History's Greatest British Male Tennis Players Ranked

Over the years, there has been an array of talented British male tennis players from our nation who have made their impression on the much-loved sport.

From Grand Slam champions to Olympic medallists, these are the athletes we'll remember in years to come. So, welcome to the British male tennis player rankings.

Onto the rankings now, and here's our British tennis players list:

Top 10 Past British Tennis Players – Male

Last year, the LTA (Lawn Tennis Association) released new statistics showing that 41% of adult tennis players were female, making it one of the most gender-balanced sports.

So, while we're ranking the British male greats, it's important to note that our country has also produced some extremely talented female tennis players.

With the likes of Virginia Wade, who was the last British woman to win a Grand Slam title in 1977, before Emma Raducanu in 2021, it's impossible to deny their impact on the sport.

Without further ado, let's get into our top 10 past British male tennis players.

1. Fred Perry

Kicking off our top 10 at the number 1 spot is, of course, Fred Perry.

With 8 Grand Slam titles (singles), 3 consecutive Wimbledon titles from 1934 to 1936, and a Career Grand Slam Winner, Fred Perry is undoubtedly Britain's number-one tennis player of all time.

Perry's legendary Wimbledon success and contributions to British tennis culture, to this day, remain unmatched.

Oh, and if you didn't put two and two together (we did not), you won't know that he is also the founder of the famous clothing brand Fred Perry.

2. Andy Murray

Andy Murray is a name you'll definitely recognise. Although he only recently retired, we're still including the former world No.1 because we know he'll be in history books one day.

Murray, who won the 2013 title, broke the 77-year British Wimbledon drought. He was the first British tennis player to claim the title after his predecessor, Fred Perry. So, naturally, he was going on to big things.

So, most notably, Murry has won 3 Grand Slam titles and 2 Olympic gold medals (2012, 2016), was the Davis Cup Champion in 2015, and was a Wimbledon winner not once but twice (2013 and 2016).

He also has two doubles titles with his brother, Jamie Murray.

Legend? We think so.

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3. Tim Henman

Our third spot is taken by none other than Tim Henman. Even never having claimed a major title, Henman was still the face of British tennis during the 90s and noughties and was awarded an OBE for services to tennis in 2004.

His determination and sportsmanship gave hope to Wimbledon fans every year. He reached the semi-finals four times and the Grand Slam semi-finals six times.

Interestingly, his great-grandmother, Ellen Stanwell-Brown, was the first lady to serve overarm at Wimbledon in 1901.

4. Greg Rusedski

Having held the world record for the biggest serve for many years at 149mph, Greg Rusedski is fourth on our list.

Although his British career is slightly intertwined with his Canadian one, there is no doubt he deserves to be on our top 10 list.

Resedski never won any major titles, but he managed to reach the Grand Slam final in 1997 and was ATP Comeback Player of the Year that same year.

5. Bunny Austin

Let's take it back to the pre-World War II era again with Bunny Austin. Like Fred Perry, Austin's contributions to tennis made him a household name.

Significantly, Bunny Austin was a finalist twice at Wimbledon (1932 and 1938) and a Davis Cup champion in 1933 and 1936.

Bunny Austin was the first tennis player to wear shorts on a court at Wimbledon, showing you just how far back in history we've gone.

6. Roger Taylor

Over halfway there now, so in 6th place, we've got Roger Taylor.

Taylor was a key British tennis player back in the 1960s and 70s, best known for his three semi-final runs at Wimbledon.

He also helped GB maintain a strong presence in international tennis, with his Davis Cup performances totalling a record of 26 wins and 9 losses.

7. Kyle Edmund

Not so historical, but Kyle Edmund does indeed deserve to be on our list whilst we're ranking British tennis greats.

Edmund, even while struggling with numerous injuries, has made his mark on British tennis.

He was named British No.1 in 2018 and was a semi-finalist in the Australian Open that same year, showing his potential as a top-tier player.

Although his injuries have slowed him down, the 29-year-old is still a pro.

8. Mark Cox

Mark Cox actually made history by becoming the first amateur to defeat a professional in the Open Era (1968).

9. James Ward

Our penultimate tennis hero is David Cup champion (2015) James Ward.

Despite not having much success in Grand Slams, his performances in the Davis Cup and his former status as Britain's No. 2 in tennis deserve recognition.

10. Jeremy Bates

Last on our list, with a very respectable tennis career, is former British No.1. Jeremy Bates.

He got his first career ATP singles title in Korea in 1994, becoming the first British player to win an ATP title since Mark Cox in 1977.

British Male Tennis Players: A Summary

If you weren't before, you should now be clued up on our country's greatest tennis icons. Whether these people inspire you to train harder on the court or you admire them from afar, you cannot deny their talent.

If you're now feeling slightly patriotic, and want to know more about current-day British tennis, here’s a list of male tennis players that you should look out for:

Statistics from the LTA suggest that tennis participation grew significantly in 2022. So, if you think you might catch the tennis bug, browse through our range of tennis equipment and accessories and see if you can become the next Andy Murray!

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