In tennis, confidence is everything. But sometimes that confidence crosses into another realm entirely—where players believe they’re the second coming of Federer while barely getting past the second round.
These are the players who talked a big game, stared down their opponents, and served up self-belief in heaping portions—even when the scoreboard didn’t exactly back them up. Whether they were legends who lost the plot or journeymen who thought they were the main characters, these are the 15 most delusional tennis stars of all time.
15. Ernests Gulbis
Gulbis once said there were only four players better than him, and then kept losing in the first round. His game had flashes, but his self-perception had fireworks.
14. Nick Kyrgios
Kyrgios plays like he could beat anyone, then melts down mid-match because he’s bored. His talent is real, but so is his belief that effort is optional.
13. Bernard Tomic
Tomic acted like a future Grand Slam champ while playing like someone allergic to effort. He blamed everything but himself, including the sport itself.
12. Jack Sock
Sock had a run of form, but talked like he was a top-5 lock. Reality hit hard when the results didn’t follow the hype.
11. Fabio Fognini
Fognini played with flair and frustration in equal parts. He often looked shocked when he lost, as if the universe had wronged him personally.
10. Jelena Dokic
Dokic was a good player, but her father’s outrageous claims that she was the best in the world overshadowed everything. Her camp believed in her like she was already in the Hall of Fame.
9. Alexander Bublik
Bublik once said he hated tennis, then showed up to matches like he was the star attraction. His game is unpredictable, and so is his belief in his own greatness.
8. Aravane Rezaï
Rezaï came out swinging like she was Serena, even after dropping matches left and right. Confidence never wavered, even when her rankings did.
7. Dustin Brown
Brown had flashy wins but talked like he belonged in the GOAT convo. Beating Nadal once does not a legacy make.
6. Benoît Paire
Paire plays with the energy of a man who thinks the world owes him a trophy. He has a cult following, but the on-court results rarely match the ego.
5. Marcos Baghdatis
Baghdatis had a dream run in Australia, and then coasted on that hype for years. He never stopped acting like he was about to win Wimbledon next.
4. Jelena Ostapenko
Ostapenko won a Slam, then believed she was a guaranteed finalist forever. She’s never lacked confidence, even when her game disappears for months at a time.
3. Andrea Petkovic
Petkovic had a big personality and believed her game was elite, no matter the opponent. Her press conferences were often more entertaining than her tennis.
Read More: 15 Most Even-Tempered Tennis Stars of All Time
2. Vasek Pospisil
Pospisil thought he could lead a tennis revolution while barely winning matches. His off-court ideas were bold, but on-court results were a reality check.
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1. Anna Kournikova
Kournikova never won a singles title but acted like she ran the sport. Her fame far exceeded her record, but that never seemed to shake her confidence.
Read More: 15 Overhyped Tennis Players Who Fell Short
