5 Greatest hardcourt players of all time

4. Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal’s achievements on clay are so staggering that they tend to overshadow his enviable feats on hardcourts. He has the best pair of legs in the history of tennis and therefore, faces no problem in extending rallies and thereby tiring his opponents on hardcourts too.

Nadal's legendary court-coverage and outstanding forehand have won him four Grand Slams on hardcourts. He has also won a number of Masters titles on the surface.

Nadal has played in the so called Golden Era of tennis, when two other greats in Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic were at their respective peaks. In spite of that, he has been able to win a handful of titles on hardcourts.

Nadal’s passing shots and outstanding return of serve make him a formidable opposition on any surface.

He is on the verge of winning his 5th Slam on hard courts and 18th overall, as he has again made it to the final of the ongoing Australian Open. His win against Kevin Anderson in straight sets in the final of the 2017 US Open underlines his prowess on hard courts.