Top five players with most ATP Hard Court titles in Open Era

Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer joint-top with most hard-court titles.

Longevity in tennis is a remarkable feat, considering the physical strain players endure on varied surfaces throughout their careers and within the calendar year. However, Novak Djokovic has consistently stood out among his contemporaries, presenting a formidable challenge to the next generation of players and recently equaled Federer's record for most ATP Hard court titles.

Among his long-standing rivals are Roger Federer, who retired last year, and Rafael Nadal, sidelined for the entire 2023 season due to a hip injury sustained at the Australian Open. Djokovic has amassed an impressive total of 98 career wins, including victories in Grand Slam events, ATP Masters tournaments, and Nitto ATP Finals, solidifying his status as a dominant force in the sport.

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Here's the list of top five players with the most hard-court titles wins:

Pete Sampras(36)

Pete Sampras made his ATP Tour debut in 1988, winning his first major title two years later at Flushing Meadows in 1990. He remains the youngest US Open champion at 19 years and one month. Sampras’s win-loss record in the grand slams stands 203-39 in the majors. Another of Sampras’s accolades was finishing as World No. 1 for six years in a row between 1993 and 1998.

Jimmy Connors (43)

Jimmy Connors was a symbol of longevity, continuing to play tennis events at 41. The Illinois native has a record 109 titles to his name, including eight Grand Slams. Connors turned pro in 1972 and was World No.1 two years later, a position he held for five straight years from 1974-78. He also won 15 titles in 1974, the most in his career in a single calendar year.

Jimmy Connors is known for his bitter rivalry against fellow American John McEnroe. The two were the face of American tennis in the 1970s and 1980s and had contrasting personalities. Connors was relentless and competitive, while McEnroe was brash and known for his fiery temper. 

Andre Agassi (46)

Andre Agassi, the captivating showman from Las Vegas, burst onto the tennis scene in 1986 at the age of 16. It took him another six years to secure his first major championship, achieving victory at Wimbledon in 1992. Despite a setback that saw the Nevadan drop to No. 141 in 1997, he made a remarkable resurgence, climbing to World No. 5 in 1998 - a meteoric rise indeed.

Between 1999 and 2003, Agassi clinched five of his eight Major titles, marking a significant phase in his career. His win at the Roland Garros 1999 elevated him into the elite company of tennis greats such as Fred Perry, Don Budge, Rod Laver, and Roy Emerson, making him only the fifth man in history to claim ownership of all four major championships.

Roger Federer (71)

Roger Federer boasts an impressive hard-court win/loss record of 783–155, securing victory in 83% of his matches on this surface. The Swiss legend also holds the distinction of being the oldest man to claim the top spot on the Pepperstone ATP ranking in 2018, achieving this feat at 36 years and 195 days. Additionally, he holds the record for the most consecutive weeks at No. 1 (237), a remarkable achievement since the establishment of the ATP Rankings in 1973.

Federer's illustrious career includes clinching 103 titles, placing him second only to Jimmy Connors’ 109 in the Open Era. Notably, he never retired from any of his 1,526 singles matches or 224 doubles matches throughout his career.

Novak Djokovic (71)

Just a fortnight ago, Novak Djokovic secured his seventh victory at Bercy-Paris by defeating Grigor Dimitrov in the final of the Paris Master 2023. The Serbian world no. 1 extended his total wins on hard courts to 71 after a comprehensive win against Jannik Sinner in the summit clash of the Nitto ATP Finals 2023, prevailing with a score of 6-3, 6-3. Djokovic's dominance on hard courts remains staggering, boasting a win/loss record of 33-1 this year and an impressive overall tally of 688 wins to 122 losses.