Rafael Nadal and the Top 15 Most Ripped Players in Tennis

Ripped is not the first word that comes to mind when you think about tennis. It’s more like tall, skinny people who look like a scarecrow.

As tennis has developed, the need for physical fitness has become critical. Now, players train round the clock and the pictures of some of these professionals look like they should be playing linebacker for a football team, not soft-court tennis.

With that being said, here is a list of the most ripped players in tennis.  

Honorable Mentions: Robin Soderling, Juan Martin Del Potro, James Blake

15. Tommy Robredo

Robredo is a generous 5’11”, but his legs are one of the strongest I’ve ever seen. Seeing Robredo tire is as likely as getting a seat on a five o’clock train.

Robredo relies on his legs excessively because he doesn’t have too much of a game other than some decent groundstrokes and defensive play. He is a lesser-version of David Ferrer.

14. Fernando Verdasco

Nadal usually overshadows this fellow Spaniard on the list, but one match in particular showed that Verdasco is among the most physically fit players in the game.

In the 2009 Australian Open, Verdasco went shot for shot with Nadal. It was five grueling sets of long tennis points.

He may be very inconsistent, but his strength is ever-present.

13. Robby Ginepri

Ginepri’s career has really taken a turn for the worse. He used to rank as high as No. 15 in the world, but today, he is 305^th.

He used to be one of the poster boys of American tennis. As usual, every time an American is hyped up, he or she usually doesn’t turn out to be good.

Ginepri may not have game, but his biceps look just fine.

12. David Nalbandian

Nalbandian is one of those naturally-built tennis players. His back and chest are huge. He also gets points for having long hair tied up in that ponytail with a headband.

I wouldn’t want to mess with this guy.

11. Igor Andreev

Andreev is one of those guys who have huge upper bodies, but no legs. That doesn’t really work for tennis players considering legs and hips are probably the most important parts of the body.

Andreev gets points for his upper body, but he tires very easily. Maybe if he was in better shape, he wouldn’t be ranked 81^st in the world.

10. Svetlana Kuznetsova

I’m pretty sure Kuznetsova could win an arm wrestling match against nearly every single male tennis player.

For one, she looks like she go head-to-head with Rocky in the ring. Like Nalbandian, she is naturally built, and her legs are bigger than most male tennis players.

Kuznetsova seems like a nice person in interviews, but I still wouldn’t want to rub her the wrong way.

9. Bethanie Mattek-Sands

Mattek-Sands is just a weird individual. She dresses up in elaborate outfits and isn’t a good tennis player.

She is not afraid to show off her arms, possibly because her biceps are huge.

8. David Ferrer

Like Robredo, Ferrer is solely on this list because of his legs. He just never tires. His strength, more than his tennis skills, have been his saving grace. Ferrer is not half as athletic as the other top players, but he is able to grind away until his opponent makes a mistake.

This is a prime example of a tennis player of medium height and limited skills can still make it to the top thanks to physical strength and determination.

7. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

Tsonga is 6’2”, 201 pounds and his shoulders are as broad as those of a football player.

He hits the ball with tremendous power. Some of his return of serves come back faster than the serve itself.

6. Gael Monfils

Just look at this guy’s arms. They are bigger than Nadal’s.

Like Andreev, Monfils has some of the scrawniest legs I’ve ever seen, however. Monfils towers over opponents and his upper body is huge. His legs belong on someone from “Jersey Shore”.

Monfils’ chicken legs may explain why he takes so many injury timeouts and cramps more than almost any other tennis player.

Sorry Monfils, you need to do some squats or something.

5. Samantha Stosur

Holy mackerel. Look at those arms. They are on a par with Monfils’ arms.

I mean no offense to Stosur, but when I first saw her play, I thought she was a man. She had sunglasses on and she hits huge serves and groundstrokes.

When she takes off her sunglasses and smiles, she is a very beautiful woman, but I guess she likes the idea of intimidating her opponents with her appearance.

4. Andy Murray

I really don’t want to put Murray on the list because almost every time he wins a match, he flexes.

Really?

Okay, even though Murray might be a cocky, arrogant person, his training should not be dismissed.

At the beginning of his career, Murray was one of the weakest on tour. Now, he is one of the most fit. If he can improve his mental game, that hard work at the gym will eventually pay off more than it already has.

3. Serena Williams

Serena honestly could beat up any guy. There is no player in women’s tennis that can come close to matching her physique. Even when she leans off her back foot, she is able to hit harder shots than anyone on the tour because of her muscular arms and legs.

2. Michael Russell

Russell only has one thing good about him. He has superhuman strength. Other than that, his game is horrible.

In a fight, I would want to be on Russell’s side. He has huge arms, plays tennis and is scary looking.

What else do you need?

1. Rafael Nadal

Of course, Nadal has to be No. 1 on this list. Not only does he have a gargantuan upper body, but he is the most physically fit person probably in all of sports.

Every moment of his day is spent working out, running on a beach or playing tennis. He lives, breathes and dies on physical exertion. He honestly cannot sit still.

Watch him during a change-over.

His knees are jiggling, and he is desperate to get back on the court. Nadal is at his peak in terms of fitness, but there might be a cost to his intensity.