Konta achieved a steep rise in her ranking from the spring of 2015 to late 2016, climbing from 150 to inside the world's top ten, thereby becoming the first Briton to be ranked amongst the WTA's top ten since Jo Durie over 30 years previously. She has eight ITF career titles, including three singles titles, under her belt. The most impressive thing about Osaka may be that, as accomplished as she is, her best likely lies ahead. Required fields are marked *. With the record-holding 23 Grand Slam titles to her name, its hard to not put her at the No.1 spot. Since then, Kerber has proved that she belongs at the top of the game, using her powerful left-handed strokes to win three majors and attain the world No. A powerful, attacking baseline game that allows her to dictate the pace of play on multiple surfaces and consistently gain the upper hand in rallies. She was able to excel as someone who could counterpunch her way to titles at times, and although she didnt hit with a ton of power, she could dial it in once in a while. At 23, she was only ranked No. Now its time to hear from our readers. When she was able to win, many people saw this as a monumental moment in womens sports. In 2012, she became the first British female player to win a WTA singles title since 1988. Robby J. Justine Henin is one of the greatest and most underrated players in womens tennis. With that being said, one of the best ways to compare players is to look at grand slam totals. She was never truly dominant like many on this list, but she had a short run in her career where she was a Grand Slam threat every single time. Finally she not only succeded at the US Open. Born: Dec. 21, 1954, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Died: June 8, 2018, Sao Paulo, Brazil (Age 78). 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. Died: May 31, 2011, Potomac, Maryland (Age 91). Like many child stars in Hollywood, she then struggled with personal demons in subsequent years, only to overcome them in the end. Ann Jones is an English former tennis and table tennis champion. If she can add a few more Grand Slam titles to her list, she could creep up fast. She was clearly the best player of that time. This guy was the tennis pro of the 90s. WebEasily one of the most successful female British tennis players, Virginia Wade is a three-time Grand Slam champion and former world No. Martina Navratilovas athleticism, power and determination to succeed were truly astonishing. Her defensive, retrieval-based style enabled her to win the French three times, and she could win on other surfaces, as she proved by winning the U.S. Open in 1994. There was a lot on the line. Her victory in the Olympics semi-final against Anastasia Myskina in 2004 also stands out, as well as her many battles with Serena Williams and Kim Clijsters. Angela Mortimer Althea Gibson By Associated Press / Public domain Florence Angela Margaret Mortimer Barrett is a 4. 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. From that point on, she raised her game to something otherworldly probably the highest sustained level of excellence I have ever seen from a female tennis player. Dart reached the finals of the mixed doubles event at the 2021 Wimbledon Championships along with Joe Salisbury and lost to Neal Skupski and Desirae Krawczyk. Her father was an aspiring tennis coach. She was such a happy, joyful person; you could not help but love her. Angela Mortimer was certainly one of the greatest British female tennis players alive during the 1950s and early 1960s. 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. In 2012, Laura Robson reached the fourth round of the US Open singles championship, becoming the first British woman to do so at a Grand Slam tournament since Samantha Smith in 1998. WebShe is the face of womens tennis in the UK and took home a silver medal at the 2012 Olympic Games. From Fred Perry and Virginia Wade to Andy Murray, British Tennis success has grown and grown over the years. It is a huge indicator of the greatest womens tennis players of all time, as the greats find a way to win the most important tournaments. Angela Mortimer Althea Gibson By Associated Press / Public domain Florence Angela Margaret Mortimer Barrett is a 4. The key to her success? Serena deserves her status as a global icon. 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. WebAn international panel of tennis experts determined this ranking of 62 men and 38 women. Its not impossible, but her record of 49 total grand slam titles will be very tough to beat. She is an absolute legend. How is that fair? 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. After that, they just need to do their, Read More 10 Greatest Tennis Servers Of All TimeContinue. Yes Venus & Serena have been great and deserve praise, but dont forget the past. Bottom line:Pauline Betz played Grand Slams selectively during her career, but when she did, she tended to win, and in historically dominant fashion. When playing against women, King won a Grand slam Championship at all four majors. Thanks dude, you robbed us of what might of been the best career ever. Wade has the dual distinction of being the only British woman to win all four majors (although she only won the French in doubles). Evert gave American fans an incredible champion to cheer for as she won 157 titles and 18 Grand Slams. Died: Aug. 21, 1994, Sutton, United Kingdom (Age 78), Plays: Right-handed (one-handed backhand). 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 was particularly great on grass courts, winning five Wimbledon championships. She also won 12 doubles titles, including the WTA Austrian Open. Amelie Mauresmos game was a unique blend of power and elegance. Its an achievement that even most of the greatest of all times failed. But of all the great women in tennis, only one can stand alone as the greatest of all time. Female athletes continue to fight for equality in sports, and tennis players have been at the forefront of that struggle for decades. Angela Mortimer was certainly one of the greatest British female tennis players alive during the 1950s and early 1960s. In fact he was the first British man since the 70s to reach a Grand Slam semi-final position. 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 Its been said that no backhand in the history of womens tennis has been as great as Justine Henin. 48 at twenty-five. Next week: who is the greatest male tennis player of the last 50 years? Halep figures to add to her resume as one of the greats in years to come. She also found success in doubles, winning at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open into her thirties, to bring her career full circle. Born: March 20, 1993, Plantation, Florida. Going off of numbers, she still has the most Grand Slam singles titles at 24. In 1981, she was inducted posthumously into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. A popular tennis player, Jones won eight Grand Slam titles during her career. Chris Evert, on film, doesnt look like anyone too intimidating. Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand). Not only did she win 12 Grand Slam titles in singles, but she took home the career Grand Slam, winning all four majors. Its just the highest and most legendary achievement for tennis players in history. Evonne often bullied her opposition, dominating early on and consistently throughout matches. 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. ONE hit. Not only do countries embrace the sport at the recreational level, but fans follow their favorite players. Its a historical crown to wear. Justine Henin kisses the French Open trophy in 2003. Played: Right-handed (two-handed backhand). When looking back at Tracy Austins career, its pretty remarkable what she was able to accomplish at such a young age. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Sue Barker is an English former professional tennis player. If she was a little more dedicated to fitness early in her career, she might be higher on the list. 2. Registered as the most versatile sportswoman in the Guinness Book of Records, she was also skilled in a host of sports, such as skiing, golf, archery, and field hockey. But she is currently the premier defender in the game. Ones labeled as a player who couldnt perform well in the Grand Slams, her 2018 French Open championship and 2019 Wimbledon championship changed that perception. Who is the best of the best? She retired in 2020, bringing her storied career to a close. Her first Grand Slam victory came in 1968 at the US Open, and shed go on to win 55 singles titles throughout her career. The 48 games played between them remains a record for most games in a single U.S. Open finals match. Murrays tally of 46 singles titles is good for 14th on the all-time list, just behind Boris Becker and ahead of greats including Arthur Ashe and Stefan Edberg. To watch this young woman running around the tennis court beating the old pros was wonderful. Andy Murray 2. Justine Henin is one of the last great tennis champions in the women's game to use a one-handed backhand. Murrays tally of 46 singles titles is good for 14th on the all-time list, just behind Boris Becker and ahead of greats including Arthur Ashe and Stefan Edberg. Rebecca Joyce. She smacked forehand winners from everywhere, retrieved balls that were impossible to get, threw down second-serve aces, and most thrillingly of all displayed rare audacity on her backhand side in order to go for topspin winners. Its widely known the stabber was a Steffi Graf fan. She raised the bar in terms of physicality in the womens game and recognised the advantages of assembling a support team, each of whom had a specific role to play. Ranker Tennis. 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. However, in 2001, she went on an absolute tear, making the semifinals of all four grand slams. 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. This feat puts her in lofty company, as only six female players have ever won a Slam title without dropping a set. After her playing career, she became a coach and broke through a major glass ceiling by coaching Andy Murray, one of the first women to ever coach a top-ranked man. 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. At her best, she was unbeatable. After retiring as a player, Samantha Smith started working as a commentator for various sports networks. This period included her best Grand more Birthplace: Sydney, Australia Nationality: Australia 98 Making a list of the greatest tennis players of all time is certainly a challenging task. Here is the full list of the greatest female tennis players of all time. Born: March 30, 1984, Brisbane, Australia. 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. She leveraged her position as a top player to spearhead the formation of the Womens Tennis Association in 1973 and her achievements on the court were matched by her accomplishments off it. Our writers have had their say this week. It took her much of the decade, but Wozniacki put all doubts to rest when she took home the 2018 Australian Open title. From Fred Perry and Virginia Wade to Andy Murray, British Tennis success has grown and grown over the years. Playing in the 1950s, when segregation was still the law of the land in America, Gibson became the first African-American woman to win Grand Slam titles, amassing five. 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. The greatest: Steffi Graf power and perfect timing personified | Katy Murrells, The greatest: Martina Navratilova an enduring champion brave enough to be herself | Emma John, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies.