The 10 best clay court specialists of all time

• French Open Titles: 1 (and 1 Pre-Open Era)
• Other Clay Titles: 30

Rod Laver is arguably one of the greatest tennis players to grace the courts. Even though he liked other types of surfaces more, he still did incredible things on clay. He won the French Open singles title in 1962 and 1969 as part of the two-year calendar Grand Slam. He is one of only two players to achieve this, not just once but twice. Also, in 1962, he was the first man since Lew Hoad to win the “clay court triple,” including Paris, Rome, and Hamburg.

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• French Open Titles: 1
• Other Clay Titles: 31

Ilie Năstase was a Romanian Tennis player nicknamed the ”Bucharest Buffoon“ or ”Mr. Nasty“. He was known to have had outstanding success on clay, achieving his French Open win in 1973 and many other tournaments on clay, such as the Italian Open. Năstase was good on clay as he was able to vary his game with a cheeky use of the drop shot and lobs. He was also quick at sliding, which made him extra hard to beat.

• French Open Titles: 1
• Other Clay Titles: 40

Thomas Muster in the early 1990s was known as the first and unofficial ‘King of Clay’ and dominated the tennis courts with his relentlessness and physicality on clay surfaces. Crowned in 1995 as a French Open winner, and winning many ATP titles, Muster demonstrated powerful groundstrokes coupled with excellent defensive skills making him successful on this surface. Given that he achieved a 77% success rate on clay, this player rightfully earned the title of one of the best tennis players who excel at clay courts.

• French Open Titles: 1
• Other Clay Titles: 49

Vilas was the master of the clay court during the 1970s and won 49 titles on that surface. His record of 53 consecutive victories on clay in 1977 is considered to be one of the greatest records in tennis. Only Nadal has won more clay court titles than Villas, and only Nadal again has won more consecutive matches on clay. The only reason why he is ranked lower than the above players is that he won at Roland Garros only once in 1977 but reached the finals four times.

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• French Open Titles: 3
• Other Clay Titles: 14

Gustavo Kuerten, also called “Guga,” performed best on clay courts. The surface was also an important factor in his game; the layout made him produce his magical forehand, combined with his amazing footwork and tactics. His success on clay includes three French Open titles. Besides his wonderful game, he was an endearing man off the court, and that is why many people who loved tennis adored him.

• French Open Titles: 3
• Other Clay Titles: 18

Despite the fact that Nadal is the greatest clay court player, Novak Djokovic has stood out as one of the greatest on this surface. Since winning the French Open three times and earning an 18-clay Court title, Djokovic confirmed himself as a serious rival. His triumphs at the Rome Masters, Madrid Open, and Monte Carlo Masters clearly underlined his ability to perform well on the surface. 

He has particularly been good against Nadal on clay, winning eight out of their 27 head-to-head matches on this surface, although one of the most memorable victories was against Nadal in the 20212 French Open semi-finals. Djokovic has always demonstrated his ability to read the game well and is among the best tennis players on the clay court.

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• French Open Titles: 3
• Other Clay Titles: 20

Mats Wilander began his tennis success when he won the French Open before his 18th birthday. That talent helped him win the French Open three times and 20 clay court tournaments, including the Italian Open and Monte Carlo Masters. Wilander was a very consistent player, and his tactical skills were exceptional on clay surfaces. Wilander applied points with finesse and superior defensive play and knew his opponent’s weaknesses.

• French Open Titles: 3
• Other Clay Titles: 28

Ivan Lendl had a great career on clay, where he was able to achieve outstanding results, always very competitive in this very tough surface. He clinched total of 28 titles in this surface including three times champion of French opens, making an icon on clay courts.

Lendl’s powerful baseline game and rigorous fitness routine perfectly complemented the nature of this surface type. His greatest victory on clay was in the 1984 French Open final against John McEnroe, when he came back from two sets to love down, with many describing it as one of the greatest final matches ever played at Roland Garros.

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• French Open Titles: 6
• Other Clay Titles: 30

Björn Borg stands out for his outstanding performances at the French Open, where he won six times. His play was highly aggressive on the clay courts; he depended mainly on the heavy topspin and a strong two-handed backhand. Borg’s physical fitness and determination proved his worth during long, drawn-out points usually witnessed at slow-playing surfaces such as clay courts.

His winning record at the French Open, 49–2, speaks for itself. Besides his titles, Borg demonstrated consistency, patience, and strategy in tennis matches, which gave future players something to emulate.

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• French Open Titles: 14
• Other Clay Titles: 63

Referred to as the ‘King of Clay’, Nadal reigns supreme on this court. He has eleven titles at the Monte Carlo Masters, twelve titles at the Barcelona Open, ten titles at the Rome Masters, and fourteen titles at the French Open.

He has been a tireless competitor on clay courts and has displayed greatness that has never been seen before and may never be seen again. This record of 81 matches won in a row is among the many reasons why he is considered the greatest clay court player of all time.