Andy Murray and Venus Williams are among the tennis stars mentioned in the list of top 100 professional athletes since 2000, created by media giant ESPN. Both players are multiple-time Grand Slam champions and were once ranked World No. 1 on the ATP and WTA Tours.
ESPN recently released the bottom half (51 to 100) of its list of the 100 most accomplished athletes in the 21st century. The bottom section features several heavyweights from various sports, such as Steve Nash (#51, basketball), Luka Modric (#55, soccer), Shohei Ohtani (#62, baseball), Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce (#77, track), and Rory McIlroy (#93, golf).
Two of tennis’ biggest stars are also part of this group. First up is British legend Andy Murray, ranked No. 80. Part of the ‘Big Four’ of the ATP Tour alongside Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal, Murray became the first British player to win a Grand Slam since 1977 when he won the 2012 US Open. He then picked up titles at the Wimbledon Championships in 2013 and 2016.
He also won two singles Olympic gold medals at the 2012 London Games and the 2016 Rio Games, and reached the final at the Australian Open (5x) and Roland Garros (1x). Andy Murray rose to the summit of the rankings for the first time in November 2016 and has 46 ATP singles titles in his trophy cabinet, the 15th highest in the Open Era.
American veteran Venus Williams is the second tennis player to appear in the bottom half of ESPN’s list of the top 100 professional athletes since 2000, occupying the No. 86 spot.
Williams won her maiden singles Grand Slam title at the 2000 Wimbledon Championships and backed it up with victory at the 2000 US Open. She lifted four more Majors on grass — 2001, 2005, 2007, and 2008 — along with the 2001 US Open. She also took home the singles gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Venus Williams was also incredibly successful in doubles, winning 14 Grand Slams (Australian Open 4x, Roland Garros 2x, Wimbledon Championships 6x, and US Open 2x), all with her sister Serena Williams. She also picked up three doubles gold medals at the Olympics — in Sydney in 2000, Beijing in 2008, and London in 2012. Williams is also one of a few players, men and women, to reach the World No. 1 ranking in both singles and doubles.
Andy Murray and Venus Williams are still active at tour-level tennis
Andy Murray
Andy Murray
While several players on the ESPN list are retired from their respective sports, Andy Murray and Venus Williams are active. Murray has announced that he will hang up his racket after the 2024 Paris Olympics, which will begin in late July. The Brit was last seen on the tennis court during the 2024 Wimbledon Championships.
He withdrew from the singles category due to injury but played men’s doubles with his brother Jaime Murray. They lost in the first round. He received a farewell ceremony at the All England Club in London, where he has always been a crowd favorite.
Meanwhile, Venus Williams has been going strong on the tour at 44 and has played two tournaments this year. She participated in the Sunshine Double via wildcards. Her runs in the tournaments were short, as she lost to Nao Hibino in the first round of Indian Wells and Diana Shnaider in Miami’s first round.