Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images

Aryna Sabalenka Names Top-5 All-Time Greats in Boardroom Interview – Leaves Out Novak Djokovic

Sabalenka highlights Federer, Serena, and Graf in her Top-5 all-time greats, but Djokovic’s absence adds intrigue.

Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images

Aryna Sabalenka, who has held the WTA No. 1 ranking for 45 straight weeks, revealed her list of all-time tennis greats during a sit-down with ‘Boardroom.’ The three-time Grand Slam champion, currently into the third round of the US Open after wins over Rebeka Masarova and Polina Kudermetova, didn’t hesitate in naming her five favorites. But her picks came with a notable omission that’s bound to stir conversation among tennis fans.

🇧🇾 Aryna Sabalenka’s top 5 tennis players:

🇨🇭 Roger Federer
🇪🇸 Rafael Nadal
🇺🇸 Serena Williams
🇩🇪 Steffi Graf
🇺🇸 Andre Agassi pic.twitter.com/iNnKTATk4n
— Olly Tennis 🎾🇬🇧 (@Olly_Tennis_) August 29, 2025

A Tribute to Legends by Sabalenka

When asked to select her top five, Sabalenka’s admiration was clear: “Definitely [Roger] Federer. [Rafael] Nadal, the hard work he put in is crazy,” she said. “Of course, Serena [Williams], the way she dominated. Steffi Graf, I love her so much. And [Andre] Agassi. That family is the best!”

From Federer’s elegance and Nadal’s relentless fight to Serena’s dominance, Graf’s unmatched streak of success, and Agassi’s star power, Sabalenka’s list is stacked with legends who shaped the sport across eras. Each one is a Grand Slam titan who spent years ruling the rankings, setting a standard few players ever reach.

Yet the glaring absence was Novak Djokovic, the man with more Grand Slam titles than anyone (24) and a record-shattering 428 weeks as world No. 1. The Serb, who has shared friendly interactions with Sabalenka on tour, might have reasonably expected to feature. Instead, her picks leaned toward icons who transformed tennis through aura and personality as much as their numbers.

Aryna Sabalenka discusses her friendship with Novak Djokovic 🫶 pic.twitter.com/GhYmbhKnIr
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 22, 2025

Beyond her selections, Sabalenka also opened up about her own game. She admitted she dislikes watching her matches back, saying the aggressive figure on court feels at odds with her off-court personality: “I look so different and aggressive,” she confessed. Still, she acknowledged that very intensity fuels her success.

As for handling the pressure of being at the top, Sabalenka credited her support system. She said, “It’s really important to have the right people around you.” In her view, pressure isn’t something to escape but something to normalize and channel into performance.

Aryna Sabalenka surges to the finish line! pic.twitter.com/KVcue7wFNP
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 28, 2025

With her US Open campaign still alive and her sights set on adding more majors, Sabalenka sets her priorities clear. She said, “To keep being where you are, you have to improve yourself every day, bring something new into the game, and surprise your opponents.” The prestige of the ranking may bring contracts and bonuses, but players, Sabalenka emphasizes, are ultimately driven by the pursuit of Grand Slam trophies, which defines legacies.

Mandatory Image Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images

Aryna Sabalenka

Novak Djokovic

Rafael Nadal

Roger Federer

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I’m an academic turned sports writer from Raipur, India, specializing in the NFL, MMA, and tennis at The Playoffs. I previously wrote for Sportskeeda and hold a B.A. and M.A. in History. My journey into sports media began far from the field, rooted in the arts and sciences. Funny enough, I didn’t grow up a sports fan; I used to see it all as just noise. But a fateful writing job introduced me to the world of sports, and what began as a gig quickly became a passion. I understood those voices aren’t noise; they’re emotions of true sports fans, and now I am one of them, writing with the same energy I once questioned.