Tennis is a sport that requires a lot of physical and mental skills, such as speed, agility, endurance, coordination, and strategy. However, one factor that can also give an advantage to some players is height. Being tall can help with serving, reaching, and hitting with more power and angle. In this blog post, we will look at the top 10 tallest tennis players ever, and how they used their height to their benefit.
- Tomáš Berdych – 6 feet 5 inches / 196 cm
The Czech player was one of the most consistent performers on the ATP tour for over a decade, reaching the top 10 in 2010 and staying there until 2017. He reached the final of Wimbledon in 2010, where he lost to Rafael Nadal, and also made the semifinals of the Australian Open, French Open, and US Open. His powerful serve and forehand were his main weapons, and he could hit them with great accuracy and depth. - Milos Raonic – 6 feet 5 inches / 196 cm
The Canadian player is known for having one of the fastest and most effective serves in tennis history, reaching speeds of over 230 km/h (143 mph). He also has a strong net game and a solid baseline game, making him a versatile player on different surfaces. He reached his career-high ranking of No. 3 in 2016, after making the final of Wimbledon, where he lost to Andy Murray. He also reached the semifinals of the Australian Open in 2016 and 2020. - Sam Querrey – 6 feet 6 inches / 198 cm
The American player is another big server who can cause trouble for any opponent with his booming deliveries. He has won 10 ATP titles in his career, mostly on hard courts and grass courts. He reached his career-high ranking of No. 11 in 2018, after making the semifinals of Wimbledon in 2017, where he upset Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray in consecutive rounds. He also made the quarterfinals of Wimbledon in 2016 and 2019, and the US Open in 2017. - Juan Martín del Potro – 6 feet 6 inches / 198 cm
The Argentine player is one of the most talented and popular players of his generation, with a fan base that spans across the world. He has a devastating forehand that can hit winners from any position on the court, as well as a powerful serve and a solid backhand. He won his only Grand Slam title at the US Open in 2009, where he defeated Roger Federer in an epic five-set final. He also reached the final of the US Open in 2018, where he lost to Novak Djokovic, and the final of the Olympics in 2016, where he lost to Andy Murray. - Marin Čilić – 6 feet 6 inches / 198 cm
The Croatian player is another Grand Slam champion who used his height to his advantage. He has a strong serve and a powerful baseline game, especially on hard courts and grass courts. He won his only Grand Slam title at the US Open in 2014, where he defeated Kei Nishikori in straight sets in the final. He also reached the final of Wimbledon in 2017, where he lost to Roger Federer, and the final of the Australian Open in 2018, where he lost to Roger Federer. - Kevin Anderson – 6 feet 8 inches / 203 cm
The South African player is one of the tallest players ever to play professional tennis, and he used his height to generate a lot of pace and spin on his serve and groundstrokes. He has won six ATP titles in his career, mostly on hard courts. He reached his career-high ranking of No. 5 in 2018, after making the final of Wimbledon, where he lost to Novak Djokovic, and the final of the US Open in 2017, where he lost to Rafael Nadal. - Jerzy Janowicz – 6 feet 8 inches / 203 cm
The Polish player is another towering figure who can hit with a lot of power and angle from both wings. He has a very aggressive game style that relies on taking risks and going for big shots. He reached his career-high ranking of No. 14 in 2013, after making the semifinals of Wimbledon, where he lost to Andy Murray. He also reached the final of the Paris Masters in 2012, where he lost to David Ferrer. - John Isner – 6 feet 10 inches / 208 cm
The American player is the tallest player ever to be ranked in the top 10 of the ATP rankings, and he has the most aces in tennis history, with over 13,000. He has a phenomenal serve that can reach speeds of over 240 km/h (149 mph), and he can also hit with a lot of power and spin from the baseline. He has won 15 ATP titles in his career, mostly on hard courts and grass courts. He reached his career-high ranking of No. 8 in 2018, after making the semifinals of Wimbledon, where he lost to Kevin Anderson in a marathon match that lasted six hours and 36 minutes. - Reilly Opelka – 6 feet 11 inches / 211 cm
The American player is the second-tallest player ever to play professional tennis, and he has a similar game style to John Isner, with a huge serve and a powerful baseline game. He has won two ATP titles in his career, both on hard courts. He reached his career-high ranking of No. 31 in 2020, after making the semifinals of the Adelaide International, where he lost to Andrey Rublev. - Ivo Karlovic – 6 feet 11 inches / 211 cm
The Croatian player is the tallest player ever to play professional tennis, and he holds several records related to his serve, such as the most aces in a single match (78), the fastest serve ever recorded (263 km/h or 163 mph), and the most career match wins by a player who never broke serve (10). He has won eight ATP titles in his career, mostly on hard courts and grass courts. He reached his career-high ranking of No. 14 in 2008, after making the quarterfinals of Wimbledon, where he lost to Roger Federer.