10 Greatest Female Tennis Players of All Time
Ranking the 10 greatest female tennis players of all time means comparing champions from completely different generations.
Serena Williams played a far different game from Martina Navratilova.
Steffi Graf faced different competition from Margaret Court.
Chris Evert played with different equipment, training methods and tournament schedules than today's stars.
Yet all of them dominated women's tennis.
So who deserves the No. 1 ranking?
Serena Williams Has a Powerful GOAT Case
For many modern fans, the answer is Serena Williams.
Serena won 23 Grand Slam singles championships during the Open Era and combined power, athleticism and competitiveness at a level women's tennis had rarely seen.
Her serve was one of the greatest weapons in tennis history—male or female.
She also won Grand Slam titles across three decades, demonstrating remarkable longevity while competing against multiple generations of elite players.
Serena wasn't merely successful. At her best, she could overwhelm opponents.
That peak dominance gives her perhaps the strongest argument for No. 1.
Steffi Graf's Résumé Is Incredible
Anyone automatically placing Serena first should first examine Steffi Graf.
Graf won 22 Grand Slam singles titles and spent 377 weeks ranked No. 1.
Her greatest season came in 1988 when she won all four Grand Slam tournaments plus Olympic gold—the famous Golden Slam.
No singles player has duplicated it.
Graf possessed one of the greatest forehands in tennis history, tremendous speed and an underrated serve. She also won every major at least four times.
If Serena is No. 1, Graf is not far behind.
Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert
Few rivalries in sports history compare with Martina Navratilova versus Chris Evert.
Navratilova won 18 Grand Slam singles championships and an incredible nine Wimbledon singles titles. Her attacking style, athletic conditioning and mastery at the net helped transform women's tennis.
Evert also won 18 Grand Slam singles titles and became one of the greatest clay-court players ever.
Their contrast was perfect.
Navratilova attacked.
Evert remained calm and relentlessly consistent from the baseline.
They met 80 times, including numerous Grand Slam finals, helping take women's tennis to another level of popularity.
Margaret Court and the 24-Major Debate
Margaret Court remains impossible to ignore.
Her 24 Grand Slam singles titles remain one of tennis's most famous records.
However, comparing her totals directly with modern players is complicated. Many of Court's Australian Championships titles came during an era when travel was difficult and international fields were less consistently deep.
That does not erase her accomplishments.
It simply means all Grand Slam totals must be placed in historical context.
Court was an extraordinary all-around player who also accumulated tremendous success in doubles and mixed doubles.
Other Women Who Belong in the Conversation
Billie Jean King was far more than a tennis champion. Her influence on women's sports is enormous, and she won 12 Grand Slam singles titles.
Monica Seles was on a breathtaking trajectory before the 1993 stabbing that changed her career. She had already won eight Grand Slam titles before turning 20.
Justine Henin combined beautiful technique with tremendous toughness despite being smaller than many of her rivals.
Venus Williams helped usher in the power era alongside Serena and became one of Wimbledon's greatest champions.
Older legends such as Helen Wills Moody also deserve consideration when comparing dominance across eras.
How Should We Measure Greatness?
Our voters should consider more than major championships.
Important factors include:
- Grand Slam titles
- Weeks ranked No. 1
- Peak dominance
- Longevity
- Strength of competition
- Versatility across surfaces
- Influence on women's tennis
- Performance under pressure
Serena, Graf, Navratilova, Evert and Court each have a legitimate historical argument.
But somebody has to be No. 1.
Who should it be?