5 Inspiring Tennis Players You Should Have Heard Of
Tennis has been around for hundreds of years, becoming one of the most popular sports in the world. Tennis players have been bringing home the gold for several decades. This article will look at five of the best tennis players in history who have set themselves apart with their skills and accomplishments on the court. Tennis is also one of the most popular sports for sports betting, read more to find out how to bet on your favorite players.
Novak Djokovic
Born in Belgrade, Serbia, in 1987, Djokovic has made his mark as a top-ranked player for several years. Djokovic began playing tennis when he was five years old. By fourteen years old, he was competing on the junior circuit. By 2011, Djokovic was among the world's top thirty-five tennis players. Djokovic has won over thirty titles worldwide, including three Grand Slam titles. His most recent win was at the 2015 Australian Open, where he won in four sets. He also won the 2012 and 2013 US Open and Wimbledon in 2011 and 2014.
Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal is one of professional tennis's most well-known and respected names. Nadal was born in 1986 in Manacor, Spain. By 2002, Nadal was already a top-ranked junior player at seventeen. In 2005, Nadal made his debut in the ATP circuit by winning in Marseille and Mestre. He won back-to-back Opens of Valencia and Barcelona in 2006 and 2007, respectively. Next, Nadal won his first Grand Slam in 2008 at the French Open. He finished the year with victories in four other Grand Slams. Nadal also won his first Masters tournament and the Australian Open in 2009. In 2010, Nadal won Wimbledon for the first time, defeating Djokovic. Over the following years, Nadal continued to win various tournaments worldwide and more Grand Slam titles.
Steffi Graf
Born in Mannheim, Germany, in 1969, Steffi Graf has been hailed as one of the best female tennis players. She played her first professional tournament at the age of fourteen. In 1984, she won the Junior Orange Bowl, and by 1987 was the Junior US Open Champion. In 1988, Graf turned professional and won two tournaments the same year. In 1989, she won the French Open in the first year women were allowed to compete. She repeated this feat five more times, bringing her total to 6 French Open titles. In 1995, Graf retired after winning her twentieth Grand Slam title.
Serena Williams
Born in Saginaw, Michigan, in 1981, Serena Williams is one of the best female tennis players in history. In 1994, she won her first major tournament at fifteen. In 2002, Williams made history by becoming the first African-American woman to win a Grand Slam at the US Open. She went on to win the Australian Open in 2003 and 2005. She won her first Wimbledon tournament in 2008, defeating her sister Venus. Since then, Serena has won five more Grand Slams, including a victory at the 2012 US Open.
Chris Evert
Born in Plantation, Florida, in 1954, Chris Evert was one of the most successful tennis players ever. She won the first three major tournaments in 1973, 1974, and 1975. The year after winning those three titles, Evert won her first Grand Slam title at the US Open. She won her first Grand Slam in 1976 when she defeated Chris Mayotte of France in the final at the French Open. She won her first US Open that year and could not win a Grand Slam again until 1981, when she won the finals at Wimbledon. Evert retired from tennis in 1989 and won her last major tournament a month later at the US Open.
