How Tall Are Tennis Players?

When we first published this article back in October 2021, David Goffin was the shortest guy in the top ten at the time, coming in at 5ft 11 inches (180cm). This was a full two inches taller than the average man in the USA.

While the height of the average man in the US still measures around 5ft 9 inches (175cm) tall, Alex De Minaur, who at the time of writing in February 2024, measures 6ft (183cm). A full 3 inches taller than the average.

De Minaur, remarkably, at 6 ft is the shortest of the current ATP top ten. More on that later.

On the women’s side, it was a similar story.

We had Ashleigh Barty as the shortest woman in the top ten, coming in at 5ft 5 inches (165cm). The average woman in the USA at the time, was 5ft 3 ½ inches (161cm) tall, making Ashleigh an inch and a half taller.

Today, less than 2 ½ years later, Ons Jabeur is the shortest woman on tour, measuring 5ft 6 inches (167cm). However, the average height of women in the US is now 5ft 4 inches (165cm), so still an impressive 2 inches taller for the tennis player!

Curious to Know What the Heights of The Top Tennis Players Are?

Here’s the ATP Men’s Top Ten list for February 2024:

1. Novak Djokovick (SRB) 6′ 2″ (189cm)
2. Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) 6′ 1″ (186cm)
3. Jannik Sinner (ITA) 6′ 2″ (189cm)
4. Daniil Medvedev (RUS) 6′ 6″ (198cm)
5. Andrey Rublev (RUS) 6′ 2″ (189cm)
6. Alexander Zverev (DEU) 6′ 6″ (198cm)
7. Holger Rune (DEN) 6′ 2″ (189cm)
8. Hubert Hurkacz (POL) 6′ 5″ (196cm)
9. Alex De Minaur (AUS) 6′ 0″ (183cm)
10. Taylor Fritz (USA) 6′ 5″ (198cm)

The WTA Tour Women’s Top Ten for February 2024

1. Iga Swiatek (POL) 5′ 9″ (176cm)
2. Aryna Sabalenka 6′ 0″ (183cm)
3. Coco Gauff (USA) 5′ 9″ (175cm)
4. Elena Rybakina (KAZ) 6′ 0″ (183cm)
5. Jessica Pegula (USA) 5′ 7″ (170cm)
6. Ons Jabeur (TUN) 5′ 6″ (167cm)
7. Qinwen Zheng (CHN) 5′ 10″ (178cm)
8. Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) 5′ 8″ (172cm)
9. Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) 5′ 10″ (178cm)
10. Karolina Muchova (CZE) 5′ 11″ (180cm)

The averages point to the same conclusion, with the average top ten male player measuring in at 6ft 3 inches (191cm), and the average female top ten player coming in at 5ft 8 inches (176cm).

This points to the fact that it’s pretty helpful to have height on your side if you want to make it as a top tennis player.

However, there have been plenty of examples throughout history that you don’t need to be over 6ft tall to succeed in tennis.

We take a look at some of the biggest names from the men’s and women’s games to see how tall they are.

Here you’ll see some of the tallest tennis players to have hit the tour, and some of the shortest tennis players to have made it on the biggest stage.

How Tall Are the Top Male Players

When you watch tennis on TV it can be difficult to judge how tall the players are. When you see them in real life though, they’re often much taller than you expect.

The Big Four

If we look at the most successful players of recent times, they’ve all been comfortably over six foot.

The big four of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic have won pretty much every major over the last few years and they’re all a similar height.

Roger Federer – 6’1” (185cm)

The GOAT – the man whose suaveness is only matched by his unbelievable tennis is 6ft 1 inch tall. This is pretty tall for your average guy, but for a top tennis player, it’s very standard. Roger retired from competitive tennis in 2022.

Rafel Nadal – 6’1” (185cm)

Rafa always seems to look a little bit shorter on TV, but when you see him in real life he’s a pretty tall and imposing guy.

He’s always been hot on Federer’s tail and has given us some enthralling tennis over the years, and he also measures 6ft 1 inches.

Novak Djokovic – 6’2” (188cm)

Djokovic is slightly taller than his two eternal rivals at 6 ft 2 inches tall.

Now with 24 Grand Slam victories, the Djok is ahead of Nadal on 22 and Federer on 20, so we will see what the years ahead bring for the Serb.

Andy Murray – 6’3” (191cm)

The tallest of the four players is Andy Murray at 6ft 3 inches. Again, he’s someone who doesn’t appear to be so tall on TV, but he’s well above average height.

The Youngsters 

These guys might not necessarily be youngsters anymore, but while Djokovic and Nadal are still going, we’re going to keep calling them that. Yes, these guys are pretty tall too!

Dominic Thiem – 6’1” (185cm)

At 30 years old, Thiem isn’t considered young anymore. Back in 2021, Dominic was ranked number three in the world. However, following a nasty wrist injury, he is battling his way back to the top after a lengthy spell out of the game. He is currently 89 on the ATP rankings.

Daniil Medvedev – 6’6” (198cm)

This is where we start to see some really tall guys! Russian Medvedev had a breakthrough year in 2019. We wrote that we expected Daniil to be amongst the top players for some time to come and that’s been proved year on year. He is one of two players at the top of the height list at 6′ 6 inches (198cm).

Stefanos Tsitispas – 6’4” (193cm)

When you stand Tsitispas next to Medvedev, he doesn’t look particularly tall, but you soon notice when he stands next to the Fed or Nadal.

Back in 2019 the then-21-year-old won the ATP Tour year-end trophy and was tipped to become a Grand Slam champion in the not-too-distant future. However, life for Stefanos hasn’t materialized in the way he would have hoped.

He is still within touching distance of the top ten at number 11.

Alexander Zverev – 6’6” (198cm)

Given the average height of an NBA basketball player is 6ft 7 inches, this group of youngsters is pretty tall.

We tipped Alexander for future stardom. And he’s been able to follow through on his potential. Now 26 years of age, he is coming into his own.

Other Notable Players

Matteo Berrettini – 6’5” (196cm)

Andrey Rublev – 6’ 2” (188cm)

Karen Khachanov – 6’6” (198cm)

Denis Shapovalov – 6’ 1” (185cm)

Felix Auger-Aliassime – 6’4” (193cm)

Jannik Sinner –  6’2″ (188cm)

Casper Ruud – 6’0″ (183cm)

Lorenzo Musetti – 6’1″ (185cm)

Carlos Alcaraz – 6’1″ (185cm)

Seb Korda –  6’4″ (196cm)

How Tall Are Tennis Players of the Past? (Male)

So, we know the modern game is dominated by guys who are over 6ft tall, but what about in the past? How tall are some of tennis’ past greats?

Andre Agassi – 5’11” (179cm)

Agassi had an exceptional playing career, winning 8 Grand Slam titles and a career Grand Slam. At 5’ 11”, he is an example of a great ex-player who measured under 6ft tall.

Pete Sampras – 6’1” (185cm)

You can’t think of Agassi without thinking of the great “Pistol” Pete Sampras. While Sampras was known for his excellent serve, he was only 6ft 1 inch tall, not huge compared to the modern-day players.

Boris Becker – 6’3” (190cm)

Another man with a big serve and a great record at Wimbledon. The German won 6 grand slam titles in the 80s and 90s, but wouldn’t have looked out of place today at 6’3”.

John McEnroe – 5’11” (180cm)

A legend of the game and still frequently found doing commentary on the big matches, John McEnroe measures in at 5’11”. The American won 7 grand slam titles in the 70s and 80s.

Bjorn Borg – 5’11” (180cm)

Borg, who formed one of the greatest rivalries of all time with John McEnroe was also 5’11.

The Swede won 11 grand slam titles including 5 straight Wimbledon’s and 4 straight French Open’s.

Rod Laver – 5’8” (174cm)

Going back a bit further we get to all-time great Rod Laver. The Australian who is 5’8” also won 11 grand slam titles doing the Grand Slam twice.

Other Notable Past Greats

Lleyton Hewitt – 5’10” (178cm)

Jimmy Connors – 5’10” (178cm)

Ivan Lendl – 6’2” (188cm)

Stefan Edberg – 6’2” (188cm)

Arthur Ashe – 6’1” (185cm)

Roy Emerson – 6’0″ (183cm)

Fred Perry – 6’0″ (183cm)

Michael Chang – 5’9″ (175cm)

The Tallets Tennis Players and the Shortest

Players of all heights can succeed at tennis, and the world rankings go to show that.

At the top of the scale, there are some giants, but there are also some much shorter guys that have had significant success.

Here are some of the tallets tennis players on tour, and some of the shortest tennis players to have had success at the top level.

Diego Schwartzman – 5’6” (170cm)

Diego Schwartzman might be the best part of a foot shorter than the likes of Zverev and Medvedev, but that doesn’t stop him from competing.

Back in 2021, the Argentine was ranked number thirteen in the world. Since then, poor form has seen him drop to 115. Diego admits it’s been a struggle and has had to rely on wildcards for entry into the recent Aussie Open. Could it be the curse of the ‘Giant’ top tenners?

John Isner – 6’10” (208cm)

Big American, John Isner always comes across as one of the nicest guys in the game, but he gets the job done on the court.

Isner has spent plenty of time in the world’s top ten, powered by an unbelievable serve.

He’s one of the tallest tennis players, and it’s served him pretty well! 2023 saw John retire following the US Open.

Tallest Tennis Players and the Shortest: Other Notable Players 

Reilly Opelka – 6’11” (211cm)

Ivo Karlovic – 6’11” (211cm)

David Ferrer – 5’9” (175cm)

Olivier Rochus – 5′ 5″ (168cm)

Heights of Top Female Players

It’s a very similar story when we ask how tall are female tennis players. In general, they’re pretty tall. Back in October 2021, these players were at the top of the game. Let’s take a look at what they’re doing now:

Serena Williams – 5’9” (175cm)

23-time grand slam champion Serena Williams is 5ft 9 inches tall, which is well above the average for a female.

While she’s certainly not short compared to other ladies on the tour, she’s also not exceptionally tall. Serena has now retired from the game (2022) and has recently given birth to a second daughter.

Ashleigh Barty – 5’5” (166cm)

Back in October 2021, Ashleigh Barty was world number one. She is certainly on the shorter side and was the shortest woman in the world’s top ten at the time.

It didn’t hold her back though. Retiring in 2022 at the top of her game, she won 15 career singles titles including 3 Grand Slam titles.

Karolina Pliskova – 6’1” (186cm)

Plilskova always seems to be there or thereabouts and is on the taller side when it comes to women’s tennis.

The Czech is a former world number one and was ranked number three in the world back in 2021. Now 36, she has dropped out of the top ten with a current (2024) ranking of 36.

Naomi Osaka – 5’11” (180cm)

Another person who doesn’t seem so tall on TV but is plenty tall enough in real life.

The Japanese player had great success at the end of 2018 and the beginning of 2019 but found herself at number 10 in the rankings in 2021. Since then, she’s had a break from the Tour and had a baby. She is back playing tennis, starting the long road back to the top.

How Tall Are Tennis Players of the Past? (Female)

In the men’s game, many of the past greats weren’t as tall as the modern players, so would this be the same in the women’s game?

Billie Jean King – 5’5” (164cm)

Billie Jean King is one of the great legends of tennis and was instrumental in the formation of the WTA. At 5’5”, she would be on the shorter side in today’s game.

Martina Navratilova – 5’8” (173cm) 

One of Billie Jean’s great rivals, Martina Navratilova was significantly taller at 5’8”. The leftie had a stellar career and is a popular television pundit to this day.

Steffi Graf – 5’9” (175cm)

The other half of the Agassi – Graf partnership, Steffi Graf was a dominant force in tennis in the late 80s and early 90s.

At 5’9”, she’s the same height as Serena Williams, and certainly wouldn’t have looked out of place on the tour today.

Other Notable Past Greats

Chris Evert – 5’6” (168cm)

Monica Seles – 5’10” (178cm)

Martina Hingis – 5’7” (170cm)

Venus Williams – 6’1” (185cm)

Margaret Court – 5’9″ (175cm)

How Tall Are You? Does It Matter?

In professional tennis, height can be a major advantage on the court. Taller players often have a greater reach, helping them return tough shots. However, shorter players can use their agility to swiftly move around the court.

Ultimately, it’s not just about how tall you are, but how you use your height to your advantage in the game of tennis!

Tennis can be played and enjoyed by people of all heights! If you want to find out how to get the best out of your body, check out our range of exciting online tennis courses!