Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic’s longevity in tennis has been remarkable to witness, as both men challenged the very top of the ATP Tour in their late thirties.
Federer retired from tennis in 2022, nearly a quarter of a century after making his ATP Tour-level debut in 1998.
Djokovic, meanwhile, is still performing at the very top of the game 21 years after making his ATP debut and he still shows no signs of slowing down.
Both men have become ATP title winners in the latter stages of their careers, but there is another star who holds the record for the oldest singles title winner in history.
Pancho Gonzalez’s record will likely never be broken
Pancho Gonzalez’s victory at the 1972 Kingston Open earned him the record for the oldest singles title winner in history, at the age of 44.
Gonzalez played in four different decades and his last title win came 23 years after the biggest success of his career at the 1949 US Open.
The American won on home soil for the second consecutive year at the Grand Slam, defeating Ted Schroeder in the final.
Gonzalez’s victory at the 1972 Kingston Open saw him win the title 19 months older than the player in second.
Legendary Australian Ken Rosewall holds second spot for his victory at the 1977 Tokyo Open when he was 43 years old.
The oldest Grand Slam winners in tennis history
Additionally, Federer and Djokovic have been denied the top spot as the oldest Grand Slam winners in history.
Federer’s Australian Open victory in 2018 saw him land the second spot at the age of 36 years and five months.
Djokovic holds two places in the top five, with his victories at the 2023 US Open and 2023 Roland Garros at the age of 26.
The winner, however, is Ken Rosewall who won the 1972 Australian Open at the age of 37 years and 2 months.
The Australian retired at 46 years old after a career which saw him reach world number one and win eight Grand Slams.
