Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams and Roger Federer – building the ultimate grass court champion

The definition of greatness is often subjective, but a handful of tennis legends stand out as the best players to set foot on a grass court.

All the great champions find a way to win on every surface and when it comes to the grass court season, that challenge can be the most demanding.

We only play on this surface for a few weeks each year, the icons who shine on the lush turf hold a special place in the hearts of tennis fans and here, we have built the ultimate grass court player using the best qualities of the game’s ultimate champions.

THE SERVE – Serena Williams and Pete Sampras

A teenage Boris Becker changed the direction of tennis when he broke through and won The Queen’s Club Championships and Wimbledon for the first time in 1985, with his booming serve bringing a new dimension to the sport. 

Those who followed in his footsteps built on that blueprint and when the grass court champions who boasted the most effective serves are considered, Pete Sampras and Serena Williams have to be in the conversation. 

Sampras dominated at Wimbledon as he won seven titles between 1993 and 2000, while he was also a two-time winner on the Queen’s Club grass courts.

Williams also won seven Wimbledon singles titles and claimed an Olympic gold medal on the Wimbledon grass in 2012, with her power-packed serve at the heart of her aura in a career that included 23 Grand Slam singles titles.

THE FOREHAND – Steffi Graf and Roger Federer

There was unique beauty in the forehands of German great Graf and Swiss maestro Federer.

Seven-time Wimbledon champion Graf struck this shot with an elegance and ferocity that intimidated her rivals, with the sound of the ball crunching onto her racket echoing around the great tennis arenas of the world in a career that saw her win 22 Grand Slam singles titles.

If Graf’s forehand resembled a knife slicing through blades of grass, Federer’s has the silky elegance of a master craftsman at work.

His grace on a tennis court somehow appeared to be elevated by the beauty of the green grass courts he loved more than any other, with his forehand winners drawing gasps of admiration from the crowd in every match he played.

THE BACKHAND – Martina Navratilova and Andy Murray

Navratilova had a one-handed backhand that was loaded with pace and always delivered with wondrous accuracy.

One-handed backhands are now a rarity in the women’s game, with the footage of Navratilova winning her nine Wimbledon singles titles and a remarkable 11 wins at the LTA tournament at Eastbourne a permanent reminder of the class she exuded when striking a backhand.

Britain’s Andy Murray also excelled with this shot, as he claimed two Wimbledon titles on grass and five singles titles at The Queen’s Club.

Murray’s ability to stoop low and find what seemed to be impossible angles were at the heart of his triumphs on grass, while his fantastic lob was also a sumptuous option when the ball was fizzed into his backhand. 

WINNING MINDSET – Billie Jean King and Novak Djokovic

These two players overcame so many barriers to achieve greatness that will stand the test of time.

King’s achievements off the court are probably more remarkable than her magnificent accomplishments on it, which included six Wimbledon singles titles and four in the Open Era.

She also changed face of the women’s game forever as she was a prominent figure in the formation of the Women’s Tennis Association and still continues to fight for equality in the sport with passion that has broken down so many barriers.

Djokovic has to overcome his own mission impossible, as he seemed destined to be the outsider in the battle between Federer and his great rival Rafael Nadal when he set his sights on Grand Slam glory.

Not only did Djokovic find a way to match his two great rivals, but he will finish his career with more major titles than both and will look to equal Federer’s all-time record of eight Wimbledon titles this summer.

MOST MATCH WINS ON GRASS – WOMEN

Martina Navratilova (CZE/USA) – 309

Evonne Goolagong (AUS) – 285

Margaret Court (AUS) – 264

Virginia Wade (GBR) – 212

Chris Evert (USA) – 208

MOST MATCH WINS ON GRASS – MEN

Roger Federer (SUI) – 192

Jimmy Connors (USA)- 185

John Newcombe (AUS) – 164

Phil Dent (AUS) – 157

John Alexander (AUS) – 157