The top 10 female tennis players of all time
Tennis is not just a sport; it’s a spectacle of skill, strategy, and unwavering determination. The court becomes an arena where legends are forged, and when it comes to female athletes, few sports are more electrifying than tennis. In this article, kingsoccertips.com delves deep into the lives and achievements of the Top 10 female tennis players of all time.
Top 10 Female Tennis Players of All Time
10. Caroline Wozniacki
Caroline Wozniacki, born on July 11, 1990, is a Danish tennis player. Throughout her career, she has secured 30 titles, including a Grand Slam victory at the Australian Open. Wozniacki held the World No. 1 ranking for a total of 71 weeks, including 49 consecutive weeks.
We begin with Caroline Wozniacki, who rightfully earns her spot in our Top 10 female tennis players of all time. She is a role model to many, especially in Scandinavia, being the first woman from a Scandinavian country to reach the top of the WTA rankings. Moreover, she became the first Scandinavian female tennis player to win a Grand Slam singles title, accomplishing this at the 2018 Australian Open, which was her first and final Grand Slam triumph.
Her speed, resilience, and agility contributed to her success, and she was known for neutralizing opponents’ strengths on the court. Her skills helped her achieve 30 WTA singles titles from 2008 to 2011—the most by any player in that span. She is also a supporter of young tennis talents, which earned her the Danish Sportsperson of the Year award in 2010.
Wozniacki competed alongside the Williams sisters, leading some to believe her career was overshadowed. However, her achievements and fame since then are undeniable.
9. Venus Williams
Venus Williams, born on June 17, 1980, is an American tennis player. In her career, she has claimed 49 titles, including 7 Grand Slam victories: 5 Wimbledon championships, and 2 US Open titles. Williams held the World No. 1 ranking for a total of 11 weeks.
Williams is a revered name in sports. Along with her sister Serena, she ushered in a new era of athleticism and power in women’s tennis during the Open Era. It’s said that without competing against Serena, Venus might have had even more Grand Slam titles to her name. Nevertheless, her 7 impressive wins secured her a place in our Top 10 female tennis players of all time!
Venus certainly dominated the WTA Tour in the early 2000s. Between 2000 and 2001 alone, she won 4 out of her 7 Grand Slam titles, which propelled her to the No. 1 ranking for the first time in 2002. Venus was the first African-American woman to reach No. 1 in the Open Era, a significant milestone in history. Wimbledon was her favorite Grand Slam, where she won 5 remarkable titles from 2000 to 2008.
Known for her all-court play and determination, Venus regularly served at speeds up to 124 mph at the peak of her career. She held the record for the fastest serve on the WTA Tour for seven years, hitting 129 mph at the 2007 US Open. Her achievements certainly secure her place in the Top 10 female tennis players of all time.
8. Justine Henin
Justine Henin, born on June 1, 1982, is a Belgian tennis player. In her career, she has earned 50 titles, including 7 Grand Slam titles: 1 Australian Open, 4 French Open, and 2 US Open championships. Henin held the World No. 1 ranking for a total of 117 weeks, including 61 consecutive weeks.
Henin ranks 8th on our list, bolstered by her impressive 7 Grand Slam titles—4 of which were consecutive French Open victories from 2005 to 2007. Her first French Open win in 2003 was a pivotal moment for Belgium; Henin became the first Belgian woman to win a Grand Slam singles title. To this day, she remains one of the most successful stars in French Open history.
Justine Henin garnered high praise from her peers in tennis, with Billie Jean King hailing her as the best player of her generation. John McEnroe also lauded Henin’s single-handed backhand, regarding it as the finest in tennis, both in the men’s and women’s categories. It was this backhand, coupled with her speed of play and resilient spirit, that made her so formidable and impactful. Her flexible and versatile style has been compared to that of Roger Federer. However, Henin retired in 2011 due to a chronic elbow injury but is still idolized by many.
7. Billie Jean King
Billie Jean King, born on November 22, 1943, is an American tennis player. In her career, she claimed 129 titles, including 67 during the Open Era. King won 12 Grand Slam titles, including 1 Australian Open, 1 French Open, 6 Wimbledon titles, and 4 US Open titles. Specific details about her time as World No. 1 are not available.
Billie Jean King is consistently hailed as the most significant female athlete of all time. An advocate for gender equality, BJK revolutionized women’s tennis and co-founded both the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) and the Women’s Sports Foundation. On the court, she’s revered as the Queen of Tennis. King dominated Wimbledon from 1966 to 1975, winning a whopping six titles during this period. Furthermore, she cleverly defeated Bobby Riggs in the 1973 ‘Battle of the Sexes’ match, an iconic moment for women everywhere!
Billie Jean King’s speed and tenacity were notable aspects of her playing style. Without a doubt, King truly changed the game for women in tennis and sports at large. Her contributions make her a fitting candidate for the Top 10 female tennis players of all time.
6. Monica Seles
Monica Seles, born on December 2, 1973, holds American citizenship. Throughout her career, she amassed a total of 54 titles, including 9 Grand Slam titles, comprising 4 Australian Open titles, 3 French Open titles, and 2 US Open titles. Seles spent a cumulative 178 weeks as the world No. 1, including 91 consecutive weeks.
She represented both Yugoslavia (now Serbia) and the United States during her professional career, securing 8 Grand Slam titles before the attack and one after. Seles rose to the No. 1 ranking in the world at just 18 years old in March 1991, following her victory at the Australian Open two months earlier. This was her first attempt to reach the top ranking. However, a year prior, she made history by winning her first Grand Slam title at the French Open in May 1990, becoming the youngest French Open champion at 16! Eight out of her nine Grand Slam victories occurred before her 20th birthday.
Seles had a remarkable career and was poised to potentially become one of the greatest of all time, dominating women’s tennis in the early 1990s. Had it not been for the unfortunate stabbing incident at the 1993 Citizen Cup in Hamburg by a fanatical supporter of her rival Steffi Graf, Seles would have had the potential and capability to win many more Grand Slam titles. To commemorate her achievements, she secured another of these titles after the attack, winning the 1996 Australian Open. Seles officially retired in 2008, though she took a hiatus for two years starting in 2003 before returning to play. Nevertheless, Seles certainly deserves a place in our list of the greatest female tennis players of all time. Who knows what more she could have achieved if not for that incident? She remains a compelling candidate for the Top 10 female tennis players of all time due to her extraordinary accomplishments.
5. Martina Hingis
Martina Hingis, born on September 30, 1980, holds Swiss citizenship. Throughout her career, she won 43 titles, including 5 Grand Slam titles: 3 Australian Open, 1 Wimbledon, and 1 US Open. Hingis spent a total of 178 weeks as the world No. 1, including 91 consecutive weeks.
At number 5 is Martina Hingis, and here’s why. Firstly, she was the first tennis player, male or female, from Switzerland to win a major title and achieve the prestigious world No. 1 ranking. Secondly, she reached the pinnacle at just 17 years old in 1997, becoming the youngest player ever to reach No. 1.. It didn’t stop there for Hingis: at age 17, she also became the youngest Grand Slam singles champion ever that same year, walking away with titles at the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and US Open. Hingis went on to win the Australian Open again in both 1998 and 1999, accumulating a total of 5 Grand Slam titles in her teenage years. There’s no doubt she was one of the youngest sporting champions the world has ever seen.
Hingis retired prematurely due to injury in 2003, but later made comebacks and retired two more times. Her third and final retirement came in 2017 after her performance at the WTA Finals. Hingis was renowned for her steady baseline game, intelligence, and tactical knowledge, which compensated for her lack of power—something that undoubtedly intimidated her opponents. Her impressive career places her firmly in the discussion of the Top 10 female tennis players of all time, a testament to her skill and impact on the sport.
4. Chris Evert
Chris Evert, born on December 21, 1954, is an American tennis player. In her career, she earned 157 titles, including 18 Grand Slam titles, which comprised 2 Australian Open titles, 7 French Open titles, 3 Wimbledon titles, and 6 US Open titles. Evert spent a total of 260 weeks at the world No. 1 ranking, including 113 consecutive weeks.
Ranked at number 4, we have the great Chris Evert, who virtually dominated women’s tennis from the early Open Era in the early 1970s through to the mid-1980s.
To this day, Evert holds the record for the most appearances in Grand Slam singles finals, with an impressive 34, of which she won 18. Furthermore, she won each major at least twice. Her two-handed backhand made her stand out among her peers and remains recognized in the tennis world as a groundbreaking stroke when one-handed play was the norm. This was a significant advantage for her in longer rallies.
Her career singles win percentage of 90% is certainly worth mentioning and is enviable. The rivalry on the court between Evert and Martina Navratilova is also something that will be remembered for decades to come.
3. Martina Navratilova
Martina Navratilova, born on October 18, 1956, holds citizenship in Czechoslovakia (before 1975) and the United States (after 1975). In her career, she earned a total of 167 titles, including 18 Grand Slam titles, which include 3 Australian Open titles, 2 French Open titles, 9 Wimbledon titles, and 4 US Open titles. Navratilova spent a total of 332 weeks at the world No. 1 ranking, including 156 consecutive weeks.
Arguably Chris Evert’s greatest rival, Martina Navratilova takes the number 3 spot here, having surpassed Evert with 10 career titles (and several more weeks as World No. 1). Her 332 weeks at No. 1 cemented her status as one of the greatest female tennis players in terms of rankings in history.
Martina Navratilova’s powerful serves and net play made her one of the most challenging opponents in women’s tennis. Her 167 major titles are the current record in the Open Era, including the record for the most Wimbledon titles—9 remarkable titles won by Navratilova from 1978 to 1990.
As mentioned earlier, the Navratilova-Evert rivalry is monumental and often regarded as the greatest in women’s tennis history. In 1985, this duo battled in the French Open final, a match still praised as the greatest women’s match of all time. Navratilova fought back from 3-6, 2-4 down to 5-5 in the third set before Evert struck a decisive left-handed shot on match point to claim victory. However, Navratilova leads Evert in most career wins: Navratilova has a 43-37 record in total matches, 14-8 in Grand Slam encounters, and 10-4 in Grand Slam finals (singles and doubles). Her record and enduring impact ensure her place among the Top 10 female tennis players of all time.
2. Steffi Graf
Steffi Graf, born on June 14, 1969, is a German tennis player. In her career, she won 107 titles, including 22 Grand Slam titles, which consist of 4 Australian Open titles, 6 French Open titles, 7 Wimbledon titles, and 5 US Open titles. Graf spent a total of 377 weeks at the world No. 1 ranking, including 186 consecutive weeks.
Moving into the top spot at number 2, we have Steffi Graf, who had one of the greatest careers in sports history. Her outstanding 22 Grand Slam victories are a remarkable achievement, and her ability to win consistently across all surfaces during her 17-year career is noteworthy. However, perhaps her most remarkable feat is being the only player, male or female, in history to achieve the Golden Slam (winning all 4 Grand Slam titles plus an Olympic gold medal in the same calendar year). Overall, her total of 56 Grand Slam match wins earned her an impressive 90% winning rate, making her truly a remarkable woman.
Her professional career began in 1983 at just 13 years old, and no one was better than Graf from the late 1980s through the mid-1990s, when she remained atop the world for over three years. However, her total number of weeks at the top is a record for any male or female tennis player. Graf was ranked number 3 when she retired in 1999.
There is no doubt that Graf is an iconic player who dominated her era of tennis and will be remembered by fans and followers for many years to come. Even nearly three decades after retiring, she continues to inspire millions.
1. Serena Williams
Serena Williams, born on September 26, 1981, is a U.S. citizen. In her career, she won a total of 73 titles, including 23 Grand Slam titles: 7 Australian Open titles, 3 French Open titles, 7 Wimbledon titles, and 6 US Open titles. Serena Williams spent a total of 319 weeks at the world No. 1 ranking, including 186 consecutive weeks.
At the top spot on our list, and no surprise to most, is the queen herself, Serena Williams. Her incredible 23 Grand Slam victories have earned her this title as she holds the record for the most Grand Slam singles titles in the Open Era, male or female. Serena’s playing style and demeanor evolved alongside technological advances and heightened competition. Her power, determination, and sheer athleticism are qualities that every player aspires to possess.
Serena Williams is celebrated for possessing one of the most formidable serves in women’s tennis history, renowned for its combination of power and accuracy. Notably, her serve, which was clocked at 128 mph during the third round of the 2013 Australian Open, stands as the third-fastest in WTA history. Beyond her serving prowess, Williams has earned acclaim for her ability to deliver crucial points when it matters most. Her resilience in Grand Slam matches, often bouncing back from losing sets and breaks, has been lauded as a ‘gift’ by tennis legend John McEnroe. He further regards Williams as the ‘greatest female player’ in the sport’s storied history.
Her 27-year career, marked by consistent performance, includes 23 Grand Slam titles and a 23-10 record in Grand Slam finals, making it extremely challenging to match or surpass Serena’s impressive tally. Serena is also the only player, male or female, to achieve a Career Golden Slam in both singles and doubles events.
Conclusion
The list of Top 10 female tennis players of all time cannot be complete without the names of Serena Williams, Steffi Graf, and Martina Navratilova. With an impressive number of Grand Slam titles and a profound influence on the sports world, they are not only great tennis players but also symbols of consistency and success in their careers. Together with Margaret Court, Chris Evert, and Billie Jean King, they have contributed to the development and advancement of women’s tennis, building a lasting legacy for generations to come.
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