Tennis Fans React to ESPN's Top 100 Athletes List

Tennis fans were upset with ESPN's top 100 athletes of the 21st century.

Serena Williams ranked second on ESPN's top athletes list. / Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

In the age of clickbait and engagement-farming are household terms, social media users should be more savvy about when they are being duped. Yet, we always take the bait.

With Wimbledon over and the MLB and WNBA on break for their All-Star weeks, it is a pretty slow time on the sports calendar. Therefor, it is the perfect time for ESPN to stir up some debate on social media.

This week, ESPN officially unveiled its list of the top 100 athletes of the 21st Century. Of course, we are not even a quarter of the way through the century, but we digress.

Only six tennis players made the list, and fans of the sport were not pleased. Below are the lucky six and some of the comments from fans online.

2. Serena Williams
6. Roger Federer
11. Novak Djokovic
12. Rafa Nadal
80. Andy Murray
86. Venus Williams

ESPN’s list of the top 100 athletes of the 21st Century.

These are the six tennis players that made the list:

2. Serena Williams

6. Roger Federer

11. Novak Djokovic

12. Rafa Nadal

80. Andy Murray

86. Venus Williams

Do you agree? pic.twitter.com/qDyd899lt2

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) July 18, 2024

So, everyone can agree that we are happy for Williams. However, the rest of the list is sorely lacking. In response to the social media post from The Tennis Letter, some users left pretty great responses.

One user replied, "ESPN doing ESPN things." Another asked, "Please define criteria "top"? Lastly, another added, "Everyone in the replies chirping about Serena being ahead of the big 3 as if she doesn't have 39 grand slam titles, 15 more than any of the big 3."

The debate will go on forever, and that is what ESPN is banking on. Tennis fans can follow Sports Illustrated's Serve on SI for all the most important news from the sport.

Further Reading: Tennis coach Toni Nadal offered a harsh analysis of Novak Djokovic's strategy at Wimbledon.