5 greatest male claycourt players of all time

3. Ivan Lendl

Ivan Lendl

Ivan Lendl was known for his supreme fitness, athleticism and fighting spirit. He spent a lot of time as the No. 1 player in the world, and also won the French Open thrice. He was the greatest claycourt player among his contemporaries, which included the likes of John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors.

Lendl had great court coverage and a beautiful single-handed backhand. He also had a superb return of serve, and committed very few errors.

Lendl could have won the French Open in the late 1970s itself, but the presence of a certain Bjorn Borg in the tennis circuit prevented him from doing so. Lendl had to wait till Borg’s retirement in the early 1980s to taste success at the French Open.

The Czech won 26 career titles on clay, and remained a fierce competitor throughout his career. He is also widely considered the father of the modern power baseline style of tennis; he revolutionized the game with his hard-hit groundstrokes and emphasis on fitness.