The formidable Serb became the first player in history to surpass $100m in career winnings, beating Roberto Bautista Agut in the fourth round at Roland Garros. Djokovic's prize pot was helped by winning an all-time record six consecutive Australian Open singles titles. Djokovic and his wife Jelena spoke to CNN Sport's Amanda Davies in February 2016, <a href="https://www.trupilariante.com/videos/sports/2016/02/17/spc-open-court-novak-djokovic-foundation.cnn">explaining his mission to help Serbia's children.</a>
Novak Djokovic —
The formidable Serb became the first player in history to surpass $100m in career winnings, beating Roberto Bautista Agut in the fourth round at Roland Garros. Djokovic's prize pot was helped by winning an all-time record six consecutive Australian Open singles titles. Djokovic and his wife Jelena spoke to CNN Sport's Amanda Davies in February 2016, explaining his mission to help Serbia's children.
The Australian was the first player to amass more than a million dollars in prize money over the course of his career. Rod Laver's 200 career singles titles across both the amateur and professional tour is the most in tennis history. In 2014, aged 75, he <a href="https://www.trupilariante.com/2014/01/09/sport/tennis/roger-federer-rod-laver-tennis-melbourne/">exchanged shots with Roger Federer</a> ahead of the Australian Open.
Rod Laver —
The Australian was the first player to amass more than a million dollars in prize money over the course of his career. Rod Laver's 200 career singles titles across both the amateur and professional tour is the most in tennis history. In 2014, aged 75, he exchanged shots with Roger Federer ahead of the Australian Open.
As tennis became an increasingly lucrative proposition for its star players, Borg became the first man to earn $1 million in a single season. The Swede won the coveted Wimbledon title five times in a row between 1976 and 1980, and is remembered as one of the greats of the game -- despite retiring at the age of just 26. <a href="https://www.trupilariante.com/2016/05/25/tennis/bjorn-borg-tennis-cleanest-sport/">Speaking to CNN this month in a rare interview</a>, Borg said "tennis is one of the cleanest sports."
Bjorn Borg —
As tennis became an increasingly lucrative proposition for its star players, Borg became the first man to earn $1 million in a single season. The Swede won the coveted Wimbledon title five times in a row between 1976 and 1980, and is remembered as one of the greats of the game -- despite retiring at the age of just 26. Speaking to CNN this month in a rare interview, Borg said "tennis is one of the cleanest sports."
The precocious German lifted the Wimbledon trophy in 1985 at the age of just 17, and remains the youngest ever man to do so. Today, he coaches world No.1 Novak Djokovic, and <a href="https://www.trupilariante.com/2014/08/21/sport/tennis/boris-becker-novak-djokovic-tennis/">told CNN Sport</a> he sees a bit of himself in the Serb.
Boris Becker —
The precocious German lifted the Wimbledon trophy in 1985 at the age of just 17, and remains the youngest ever man to do so. Today, he coaches world No.1 Novak Djokovic, and told CNN Sport he sees a bit of himself in the Serb.
The American -- known as "Pistol Pete" for his precise serve -- was world No. 1 in the ATP rankings at the end of six consecutive years from 1993 through 1998.<a href="https://www.trupilariante.com/videos/sports/2016/03/18/spc-open-court-pete-sampras.cnn/video/playlists/intl-open-court/"> Speaking to CNN Sport in March</a>, Sampras evaluated his successors at the top of the men's game, and explained why he'd never go into coaching on the pro tour.
Pete Sampras —
The American -- known as "Pistol Pete" for his precise serve -- was world No. 1 in the ATP rankings at the end of six consecutive years from 1993 through 1998. Speaking to CNN Sport in March, Sampras evaluated his successors at the top of the men's game, and explained why he'd never go into coaching on the pro tour.
Nadal is widely regarded as the best clay court player of all time, winning the French Open a record nine times. Though he plays with his left hand, the Spaniard is actually right-handed. In a letter addressed to ITF president David Haggerty, Nadal recently<a href="https://www.trupilariante.com/2016/04/27/tennis/nadal-tennis-itf-results-drugs/"> requested that all of his drugs test be made public</a>.
Rafa Nadal —
Nadal is widely regarded as the best clay court player of all time, winning the French Open a record nine times. Though he plays with his left hand, the Spaniard is actually right-handed. In a letter addressed to ITF president David Haggerty, Nadal recently requested that all of his drugs test be made public.
Federer did not take part at the 2016 French Open; it was the first major the elegant Swiss star had missed for 17 years. In <a href="https://www.trupilariante.com/2016/01/22/tennis/australian-open-tennis-sharapova-federer-djokovic/">January 2016</a>, the 17-time grand slam singles champion became the first man to record 300 wins at majors.
Roger Federer —
Federer did not take part at the 2016 French Open; it was the first major the elegant Swiss star had missed for 17 years. In January 2016, the 17-time grand slam singles champion became the first man to record 300 wins at majors.
Billie Jean King famously won the so-called "Battle of the Sexes" match against former world No. 1 Bobby Rigg. She is a vocal proponent of gender equality and recently told CNN that <a href="https://www.trupilariante.com/2016/04/01/sport/womens-equal-pay-soccer-billie-jean-king/">"women have to stick up for themselves and fight."</a>
Billie Jean King —
Billie Jean King famously won the so-called "Battle of the Sexes" match against former world No. 1 Bobby Rigg. She is a vocal proponent of gender equality and recently told CNN that "women have to stick up for themselves and fight."
Martina Navratilova is the only player in history to have held the top spot in both singles and doubles for over 200 weeks. She also accomplished a career grand slam in singles, women's doubles and mixed doubles -- one of only three players to do so. And that's not all -- she also holds the record for consecutive singles victories, winning 74 matches in a row.
Martina Navratilova —
Martina Navratilova is the only player in history to have held the top spot in both singles and doubles for over 200 weeks. She also accomplished a career grand slam in singles, women's doubles and mixed doubles -- one of only three players to do so. And that's not all -- she also holds the record for consecutive singles victories, winning 74 matches in a row.
Graf's 22 singles titles is the most since the introduction of the Open Era in 1968. The versatile German is the only player to have won each of the four majors at least four times. CNN Sport <a href="https://www.trupilariante.com/videos/sports/2015/06/03/ws-steffi-graf-french-open.cnn">caught up with the tennis legend in 2015</a>, who explained how she "fell in love" with Roland Garros.
Steffi Graf —
Graf's 22 singles titles is the most since the introduction of the Open Era in 1968. The versatile German is the only player to have won each of the four majors at least four times. CNN Sport caught up with the tennis legend in 2015, who explained how she "fell in love" with Roland Garros.
Sharapova has enjoyed a long career at the top of the women's game, picking up at least one singles title a year from 2003 through 2015. In March 2016, the Russian revealed she had failed a drugs test at the Australian Open that year. CNN Sport explored <a href="https://www.trupilariante.com/2016/03/08/tennis/maria-sharapova-doping-questions-tennis/">what's next for Sharapova</a> in light of the guilty verdict.
Maria Sharapova —
Sharapova has enjoyed a long career at the top of the women's game, picking up at least one singles title a year from 2003 through 2015. In March 2016, the Russian revealed she had failed a drugs test at the Australian Open that year. CNN Sport explored what's next for Sharapova in light of the guilty verdict.
Williams has more major singles, doubles, and mixed doubles titles combined than any other active player in the game. She is also the most recent player -- male or female -- to have held all four major singles titles simultaneously. In 2016, Williams and Djokovic ensured it was a <a href="https://www.trupilariante.com/2016/04/19/sport/laureus-awards-djokovic-and-williams-win-sportsman-and-sportswoman-of-the-year/">clean sweep for tennis</a> at the Laureus Awards, winning Sportswoman of the Year.
Serena Williams —
Williams has more major singles, doubles, and mixed doubles titles combined than any other active player in the game. She is also the most recent player -- male or female -- to have held all four major singles titles simultaneously. In 2016, Williams and Djokovic ensured it was a clean sweep for tennis at the Laureus Awards, winning Sportswoman of the Year.