals of the prestigious tennis tournament for a record total of five times. With an overall total of 28 career titles on clay, Ivan Lendl undoubtedly proved to be one of the most dominant forces on clay during the 1980s.

A detailed anecdote of Ivan Lendl’s stats on clay is provided below:

• Gustavo Kuerten

Finally, at the fourth spot in our list of the top four best professional tennis players who have ruled the clay courts in their professional tennis careers so far, we have the legendary Brazilian former professional tennis player Gustavo Kuerten, who was ranked at World No.1 in men’s singles by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) for a record total of 43 weeks.

Often popularly referred to as “Guga”, Gustavo Kuerten undoubtedly earned a reputed stature among the greats of clay courts. Throughout his shining professional tennis career, Gustavo Kuerten clinched three French Open titles in the years 1997, 2000 and 2001. Additionally, the legendary Brazilian professional tennis player, Gustavo Kuerten, also made headlines for drawing a heart with his racquet on the clay court after his sensational victory at the 2001 French Open.

A detailed anecdote of Gustavo Kuerten’s stats on the clay court is provided below:

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