The greatest female tennis players of all time are the only women to have ever set foot on a clay or grass court in the globe, numerous Grand Slam winners, and Olympic gold medalists.
These global record holders are dominating the best tennis tournaments. Tournaments such as the Australian Open, French Open, US Open, and Wimbledon, and they are leaving behind aspiring female players. Not to add, these popular female tennis players rank among the all-time hottest tennis players.
From the early 20th century to The Open Era, several celebrities have graced tennis courts all around the world. Given that the WTA Tour was established with the goal of improving the future of women’s tennis, it is possible that its founding fifty years ago played a role in the increased awareness of female tennis players.
This, along with modifications to diet, technological breakthroughs, and even enhancements to exercise regimens, have only added to the difficulty of this, admittedly subjective, endeavour.
It’s never easy to compile a list of the best players from various generations. These players competed against and won various trophies from their opponents. I’m going to list my top ten female tennis players of all time in this article.
I chose all of these players because I think they were the best for extended stretches of time. They have also created legendary legacies that the next generation will always admire. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the all-time greatest female tennis players.
Top 10 Most Popular Female Tennis Players
1. Serena Williams
Only one player among a list of titans divided by razor-thin margins can fully possess one of the most overused expressions in sports and lay claim to being the greatest of all time. One player emerges victorious based on any metric you choose, including titles, legacy, global effect, and play style. 23 singles Grand Slam victories over an 18-year span (plus an additional 14 alongside sister Venus) with a harsh yet exquisite game that saw her overcome everyone in her path. One of sports’ rarest legends, known only by her name—Serena—was absolutely unbeatable at her best.
2. Martina Navratilova
With her astounding 59 Grand Slam victories in all sports disciplines (18 singles, 41 doubles), Navratilova holds the record for the most Open Era titles with 167. This Czech American was a trailblazer in the field of modern athlete training, leading with her deadly serve and volley style in the early 1980s. She used this style to cause great damage in her era-spanning rivalries with players like Evert, who sit behind her on this list. Navratilova defeated Evert 43–37, including a 10–4 head-to-head in the Grand Slam finals, to sew up perhaps the greatest rivalry in the history of women’s tennis.
3. Steffi Graf
Graf, who gained enormous popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s, is unfortunate not to have made the top two. Numbers were everything for this German powerhouse, who had seven Wimbledon, six French Open, five US Open, and four Australian Open titles. Graf holds the record as the only player, male or female, to have completed the famous golden slam by winning all four grand slams at the Olympics in the same year. Throughout her illustrious career, Graf spent an astounding 377 weeks at world #1.
4. Chris Evert
Chris Evert, credited for changing the game of tennis, was maybe the first pure baseliner in women’s tennis. Blessed with a solid defence and unwavering patience, Evert’s counterpunching style helped her win eighteen Grand Slam singles titles, including seven at the French Open—the most for a female player. The American, a former world number one, also became embroiled in one of the greatest rivalries in sports history, competing against another all-time great, Martina Navratilova, in 60 finals, including 14 major finals.
5. Monica Seles
The best of the lot and another prodigy pool superstar. Before Hingis assumed the mantle, Seles was the youngest player to win a major championship at the age of sixteen. She went on to win eight Grand Slam titles before turning twenty. Before a horrific on-court stabbing attack by a fan of Seles’ fierce rival Steffi Graf in April 1993 destroyed both Seles’ illustrious career and tragically ended one of the greatest rivalries in sports history, the teenage wonder was on track to be the greatest the sport had ever seen. It’s hard not to wonder at what might have been, even though Seles made a remarkable recovery and achievement following 1993, only managing to muster one more slam in spite of returning to the sport two years later.
6. Billie Jean King
In the tennis world, there aren’t many more popular names than BJK. 39 Grand Slam titles later, 12 singles and 27 doubles, King was and remains perhaps as important off the court as she was on it. King, a trailblazer in the field of tennis equality, was a founding member of the inaugural Women’s Professional Tour and played a major role in the US Open’s 1973 transformation into the first Grand Slam to provide equal prize money for men and women. You could do worse than fall into this sporting rabbit hole, but it would take a lifetime to recount everything King has done for the game. Unquestionably one of the most important individuals in tennis history.
7. Margaret Court
It may come as quite a shock to some that the player in question with the most career slams—as well as the most fitting moniker—isn’t ranked higher. However, since 13 of those 24 titles were released prior to the open era, something has to go. Even yet, Court is still one of the greatest of all time, having accomplished the career Grand Slam at the young age of 21 thanks to her formidable serve and volley technique. Court is still the only athlete in the history of sports to have won major championships at least twice in each of the sport’s three divisions (singles, doubles, and mixed doubles).
8. Venus Williams
Venus, who made history as the first African American woman to reach the pinnacle of the sport during the open era, is on this list because of her unparalleled strength and skill. She may very well be near the top of this pyramid if it weren’t for her sisters’ incredible success. She lost seven of her nine major final matches to her sister. Her seven Grand Slam victories, including five at Wimbledon, may appear insignificant to others. a stretch of time that saw Venus lose four straight Williams finals between 2002 and 2003. No matter the numbers, Venus cleared the path for countless young people, including Serena. There is no overhanging shadow here. And she still plays, marking her 30th year on the WTA tour in 2023, despite a plethora of injury setbacks. Unmatched durability from a real sports legend.
9. Martina Hingis
Even before Federer had ever claimed the Wimbledon trophy for the first time, Hingis had already paved the way for superstardom in Swiss tennis. Hingis, the epitome of a prodigy, won her maiden Grand Slam championship at the tender age of sixteen. Hence, making her the youngest champion of the open era. And after two more came in the same year (1997), the newly crowned #1 in history—who was also the youngest—seemed ready to take on two of the most illustrious sisters you might find on this list. Hingis did, however, accomplish a historic comeback to the doubles court. This included many Grand Slam victories, before a string of injuries forced her to retire at the young age of 22. Her absence from singles meant the tennis world lost out on what may have been.
10. Justine Henin
Alongside her countrywoman Kim Clijsters, Henin propelled Belgian tennis to the pinnacle of the sport. Three-time year-end #1 Henin amassed seven Grand Slams in the early 2000s. Quite an incredible accomplishment in a decade that featured game legends at both the start and finish of their careers. Frequently praised for her exceptional mental toughness, Henin’s trademark was her powerful one-handed backhand, which was uncommon in women’s tennis during the 2000s.
Conclusion
Beyond Graf, a number of noteworthy women have played tennis over the years in the field of women’s tennis. Among the popular female tennis players of all time are Martina Navatilova, Serena Williams, Chris Evert, Monica Seles. Included also are Margaret Smith Court, Billie Jean King, Justine Henin, Maria Sharapova, and Kim Clijsters. These women are all immediately recognised as some of the best female tennis players of all time. This is because of their enormous success over the years.
One thing is certain, even though it’s debatable if these women are superior than the greatest male tennis players of all time. They are already known to be the greatest and popular female tennis players of all time, and they will never go down. They have raised the bar extremely high for anyone hoping to emulate them. Therefore, they are the gold standard for most popular female tennis players.
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