Gustavo Kuerten, a former World No.1, has excluded Novak Djokovic from his list of the best tennis players of all time.

What happened?

Kuerten, also known as 'Guga', led the ATP Rankings between 2000 and 2001, and won the French Open in 1997, 2000, and 2001.

He has now compiled his personal list, which includes past and present legends, but no room for the 37-year-old Djokovic, who has won a men's record 24 Grand Slams.

Why it matters for Gustavo Kuerten

Kuerten's list includes Swedish icon Björn Borg, American heroes John McEnroe, Pete Sampras, and Andre Agassi, as well as Swiss legend Roger Federer and Spanish star Rafael Nadal.

What comes next?

The 48-year-old Kuerten, who retired in May 2008, claimed part of his decision comes down to players he idolised while growing up in Brazil, including Borg and McEnroe.

He stated that his brother had a poster of Borg, and he had a poster of McEnroe, and he can speak today thanks to these two players.

Kuerten also included Sampras, who won seven Wimbledon titles, and Agassi, who scored four Australian Open victories, in his list.

The American McEnroe won nine Grand Slam titles in his career, and held the position of World No.1 in 1980.

Kuerten's other pick, Borg, now 68, won eleven Grand Slams, including six French Open titles and a stunning five consecutive titles at Wimbledon.

Federer's great rival and friend, Nadal, who sneaked in at sixth place, won 22 Grand Slams and claimed the French Open title an incredible 14 times.

Kuerten's reasoning for including Federer could simply be based on the Swiss icon's 20 Grand Slam achievements, which included a record eight wins at Wimbledon.

The list has sparked debate among fans, with many considering Djokovic the greatest tennis player of all time, even ahead of legendary figures like Federer and Nadal.

Kuerten had no qualms about excluding Djokovic from his six of the best, and his decision has been met with surprise and criticism from some fans.

The former World No.1 has stuck to his guns, and his list will undoubtedly be a topic of discussion among tennis fans for some time to come.

On the other hand, Kuerten's list has also been praised by some, who appreciate his honesty and willingness to share his opinions.

As a former World No.1 and triple French Open champion, Kuerten's opinions carry weight, and his list is a fascinating insight into his thoughts on the best tennis players of all time.