"I would have been higher than 11th in the world" – Querrey compares past and present eras

Comparing different eras in sports has always been an interesting discussion, especially when considering how past athletes would compete in the modern game. Former American tennis player Sam Querrey recently shared his thoughts on where he would rank among today’s top players.

His fellow Americans, Jack Sock, John Isner, and Steve Johnson, also weighed in on the competitiveness of today’s game.

Querrey was renowned for his powerful serve and physical presence on the court. His tennis journey began at the age of four when his mother introduced him to the sport. Throughout his career, he achieved significant success, winning 10 ATP singles titles and five doubles titles.

One of his most memorable achievements came in 2017, when he defeated Andy Murray to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals. That same year, he also made a deep run at the US Open, reaching the quarter-finals. In 2018, he achieved a career-high singles ranking of No. 11.

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Querrey was known for his gigantic strength, holding the record for the most consecutive aces in a match (10). Over the years, he secured victories over some of the sport’s greatest players, including Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.

Beyond his playing days, Querrey has remained engaged with the tennis world, frequently sharing his insights and opinions on the modern game.

Where would Querrey stand in today's game?

The question of how Querrey would rank among today’s players is fascinating. Speaking on the Nothing Major podcast, he expressed confidence that he could have climbed even higher in today’s rankings.

"I do feel like I would have been higher than 11th in the world in this current era," he said.

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"I might have got to ten and had more success.

"Not to say these guys aren't good, but eight to 12 years ago, they were a little bit stronger from top to bottom.

"From the 1-50 range, it was probably stronger in 2015 than in 2025."

His co-host, John Isner, suggested that taller players may struggle more in today’s game due to the increased movement and agility of players.

"The way these guys move now, I think the answer for you guys is probably yes, but maybe not for me because everyone moves so well now," Isner said.

Is the current competition weaker?

Steve Johnson 

Former player Steve Johnson hinted that the level of competition outside the top three was stronger in the past.

"I fully think that outside of the top three back in the day, the [David] Ferrers, [Tomas] Berdych, [Stan] Wawrinka were way better than the guys now from five to 15, week in and week out," he said.

Jack Sock also agreed, arguing that the depth of competition in his era was tougher than today’s field.

"I completely agree," Sock said.

"If you take out the top seeds each Slam and take seeds six-32, I would take my chances in our primes playing our best tennis against those guys trying to get through a Slam draw than the guys six-32 in our day."

The great tennis debate

While we will never truly know how these past players would fare in today’s game, the comparison between different eras remains an endless debate among fans and players alike. Whether the current field is weaker or simply different, the discussion adds to the intrigue of the sport and highlights the evolution of tennis over the years.

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