Sinner ranks the top 10 legends: Federer #1, Nadal #2.
In Netflix Italia's TikTok challenge, Jannik Sinner ranked Federer at number 1, Nadal at number 2, Djokovic at number 3; Sampras at number 4, Borg at number 5, and Laver at number 6.
A TikTok challenge video by Netflix Italia has sparked debate in the tennis world: Jannik Sinner, the world number 2, was asked to rank the 10 greatest tennis players of all time without knowing the list beforehand, and to immediately choose a number from 1 to 10 whenever he heard a name. The results placed Roger Federer at number 1, Rafael Nadal at number 2, Novak Djokovic at number 3; followed by Pete Sampras at number 4, Bjorn Borg at number 5, Rod Laver at number 6, Andre Agassi at number 7, John McEnroe at number 8, Ivan Lendl at number 9, and Jimmy Connors at number 10.
The pivotal moment: "For me, Federer is number one."
The order in which the names were suggested made Sinner's selection even more dramatic. The first two names, Bjorn Borg and Pete Sampras, were placed by Sinner in fifth and fourth positions respectively. When it came to Rafael Nadal, he paused briefly before settling on second place. Rod Laver appeared and was pushed into the sixth position. The decisive moment came when Roger Federer's name was mentioned: "For me, he is number one," Sinner stated emphatically. When asked about Novak Djokovic, Sinner placed the Serbian player in third place, completing his top five in his own order.
Analysis: Achievements and Choices
Looking at the data, the record race leans towards Djokovic with 24 Grand Slam titles, followed by Nadal (22) and Federer (20). However, in his personal choice, Sinner still prioritizes Federer at number 1 and puts Nadal at number 2, before placing Djokovic at number 3. It is noteworthy that there is a contrast between the measure of pure achievement and a contemporary player's perception of "legendary status".
The context is even more significant when placed within the era dominated by the "Big Three": from Wimbledon 2003 (Federer's first Grand Slam) to the US Open 2023 (Djokovic's most recent title), they won 66 out of 81 Grand Slams. Although Sinner's ranking differs from the table of achievements, it shows the enormous influence of all three on a generation of young tennis players.
The full top 10 list according to Sinner
- Roger Federer
- Rafael Nadal
- Novak Djokovic
- Pete Sampras
- Bjorn Borg
- Rod Laver
- Andre Agassi
- John McEnroe
- Ivan Lendl
- Jimmy Connors
The Big Three through the lens of data.
Dominating 66/81 Grand Slams in two decades, the Big Three redefined the standard of greatness. Djokovic led with 24 titles, Nadal had 22, and Federer finished his career with 20. Outside the "big three," only two players reached over 10 Grand Slams in the Open Era: Pete Sampras (14) and Bjorn Borg (11). These numbers provide a visual basis for comparison with Sinner's ranking.
Comparison table of top 5 and Grand Slam titles
| Position according to Sinner | Legendary | Grand Slam title |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roger Federer | 20 |
| 2 | Rafael Nadal | 22 |
| 3 | Novak Djokovic | 24 |
| 4 | Pete Sampras | 14 |
| 5 | Bjorn Borg | 11 |
Response and context
After winning his first Grand Slam title at the 2024 Australian Open, Sinner explained why Federer holds a special place in his eyes: “When I was a child, my idol was always Roger Federer – because of the way he behaves on the court and the way he treats people off the court.” This statement is a fitting piece for the “absolute number one” choice in the new video.
Currently, Sinner is competing at the ATP 500 Vienna, shortly after winning the Six Kings Slam – an exhibition tournament in Saudi Arabia. Given his strong form, his public release of his personal ranking has reignited the debate among fans about "who is the greatest."
Meaning
This isn't an "official ranking" but rather a game within a short video, yet it reflects how a top player views history. Sinner's chosen order focuses on image and competitive influence, but also incorporates objective metrics: the Big Three dominate Grand Slams, while Sampras and Borg are two rare exceptions who reached over 10 titles in the Open Era. It is this interplay between data and emotion that has made Sinner's list a hot topic.
