Choosing who is the greatest player in tennis history seems like an impossible task. While Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer dominated the past two decades in tennis, before them many great legends, such as Bjorn Borg, Pete Sampras or Rod Laver, also left their masks. So, who would you put in a Top 5? Here is Thomas Enqvist’s answer.
Enqvist was one of Sweden’s top tennis players during the 1990s and early 2000s, reaching a career-high ranking of No. 4 in the world. Known for his powerful baseline game and aggressive style, he won 19 ATP singles titles, including three Masters Series trophies.
“Who are the five best players ever? A difficult question, but I will give you a clear answer: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Bjorn Borg, Rod Laver and… it’s really difficult because there are so many amazing players, but let it be John McEnroe,” told Sport Klub in 2018 (via tennisworldusa.com).
At the time, Enqvist didn’t put Djokovic in his Top 5. However, since then, the Serbian star has become the player with the most Grand Slams titles in the Open Era (24), and has won the most Masters 1000 titles (40). He also is the one with the most weeks as World No. 1 (428), among other many records.
Thomas Enqvist and Bjorn Borg at the Laver Cup (Gerald Matzka/Getty Images for Laver Cup)
However, if Enqvist has to choose only one tennis legend, he would choose Bjorn Borg. “He has always been my superhero, like, he was the reason I wanted to play tennis. My whole life he has been my biggest idol, always,” he told the Australian Open YouTube channel in 2015.
see also
Tennis legend John McEnroe chooses Novak Djokovic’s most impressive historical record
Enqvest’s career: A Davis Cup champion
Apart from his 19 ATP titles, Enqvist was a key player for Sweden in the Davis Cup, contributing to their title-winning campaign in 1997. He played a crucial role in the final against the United States, securing a singles victory that helped Sweden clinch the trophy.
However, throughout his career, he suffered several injuries, limiting his consistency at the top level. Despite this, he remained a force on the ATP Tour, defeating top players like Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, and Federer.
After retiring in 2006, Enqvist remained involved in tennis as a coach and mentor. He served as Sweden’s Davis Cup captain and later worked with players like Stefanos Tsitsipas. He also has worked as Vice-Captain of Team Europe in the Laver Cup.
