Oldest Grand Slam Champion | Top 10 List

Often in the modern day, it is young players who seem to receive the most attention for their achievements in tennis. But recently, there has been a rise in those more experienced players maintaining their level beyond expectations, and continuing to compete at the highest level time and time again. 

One additional consequence of players being so much more professional these days is the extension of their careers. It is much more common to see players competing well into their late 30s, when they may have previously retired in their early 30s. Here is our list of the Oldest Grand Slam Champion. They have all won multiple grand slams and are true legends of the game.

Also Read: Youngest Grand Slam Champion (Men) | Top 10 List

Oldest Grand Slam Champion

10. Rafael Nadal | 35 years 7 months 14 days

Rafael Nadal defeated Daniil Medvedev in the final, 2–6, 6–7, 6–4, 6–4, 7–5 to win the men's singles tennis title at the 2022 Australian Open. The Spaniard was 35 years, 7 months, and 14 days old at the time. It was his second Australian Open title. This made it the second-longest Major final in history behind the 2012 Australian Open title match, where Nadal fell to Djokovic in a brilliant five-set marathon.

It was Nadal’s 21st of his 22 Grand Slam titles and the first he had won since 2020 after he had struggled with a foot injury that forced him to miss most of the second half of the 2021 season.

9. Novak Djokovic | 35 years 7 months 25 days

Novak Djokovic won the Australian Open for the 10th time after beating Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5) in the Australian Open 2023, returning to the world number one ranking for the first time since last June The Serbian star took the trophy with a muscle tear of about an inch in his left hamstring. 

His age was 35 years, 7 months, and 25 days old at that time. 

8. Ken Rosewall | 35 years 10 months

Ken Rosewall defeated Tony Roche in the final, 2–6, 6–4, 7–6, 6–3 to win the men's singles tennis title at the 1970 US Open. It was his second US Open singles title and seventh Grand Slam tournament singles title overall. Until Novak Djokovic won the US Open 2023, the Australian was the oldest US Open champion at 35 years and 10 months.

7. Roger Federer | 35 years 10 months 26 days

Roger Federer cruised through to the decider without dropping a single set and capped it off with a 6-3, 6-1, 6-4 straight-set win over Croatia’s Marin Cilic to kiss the golden trophy for a record eighth time at the 2017 Wimbledon.

He was 35 years, 10 months, and 26 days old at that time. Besides his eight titles at Wimbledon, Roger Federer has reached the final on four other occasions – 2008 against Nadal and 2014, 2015 and 2019 against Djokovic.

6. Rafael Nadal | 35 years 11 months 19 days

Simply mention the three words 'King of Clay' and there is only one name that comes to mind: Rafael Nadal. The Spaniard's reputation on the surface has become the stuff of legend within the world of tennis, owing to his utter domination, especially at the French Open, which he has won on an astonishing 14 occasions. 

In fact, over the last seven editions of the competition, Nadal has won five - and he didn't enter one of them. 2022 simply saw him continue his incredible record, as he beat several top-level players - Casper Ruud, Alexander Zverev and Novak Djokovic to name just three - in the process of winning the 22nd Grand Slam of his career.

Also Read: Grand Slam record: Most wins in grand slams

5. Novak Djokovic | 36 years 6 days

Novak Djokovic defeated Casper Ruud 7-6(1), 6-3, 7-5 in 2023 French Open. With his win, the three-time Roland Garros titlist Djokovic also reclaimed the No. 1 spot in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings from Carlos Alcaraz, eclipsed Rafael Nadal as the oldest Roland Garros champion at the age of 36 years and 6 days and became the first man to win all four Grand Slam events at least three times.

4. Novak Djokovic | 36 years 3 months 6 days

Given the way he gets around the court, it is sometimes hard to believe that Novak Djokovic is the age he is, with his speed of play showing no signs of slowing down just yet. He stormed to three different Grand Slams during 2023, only missing out on the set after a heroic performance by Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final. 

Djokovic handled the weight of history to defeat Daniil Medvedev in the 2023 US Open. With a 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-3 victory, the 36 years, 3 months, and 6 days old won his 24th Grand Slam singles title, tying Margaret Court's record and bolstering his case to be considered the greatest tennis player of all time.

3. Ken Rosewall | 36 years 4 months 5 days

Ken Rosewall defeated the defending champion Arthur Ashe in the final, 6–1, 7–5, 6–3 to win the men's singles tennis title at the 1971 Australian Open. At that time, his age was 36 years, 4 months, and 5 days. With the win, he became the first man in the Open Era to win a Grand Slam tournament singles title without dropping a set.

2. Roger Federer | 36 years 5 months 7 days

At the age of 36 years, 5 months, and 7 days, former tennis player Roger Federer became the second oldest Grand Slam champion after his Australian Open title against Marin Cilic 2-6 7-6 3-6 6-3 6-1 in 2018. He is considered the greatest male tennis player of all time. 

Also Read: Most matches in Tennis history (male & female): Tennis Records

1. Ken Rosewall | 37 years 1 month 24 days

When Ken Rosewall beat Malcolm Anderson in the Australian Open finals of 1972, he etched his name in the history books by becoming the oldest Grand Slam champion in the Open era. Ken won the match in straight sets 7-6(7-2), 6-3, 7-5. He was 37 years, 1 month, and 24 days old at that time.