An incredible athlete with unparalleled longevity, Navratilova won the U.S. Open in mixed doubles in 2006, just a month shy of her 50th birthday. In doing so, she elevated herself from great to greatest. WebVirginia Wade and Andy Murray are the most successful British tennis players in the Open Era by singles titles. 1 in doubles, Wade won four Grand Slam doubles titles. In 1998, she fulfilled her longtime dream and won that title, the last of her style to do so. 10 Rosewall. In total, she won 3 Grand Slams, the 1955 French Open, 1958 Australian Open and Wimbledon in 1961. Rebecca Joyce. She won her first Grand Slam in doubles at age 15 and her first in singles at age 16, taking home the Australian Open. Bottom line: Petra Kvitovas left-handed power game has helped her dominate at Wimbledon, where she won two titles in 2011 and 2014. The second-most successful female British Olympian, Godfree won five Olympic medals in two Olympic Games. Some weeks later she reached the finalof Wimbledon. I loved the mens game & got to see many of the greats in person up in NH. The best women's tennis players of all time are multiple Grand Slam champions, Olympic tennis gold medalists and simply the best ladies to ever Seles started her career young, turning pro in 1989, aged just 16. With that in mind, we are spending the Wimbledon fortnight debating which of the greats is the greatest of them all. Jelena Jankovic was part of a wave of players that established Serbia as a tennis powerhouse for the womens game while Novak Djokovic led the charge for the Serbian men. Totally agree and Graf was far more mobile at 29 than Serena. A former world No. Her father was an aspiring tennis coach. She won seven grand slams and an Olympic gold medal in a hugely competitive era in the womens game. Seles took the initiative in every single match she played, hitting the lines and depriving her opponents of time. Female athletes continue to fight for equality in sports, and tennis players have been at the forefront of that struggle for decades. She was well on her way to being a legitimate rival to Steffi Graf, but a stabbing incident in 1993 stopped her career temporarily just as she was ascending to the top of the game. Its been said that no backhand in the history of womens tennis has been as great as Justine Henin. Who is the best of the best? She played on. She has five Grand Slam singles titles, 13 Grand Slam doubles titles and seven Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. Its a big psychological difference to win those four within the career, not within a year or that to withstand the pressure and fear not to fail just once at all the matches of the four Grand Slams which are hold within one season. Not only did she win the Wimbledon championship in 1946 without losing a single set, but at a tournament in Cincinnati in 1943, she recorded an extremely rare "golden set". Women's rankings Men's rankings Women's wheelchair rankings Men's wheelchair rankings Quad rankings British padel players Browse the profiles of Britain's top women's and men's padel players, including where they're ranked. Serena deserves her status as a global icon. A former world No. Seles started her career young, turning pro in 1989, aged just 16. She won seven grand slams and an Olympic gold medal in a hugely competitive era in the womens game. WebBritish tennis players Browse the player profiles of our British tennis players, featuring the top tennis players in the UK. In an era when serve and volley still predominated, she played a counterpunching baseline style that stood out for its uniqueness. Maureen Connollys career was cut short at just 20 years old by a horseback riding injury, but what she achieved in a short period of time still ranks her as one of the best to ever play the sport. That last, dramatic French Open triumph against Hingis in 1999 is up there for the unexpected delight of it all. Jacobs amassed five titles of her own over the course of her career and brought a Jazz Age flappers sensibility to the stuffy world of 1920s tennis. She also showed her fighting qualities in her epic victory against Jennifer Capriati in the US Open semi-final, when she overcame cramp and exhaustion to win not only that match but the title. Evonne Goolagong was the most notable female tennis player at the launch of the open era, as she was consistently winning single double and mixed double Grand Slam titles. Just got done watching the great McEnroe bio on Showtime. She won 12 of the final 13 games. Women's rankings Men's rankings Women's wheelchair rankings Men's wheelchair rankings Quad rankings British padel players Browse the profiles of Britain's top women's and men's padel players, including where they're ranked. Many believed that she retired way too early in 2007, but she was back on tour in two years. Mary Pierce had to overcome incredible adversity on the tour, battling injuries and an abusive relationship with her father. Once ranked world number five, British tennis player Jo Durie has two Grand Slam titles in her kitty. Talk about a child prodigy Tim Henman. 6 Borg, No. Despite barely being 55 tall, she could hang in with just about any player on tour. There is no question that Graf most probably would have won at least one more Major if she would have continued playing 6 more years. WebKathleen McKane Godfree was a British badminton and tennis player. The days are long and the nights are warm but, sadly, we will have to wait until next year to see the great players of our time compete at Wimbledon. Not only do countries embrace the sport at the recreational level, but fans follow their favorite players. She was physically fit throughout her career, capable of giving any player a scare, even when she was past her prime. Plays: Right-handed (one-handed backhand). Conchita Martinez played a decisive role in different Wimbledon championships more than two decades apart. Often well known for falling apart in big matches, she has nonetheless found enough toughness and consistency to win the champions trophy at both the U.S. Open and the French Open. Bottom line: Players from Russia are now a common part of the tennis landscape, but it was not always the case. The United Kingdom is regarded as the birthplace of tennis, and no one fulfilled that countrys championship hopes more than Virginia Wade. In 2020, she announced yet another return to the game, hoping to add more titles to her mantle. She was slowing down before she even turned 30 years old, and had to step away from the game. 6 Borg, No. So taking all this in consideration, for me its no question that these singular achievements plus the over all carerer picture not only equalize Serenas one win advantage at the Majors. Steve Watts. WebEasily one of the most successful female British tennis players, Virginia Wade is a three-time Grand Slam champion and former world No. Beyond the race issue, she was a breath of fresh air on our TV screens in the 1970s. Jones has managed to establish herself as a tennis player despite suffering from a rare genetic condition known as Ectrodactyly Ectodermal Dysplasia; she was born with only seven toes on each leg and three fingers and a thumb on each hand. She also won two US Open doubles titles and three Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. But overcome it Gooolagong did. She certainly left a great impression on a young 11-year-old schoolboy when she won Wimbledon for the first time in 1971. From trailblazing legends like Billie Jean King to champions like Serena Williams, dominant athletes on the tennis court have elevated womens sports to new heights. But basically the invention of this new term had and has only objective: to cover the fact that these players woud have wished to win the Grand Slam so badly. Since Wade's success, U.K. women have experienced a major Grand Slam title drought. Just as Justine Henin excelled on the clay, the best surface for Clijsters was hard court. However, in her time, she was a dominant player who could win on any surface. You ask the average white person, Serenas name will not be mentioned. Serena Williams (the choice of our tennis correspondent, Kevin Mitchell) and Martina Navratilova were also popular choices and you added some new names to the discussion. This week our writers have made the case for. 3, Barker had an illustrious playing career during which she won 15 WTA singles titles, including the 1976 French Open. Kim Clijsters was often overshadowed by her fellow Belgian Justine Henin, but they both deserve a spot on this list. It just so happens that it was her sister Serena, who largely overshadowed her throughout her career. Bottom line: The 1960s and 1970s saw the peak of Australian tennis with Margaret Court and Rod Laver, whose names are commemorated on two of the Australian Open show courts today. She was a very well-rounded player who could excel on any surface, and, unfortunately, she was not able to stay long at the top of the game. She has been world No 1 for 319 weeks. I position for the first time at the age of nineteen. Shes been number one in the world for 64 weeks so far in her career, and she may add to that number in the end. One of the defining rivalries of tennis early era was between Helen Jacobs and Helen Wills, with the two meeting seven times in Grand Slam play. She first gained attention after winning the Lemon Bowl at 11 and now has five singles and four doubles titles in her kitty. Although Ivanovic never won another Slam, she showed persistence and determination by overcoming multiple injuries to reach the top 5 again late in her career. The second-most successful female British Olympian, Godfree won five Olympic medals in two Olympic Games. Garbine Muguruza is part of a new wave of emerging tennis champions. Its hard for people to rap their minds around the fact that a black girl from humble beginnings out of Compton could lead this list. Born: Aug. 25, 1927, Silver, South Carolina, Died: Sept. 28, 2003, East Orange, New Jersey (Age 76). it was used the first time, when Navratilova failed to win rthe Grand Slam although she had even won 6 consecutive Majors. Sam Stosurs game stood out for the sheer power of her serve and heavy topspin forehand. By the numbers, however, Court surpassed even Lavers achievements, winning a record 24 Grand Slam singles titles, a whopping 11 of which came on home ground in Australia. It took her much of the decade, but Wozniacki put all doubts to rest when she took home the 2018 Australian Open title. Serena has solely dominated womens tennis for over a decade and is still competing at the very highest level at the age of 38. Henry Haynes. Born: June 8, 1976, Palos Verdes, California. Christine Truman Margaret Court doubles Wimbledon By fotograaf onbekend / CC BY-SA 3.0 NL (https://creativecommons. Forty-three players made the list from the Americas, 39 from Europe and 18 from Oceania. But Grand Slam success did arrive, and she won her first Wimbledon in 1934 en route to being crowned world No.1 that year, backing it up with two more Grand Slam titles. WebShe is the face of womens tennis in the UK and took home a silver medal at the 2012 Olympic Games. She had lost her last two matches against Navratilova the Wimbledon and US Open finals of 1987 and this was her first meeting against her fellow GOAT candidate during her legendary Golden Slam-winning year. Serena who is listed as #1 23 & 72 titles less than 1/2 of M Court. At only 22 years, Naomi Osaka has established herself as an iconic tennis star and champion. Angela Mortimer was certainly one of the greatest British female tennis players alive during the 1950s and early 1960s. Andy Murray 2. It cant be done in separated parts. Died: Nov. 12, 1982, Kidderminster, U.K. (Age 73). 12 it destroyed her confidence. Steffi Graf was your clear favourite, picking up nearly twice as many votes as any other player. Martina Hingis was a teenage tennis sensation. 2. Angela Mortimer Althea Gibson By Associated Press / Public domain Florence Angela Margaret Mortimer Barrett is a 4. With the record-holding 23 Grand Slam titles to her name, its hard to not put her at the No.1 spot. From Fred Perry and Virginia Wade to Andy Murray, British Tennis success has grown and grown over the years. Yea, Williams is one ahead of Steffi (23:22). She was poised to be a dominant tennis player for years to come, but when she was 19 years old, a horseback riding accident damaged her right leg and ended her career. In 2012, she became the first British female player to win a WTA singles title since 1988. The second-most successful female British Olympian, Godfree won five Olympic medals in two Olympic Games. Many of the women on this list were teenage sensations, finding championship success instantly on the tour. She returned the ball like a human backboard, manipulating her opponent around the court. Here is the full list of the greatest female tennis players of all time. Helen Wills was the undisputed greatest player of her era. Victoria Azarenka put the tiny, post-Soviet republic of Belarus on the tennis map, winning the Australian Open back to back in 2012 and 2013. By winning the Australian Open twice and the French once, she showed she was worthy of all the hopes that had been placed on her. She has grand slam titles in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, and shes most remembered for her runs at the Australian Open. There were so many great Graf matches. Johanna Konta is a British tennis player who represented Australia till 2012. Thanks to everyone who took part. Furthermore, she achieved the "Box Set" of winning all four Grand Slams in singles, doubles and mixed doubles. Born: July 5, 1979, Saint-Germain-En-Laye, France. 2, Wade won three Grand Slam singles titles, including the famous 1977 Wimbledon, which was attended by Queen Elizabeth II. One of the most underrated womens tennis players of all time is Amelie Mauresmo. At just 56 tall, she has a very well-rounded game compared to other modern players. 2 who turned pro in 1968 and retired in 1986. Anita Lizanas impact on tennis has been unjustly lost to the mists of time. By the way: she would have won even a historical Double Grand Slam if she wouldnt have lost at the French Open in 1989 with 5:7 in the third to Sanchez_Vicario. (VOTE) There was agreement on five players: No. Had she not been stabbed in 1993, the history books would look a lot different. She won seven grand slams and an Olympic gold medal in a hugely competitive era in the womens game. All told, the Swiss champion won five singles Grand Slam titles before celebrating her 20th birthday. Justine Henin is one of the greatest and most underrated players in womens tennis. However, in 2001, she went on an absolute tear, making the semifinals of all four grand slams. She was able to have a ton of success in the 1990s in particular, but it was 1988 where she first made a huge splash. I'm Fred, the guy behind TennisPredict. Although Henin won an impressive seven Grand Slams, the question of "what might have been" lingers over her career since she retired due to injuries at only 29 years old. I was living in New York City in 1971 when she made a splash at the US Open as a 16-year-old. Known as The Little Wonder, Lottie Dod gained fame as a remarkable tennis player and a five-time Wimbledon Ladies' Singles champion. 12 In 2012, she became the first British female player to win a WTA singles title since 1988. Number 2 of the greatest female tennis player and most tennis Grand Slams womens division winners we have Steffi Graf. Serena did so. Based on 2022 results, Iga Swiatek has entered the top 20. She also beat Venus Williams to win the crown at Wimbledon. May be younger tennis fans should know that terms likecareer grand slam or false grand slam are temporary new creations. With recent success from Emma Raducanu and Cameron Norrie, British tennis can only get better and better and we cant wait to see what 2022 The local media covered her matches with the same interest they covered Muhammad Alis boxing bouts. WebVirginia Wade and Andy Murray are the most successful British tennis players in the Open Era by singles titles. Died: May 31, 2011, Potomac, Maryland (Age 91). When playing against women, King won a Grand slam Championship at all four majors. She isnt considered a huge threat to win at the majors in this part of her career, but it was just 2017 when she made a run to the finals at the Australian Open and Wimbledon. She has never been able to move particularly well, but she has powerful strokes and a serve that is hard to beat when it is on. An unbelievable fighter, she continued to play despite her debilitating illness, winning matches almost till the very end, retiring from professional tennis five months before her death from liver cancer. 2 Nadal, No. Ranker Tennis. Serena Williams celebrates after winning the French Open in 2013. Jennifer Capriati had colossal expectations placed on her from a very young age. Sloane Stephens is a bright light for American tennis in the post-Williams sisters future. In 2012, she became the first British female player to win a WTA singles title since 1988. This will always come down to racial divides. Serena Williams; Steffi Graf; Martina Navritolova; Chris Evert; Margaret Court; Monica Seles; Billie Jean King; Venus Williams; Evonne Goolagong Cawley; Justine Henin; Martina Hingis; Helen Wills Moody; Maureen Connolly; Lindsay Davenport; Kim Clijsters; Jennifer Born: March 11, 1923, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Died: Feb. 3, 2014, Vista, California (Age 90). Bottom line: Margaret Osborne won six Grand Slams, and none was more impressive than her title at the U.S. Open in 1948. 1 Federer, No. After retiring at 21, she launched her fashion brand. At 23, she was only ranked No. Without question, they are the greatest pair in tennis history. Country: Germany. To watch this young woman running around the tennis court beating the old pros was wonderful. While she did not reach similar numbers at the Grand Slam level, Davenport proved she could put in performances of the highest caliber on that stage, too, winning one Australian Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open title apiece. Bottom line:The daughter of a Norwegian Army officer, Molla Mallory won matches with a power game atypical of her era. 1 Federer, No. Bottom line: Maria Bueno compiled the best Grand Slam resume of any South American woman to ever play, winning Wimbledon three times and the U.S. Open four times. She also won 12 doubles titles, including the WTA Austrian Open. She was a trendsetter in tennis as well, being the first to wear knee-length pleated skirts instead of the longer ones that were in style before she began playing. This means that they change hand preference with different tasks. Wade has the dual distinction of being the only British woman to win all four majors (although she only won the French in doubles). Evonne Goolagong Cawley was not just a phenomenal tennis player, she was also a person of colour from Australia who succeeded in a sport that was and is still dominated by the white, middle classes. WebMonica Seles is a part-Hungarian, part-Yugoslavian, and part-American former womens tennis pro who had all the makings of one of the greatest tennis players to ever live. Florence Angela Margret Mortimer Berret, better known as simply Angela Mortimer, is the 2: Ann Jones. The game has had many great female players, pioneers and trailblazers, but only one gets the all-time top ranking. Undeterred by this adversity, Kvitova fought to reach the 2019 Australian Open final and the top of the tennis world once again. When Venus Williams first started winning at the WTA level in 1997, many thought that she was well on her way to being the next dominant star. Throughout her 11 year career, she showed she was a continually great competitor. She won seven grand slams and an Olympic gold medal in a hugely competitive era in the womens game. Despite playing great tennis for the first hour or so, Graf somehow contrived to lose the first set from a winning position, and then found herself a break down in the second. Twice. A former world No. In 2016, she won the mixed-doubles at Wimbledon, becoming the first British player to win at Wimbledon since Joanna Mary Durie in 1987. Her father was an aspiring tennis coach. Court won as many amateur as professional slams that indicates their equivalence and she retired at the top of her game with a record unsurpassed. Courageous, indomitable and also stubborn, she refused to bow to the press, who treated her with suspicion. There are a lot of what-ifs with Seles. Her track record outside of that match more than stands on its own. Ranker Tennis. Li Na completed the transformation of tennis into a global game. The Greatest of All Time is Margaret Court. Evert relied on great placement, movement, and spin to have success in tennis. 2. She has won 23 grand slams the most of any active tennis player, male or female. But what puts Steffi miles ahead of Serena is the Grand Slam and the Golden Slam. This guy was the tennis pro of the 90s. A former British No. Things can change in a hurry, as some current players could move up the list, or into the list. Her first Grand Slam victory came in 1968 at the US Open, and shed go on to win 55 singles titles throughout her career. Svetlana Kuznetsova is something of a tennis enigma. Billie Jean King has had the biggest influence on womens tennis in the past 50 years.

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