Ranking the Most Durable Players in Tennis Today

Who can say whether any of the players currently on the men's and women's tour subscribe to the musings of a lifestyle guru to prolong their careers? There's no exact science, but it's still worth looking at the most durable players in tennis today.

Novak Djokovic has long dominated Masters 1000 events in devastating style and sits atop the ATP rankings after another blistering year. No one looks ready to knock him off his perch.

Serena Williams has also displayed dominance for so long on the WTA Tour that she is closing in on the record for most Slams.

The following slides will rank the top five players in the durability stakes. While dominance is taken into consideration, this is not simply a list of the world's best players. The ability to maintain performance levels, and maybe even improve with age, has been taken into account.

5. Ivo Karlovic

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Although Grand Slam success has been paltry for Ivo Karlovic, there is no questioning his status as one of the most durable athletes on tour.

At 35 years old, he is the oldest player in the top 30 and will be 36 on February 28. However, he is still capable of pushing the younger athletes all the way.

With a big serve in his armoury, Karlovic has already dispatched Djokovic this year in Doha. With a final against Donald Young to come at Delray Beach, it is clear the Croatian is going out with a fight.

Aside from missing three months in 2013 after suffering from viral meningitis, he has rarely been absent for a substantial period of time over the last few years.

His record at the Slams certainly leaves something to be desired; his best showing is a quarter-final berth at Wimbledon in 2009.

However, this is not a ranking based on uncompromising success in the form of titles. That Karlovic can still be competitive at almost 36 shows that what he lacks in major titles he compensates for with durability. 

4. David Ferrer

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The grunting Spaniard made great strides to jump a metaphorical hurdle this week. 

With a victory over Juan Monaco in the Rio Open quarter-final, Ferrer moved on to his 613th victory. As he did so, he surpassed two of the game's more colourful figures in Andy Roddick and Lleyton Hewitt. 

While tennis fans will remember the aforementioned entertainers for their on-court antics and off-court turn of phrase, Ferrer will go down as one of the game's most durable competitors.

At 32 years old, his body shows little sign of testing him as compatriot Rafael Nadal's does. 

Ferrer advanced to at least the quarter-final stage of 17 tournaments last year and has already clinched one title this season in Doha.

If Ferrer wins in Rio, he will become the outright winner of the most Golden Swing titles; a seventh is in his sights after multiple successes in Mexico and Argentina.

While there's nothing subtle about his on-court efforts, he continues to quietly become one of the game's most successful competitors. Some might say it's beyond him, but a first Grand Slam title this season would cement that status.

3. Serena Williams

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While the women's tour is ultra-competitive and brimming with exciting young talent and ability, there is only one genuine candidate for its most durable athlete.

Serena Williams' dominance of the game continues to leave others fighting for second in most categories. 

Since her maiden Slam in 1999, she has only endured five years without winning a major title. 

Charlie Eccleshare wrote for The Telegraph that both Williams and sister Venus "introduced a power and ruthlessness that had scarcely been seen before."

To have maintained such power, highlighted in all its unforgiving glory against Maria Sharapova last month, is a commendable achievement.

Ironically, Williams, almost pre-empting this durability ranking, pulled out of the Dubai Duty Free Championships last week through illness. 

However, the relentless and commanding way in which she has dominated for more than 10 years means her place was never in doubt.

2. Roger Federer

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Perhaps Jon Wertheim of SI.com's assessment of Roger Federer as one of tennis' "iron men" is the most fitting tribute.

Similarly to Serena Williams, Federer went on an incredible run of Slams once he sealed the first, with little letup.

On three occasions, he has been one title away from completing the calendar Slam. Although he has gone almost three years without just one, he is still a regular contender.

The style as well as the substance has kept him close to the hearts of tennis purists. His insatiable desire to keep coming back for more cannot be argued with.

While the stretch without a Slam could continue this year, there is little doubt he will contest to the end.

Despite withdrawing from the World Tour Finals last year, he still seems adept like few others at fighting off injury. The 33-year-old doesn't appear to let his mind rule his body, dismissing the aforementioned number as just that.

However, he seems determined to finally reach 18 Slams. No one should doubt such a formidable contender.

1. Novak Djokovic

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Some players are unable to hide their wear and tear on the court. Others have an enviable ability to suppress it until the scratches have faded. The world's best player falls into the latter category.

Novak Djokovic could smash forehands down the line until either his racket or his opponent snaps. One inevitably will give.

To complement that durability with dominance is an equation that lends itself to success. Few have managed it quite like Djokovic has.

Of course, some wonder whether his persistent glancing toward his thumb in last month's Australian Open final was tactical rather than an issue of durability. Andy Murray admitted to reporters he was "distracted" by the Serbian's series of knocks.

Nonetheless, Djokovic's ability to outlast and outduel his opponents has been happening on a regular basis for some time. In 2011, he won his first seven tournaments of the season. He's never looked back.

Djokovic has time on his side. If he can maintain the durability that Federer has shown at the age of 33, then he will surely surpass the Swiss' current total of 17 Slams.