Power Ranking the Top Grass-Court Tennis Players

Grass-court season is a very special time of year for tennis players. Unfortunately, it's also a very brief one.

The season is nestled into just four weeks of the summer, culminating with the historic Wimbledon Championships. 

Some players live for these few weeks on grass. Others try to pretend they doesn't exist. Regardless, it's a nice change of pace to watch a surface that encourages and rewards aggressive play.

This list ranks the 20 men and women who thrive this time of year. It takes career grass-court records, recent grass-court results and past glories into consideration. It is not based on current form, though the list is limited to players entered into the 2013 championships.

Let's take a look at the tennis players who have made the lawns of tennis their own.

20. Tsvetana Pironkova

Career Record on Grass: 26-19 (58%)

Grass Highlights: Tsvetana Pironkova made the Wimbledon semifinals in 2010 and the Wimbledon quarterfinals in 2011, upsetting Venus Williams along the way both years. She really hasn't done much at other tournaments in her career, but she's made quite a splash on the sport's biggest stage.

 

2013 Wimbledon Prospects: Currently ranked No. 65, the Bulgarian's grass-court season has not gotten off to a good start, as she lost early in Birmingham. But Pironkova can never be counted out at Wimbledon, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see her in the second week. Since she's unseeded, the draw will be key.

19. David Ferrer

Career Record on Grass: 34-14 (71%)

Grass Highlights: David Ferrer is a late bloomer on grass. In 2012, the Spaniard won his first grass-court title in 's-Hertogenbosch and made his first Wimbledon quarterfinal, taking out Juan Martin del Potro and Andy Roddick along the way.

2013 Wimbledon Prospects: Ferrer just keeps getting better with age and manages to consistently bring his best tennis to the biggest events. He will be riding high after making his first Grand Slam final at the French Open earlier this month and should be able to make it back to the quarterfinals of Wimbledon for the second year in a row. 

18. Marin Cilic

Career Record on Grass: 32-16 (67%)

Grass Highlights: Marin Cilic won Queen's Club in 2011 and made the final again this year, this time losing to Andy Murray in three sets. He made the fourth round of Wimbledon in 2012 after beating Sam Querrey 17-15 in the fifth set. The tall Croat gets better on grass each year.

2013 Wimbledon Prospects: After his nice run at Queen's Club, Cilic will be going into Wimbledon with confidence and should be able to get to (at least) the quarterfinals for the first time. His game and demeanor are perfect for the grass courts and the London crowd. 

17. Tamira Paszek

Career Record on Grass: 26-16 (62%)

Grass Highlights: Tamira Paszek made the quarterfinals of Wimbledon in 2011 and 2012 and won Eastbourne last year, defeating Marion Bartoli and Angelique Kerber along the way. The Austrian is practically invisible the rest of the tennis season, with seven first-round losses at Grand Slams in the past three years, but she comes alive during grass season.

2013 Wimbledon Prospects: Paszek is ranked No. 29 but has the bulk of her points to defend over the next month. She hasn't had good form coming into the grass-court season, but that's never really stopped her from excelling before. It's hard to see her making it back to the quarterfinals again, but with her seed and experience, a run to the fourth round is a possibility.

16. Marion Bartoli

Career Record on Grass: 50-26 (66%)

Grass Highlights: Marion Bartoli made the final of Wimbledon way back in 2007, upsetting Justine Henin and impressing Pierce Brosnan along the way. She had a hard time backing up her 2007 run but found her grass-court form again in 2011 when she won Eastbourne and beat Serena Williams in the fourth round of Wimbledon.

2013 Wimbledon Prospects: It has been a rough year for Bartoli, who has been on the coaching carousel and dealing with a subsequent loss of form and fitness. She has the experience and the game to make it to the Wimbledon quarterfinals, but she might not have the mental or physical health to do so this year.

15. Tomas Berdych

Career Record on Grass: 44-20 (69%)

Grass Highlights: Tomas Berdych made his only Grand Slam final at Wimbledon in 2010, upsetting Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic along the way. He also won Halle in 2007.

2013 Wimbledon Prospects: Since his wonderful run in 2010, Berdych has struggled on grass. Last year, he lost in the first round of Wimbledon to Ernests Gulbis and the first round of the Olympics to Steve Darcis. But Berdych has had some great wins in 2013 and will be looking to bounce back from his French Open first-round loss to Gael Monfils. His serve and forehand really pop on grass, and it would be a surprise if he didn't make the quarterfinals.

14. Tommy Haas

Career Record on Grass: 51-26 (66%)

Grass Highlights: Tommy Haas made the semifinals of Wimbledon in 2009 and has won the tournament in Halle twice, beating Roger Federer in the final in 2012 and Novak Djokovic in the final in 2009. 

2013 Wimbledon Prospects: Haas (who you might have heard is 35 years old) is riding high this season and edging dangerously close to the top 10. I think he makes the quarterfinals of Wimbledon this year to get him over the hump. He's gotten better on grass as he's gotten older, and when he's healthy, he is a threat to anyone.

13. Sabine Lisicki

Career Record on Grass: 23-10 (70%)

Grass Highlights: Sabine Lisicki's best grass-court season came in 2011, when she won Birmingham and made the semifinals of Wimbledon.She also made the quarterfinals of Wimbledon in 2009 and 2012 and has grass court wins over Maria Sharapova, Marion Bartoli, Li Na, Caroline Wozniacki and Svetlana Kuznetsova.  

2013 Wimbledon Prospects: Sabine has had an up-and-down season and most recently lost in the quarterfinals of the grass-court warm-up Birmingham to No. 167 Alison Riske. But Sabine is still ranked No. 23 in the world and hasn't lost before the quarterfinals at Wimbledon since 2008 (she didn't play in 2010). Expect to see her in the second week. Her big serve and aggressive game make her a huge threat on these courts.

12. Agnieszka Radwanksa

Career Record on Grass: 33-14 (70%)

Grass Highlights: Agnieszka Radwanska reached her first Grand Slam final last year at Wimbledon, highlighted by her demolishing of Angelique Kerber in the semifinals. She even managed to take a set off of Serena Williams in the final, which is no small feat.

2013 Wimbledon Prospects: Radwanska has a lot of points to defend at Wimbledon this year and therefore a lot of pressure on her shoulders, but she's managed her schedule well this last month and is coming off her career-best quarterfinal showing at the French Open. The grass suits her laser-like instincts and counterpunching style perfectly. She should make it back to the semifinals.

11. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

Career Record on Grass: 52-15 (78%)

Grass Highlights: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga's signature win on grass came in 2011 when he came back from two sets down to beat Roger Federer in five sets in the quarterfinal to reach his maiden Wimbledon semifinal. He got back to the Wimbledon semifinals last year as well, though his draw was much easier. He also has two finalists appearances at Queen's Club in the last three years.

2013 Wimbledon Prospects: Tsonga made the semifinals of the French Open for the first time and just reached the semifinals of Queen's Club, so he is riding a wave of confidence. He should be putting himself in position to make the final of this event, but given his erratic tendencies, a quarterfinal seems like a good goal.

10. Victoria Azarenka

Career Record on Grass: 31-12 (72%)

Grass Highlights: Victoria Azarenka had her first big slam breakthrough at Wimbledon, making the semifinals in 2011. She followed that up by making the semifinals again in 2012 and then winning the bronze medal at the Summer Olympics at Wimbledon last year. She's never won a title on grass, but she did make the finals of Eastbourne in 2010. 

2013 Wimbledon Prospects: Azarenka has been incredibly under the radar on the WTA the past few months, which is bizarre considering she started the year as the No. 1 player and Australian Open champion. But she's full of confidence after making the semifinals of her worst slam at the French Open, and it would be an upset if she didn't find herself (at least) back into the semifinals at the championships.

9. Lleyton Hewitt

Career Record on Grass: 117-36 (76%)

Grass Highlights: It feels like a tennis lifetime ago, but Lleyton Hewitt did win Wimbledon back in 2002. He's also won six other smaller grass-court titles, including beating Roger Federer in the Halle final in 2010. Most recently, he made it to the Newport final in 2012 and the semifinals of Queen's Club this year.

2013 Wimbledon Prospects: Hewitt is in good form right now, as he showed by making the semifinals of Queen's Club last week. On grass, he is dangerous to everyone, and a second-week showing is far from out of the question. It would be great to see him back in the late stages of a slam, and this is the most likely place for him to make a run.

8. Andy Murray

Career Record on Grass: 71-21 (77%)

Grass Highlights: Andy Murray is under a microscope during grass-court season, and he really does handle the pressure beautifully. He made his first Wimbledon final last year and then, to the delight of a nation, won the gold medal at the Olympics a few weeks later. He also has three titles at Queen's Club. 

2013 Wimbledon Prospects: There were question marks about Murray's form going into the grass season, since he withdrew from the French Open with back troubles. However, a title at Queen's Club seems to have calmed a lot of fears. He has the talent to win the tournament, but winning in front of his home crowd in best-of-five matches is still a huge ask.

7. Petra Kvitova

Career Record on Grass: 23-9 (72%)

Grass Highlights: Petra Kvitova stunned the tennis world by making the semifinals of Wimbledon in 2010 when she was ranked just No. 62 in the world. Then she backed it up by winning the title in 2011, hitting winner after winner. The only player to beat her at Wimbledon the last three years is Serena Williams. She is an absolute force on this surface.

2013 Wimbledon Prospects: Kvitova has definitely lived up to her unpredictable reputation this year, failing to make a huge impact at any of the big events. But Wimbledon is a different story for her, and with a good draw, she could make the semifinals and challenge the players at the top of the rankings. That's where she belongs.

6. Novak Djokovic

Career Record on Grass: 47-14 (77%)

Grass Highlights: Novak Djokovic achieved his dreams when he won Wimbledon in 2011, kissed the grass and became the No. 1 tennis player in the world. Wimbledon is actually his only grass-court title, but it's the one that really counts.

2013 Wimbledon Prospects: Only time will tell how Djokovic will rebound from his heartbreaking loss in the epic French Open semifinal to Rafael Nadal. Grass does not suit his game the best, but he is talented enough to make up for that and should be able to make it back to the semifinals. 

5. Maria Sharapova

Career Record on Grass: 73-15 (83%)

Grass Highlights: Maria Sharapova broke onto the scene by winning Wimbledon in 2004, and she's been a huge part of women's tennis since. She hasn't won a title on grass since Birmingham 2005, but she did make it back to the Wimbledon final in 2011 and also reached the Olympics final in 2012.

2013 Wimbledon Prospects: Sharapova is out to avenge her fourth-round loss to Sabine Lisicki last year. The only player to whom Sharapova lost since the Australian Open is Serena Williams, whom Sharapova can't meet until the final. Expect the mature and consistent Sharapova to be there waiting for revenge, hoping to conjure up the magic of 2004.

4. Rafael Nadal

Career Record on Grass: 54-13 (81%)

Grass Highlights: Rafael Nadal made a name for himself off of clay, making the final of Wimbledon in 2006 and 2007 before finally winning the title in 2008 and 2010. His best win, of course, was the epic match against Roger Federer in the 2008 final as the sun was going down. He's the only "clay-court specialist" who's been in five Wimbledon finals and won two Wimbledon trophies.

 

2013 Wimbledon Prospects: This is going to be a huge event for Nadal, as it's the first time he's stepping back out on the grass courts since his shocking loss to Lukas Rosol in the second round of Wimbledon last year. The grass courts will be a huge test for his knee and his confidence, but after his phenomenal comeback, it's really hard to see anyone stopping him. 

3. Venus Williams

Career Record on Grass: 78-15 (84%)

Grass Highlights: Venus Williams is a five-time Wimbledon Champion and eight-time Wimbledon finalist. When she's healthy, her serve and strides look like they were made for the lawns of the All England Club. The Venus Rosewater dish might as well be named after her. 

2013 Wimbledon Prospects: Unfortunately, Venus's back troubles and Sjogren's symptoms have made it difficult for her to be at her best on the tennis court in recent years. She hasn't been back to the Wimbledon final since 2009, and two bizarre losses to Tsvetana Pironkova highlight her disappointments. But if there's anywhere Venus can still be effective, it's on the grass courts. If she can get through her first couple of matches, she could carry momentum into the second week.

2. Serena Williams

Career Record on Grass: 76-10 (88%)

Grass Highlights: Serena Williams has won Wimbledon five times. Including her gold medal run at the London Olympics, she is currently on a 13-match winning streak on the most hallowed lawns of tennis. 

2013 Wimbledon Prospects: Serena is the favorite to defend her title this year, and unless she gets injured or has an insanely off day, it's hard to see her losing to anyone in the field. When she's fit and focused like she is right now, she is simply unbeatable on grass. 

1. Roger Federer

Career Record on Grass: 130-18 (88%)

Grass Highlights: Roger Federer has seven Wimbledon titles and six Halle titles. He is one of the best grass-court tennis players of all time. His game might as well have been made for these courts.

2013 Wimbledon Prospects: Things are iffy for Federer right now, as he is coming into Wimbledon in the middle of the worst season of his career since becoming The Roger Federer. It turns out aging is inevitable for everyone. However, he did finally win a title this year at Halle last week, and everyone learned last year how dangerous it is to count him out at this tournament. With Murray, Nadal and Djokovic in good form, it's hard to see him defending his title, but he should be able to at least make the semifinals. After all, this is his turf.