Tennis is one of the most mentally demanding sports on the planet. You’re alone on the court, with no teammates to pass the blame to and nowhere to hide when things go south. So naturally, a little bit of swagger can go a long way. But that confidence can cross the line for some players into full-blown overconfidence.
From wild predictions to epic meltdowns, these tennis stars backed themselves more than anyone else, sometimes with excellent results, and other times… not so much. Whether they were Grand Slam champs or just legends in their minds, here are the 20 most overconfident tennis players of all time.
20. Nick Kyrgios
Kyrgios walks on court like he has already won. He’ll talk to fans, mock his opponent, and still hit jaw-dropping winners between tantrums.
19. Jelena Ostapenko
Ostapenko swings like she won’t miss, no matter how often she does. She plays with unshakable belief—even when it’s not going her way.
18. Fabio Fognini
Fognini is as fiery as they come, and he’s never short on self-assurance. He struts around like every match is his to win, even if the scoreboard disagrees.
17. Ernests Gulbis
Gulbis once claimed he should’ve been in the top 10 if he had taken things more seriously. He always played like he belonged at the top, even when the results said otherwise.
16. Gaël Monfils
Monfils loves the spotlight and plays to the crowd like a showman. His game oozes flair, and he’s never afraid to try the outrageous—even in tight moments.
15. Bernard Tomic
Tomic has claimed he could be a top player without trying—and that’s exactly how he played. The talent was there, but the effort often wasn’t, even though the confidence never wavered.
14. Frances Tiafoe
Tiafoe brings swagger, energy, and next-level self-belief to every match. He plays with the confidence that makes you think he could beat anyone on any given day—and sometimes, he does.
13. Marat Safin
Safin had the game, the looks, and the ego to match. He could dominate anyone on his day and acted like he knew it, even when the inconsistency crept in.
12. Aryna Sabalenka
Sabalenka hits every ball like she’s trying to blast it through the stadium—her power-first style and fearless attitude radiate confidence.
11. Daniil Medvedev
Medvedev backs himself in the most awkward, unpredictable way possible. He’ll bait opponents, troll the crowd, and still talk like he’s always the most intelligent guy in the room.
10. Maria Sharapova
Sharapova stepped on the court like she owned it. Whether she was winning or not, the icy stare and competitive edge made it clear she believed she was better.
9. Novak Djokovic
Djokovic’s confidence is a massive part of his success. From death stares to mid-match comebacks, he thrives on believing no one can beat him, especially when they think they can.
8. Andy Roddick
Roddick had the serve, the snark, and a serious self-belief. Even when Federer broke his heart in the finals, Roddick never stopped talking like he had the next.
7. Serena Williams
Serena’s dominance was matched by her belief that no one could touch her. She never just played to win—she played to make a statement.
6. Alexander Zverev
Zverev has never lacked confidence, even when the results didn’t follow. He’s always talked like a future No. 1—even if he’s still chasing that Grand Slam breakthrough.
5. Andre Agassi
Agassi brought rockstar energy to tennis long before it was cool. His fashion, flair, and trash talk made him one of the sport’s most confident (and complicated) figures.
4. John McEnroe
McEnroe thought he was right even when screaming at a chair umpire in the middle of a meltdown. He backed it all up with elite-level tennis and an unmatched belief in himself.
3. Iga Świątek
Świątek plays with poise and calm, but don’t let that fool you—she’s confident. She dominates rallies like she knows she’s the future of the game.
Read More: The 15 Most Delusional Tennis Players of All Time
2. Martina Hingis
Hingis entered the scene as a teenager and immediately acted like the most brilliant player. Her mix of skill and self-assurance was unmatched—until the locker room caught up.
Read More: 15 Tennis Stars Who Took Themselves Way Too Seriously
1. Roger Federer
Federer made it look effortless and acted like it was. His calm exterior masked a deep confidence that he could outclass anyone—and most of the time, he did.
Read More: Bad Boys (and Girls) of Tennis: The 15 Most Disliked Players
