The Top 5 Greatest Women’s Tennis Players Of All Time. Over the years, numerous exceptional female tennis players have stood out, seven of whom have won more than ten Grand Slam victories in singles. Their extraordinary talent and influence have inspired generations of players and left an indelible mark on the sport of tennis.
With so many remarkable players emerging during the Open Era in the last 50 years alone, not to mention legendary athletes from the early 1900s, the task of identifying the greatest female tennis players of all time is complex. The evolution of fitness programs, nutrition, and racquet technology has only made the challenge greater. Selecting the top 5 female tennis players proved to be as difficult as selecting the top 5 male players.
1: Steffi Graf
With 22 Grand Slam singles titles (4 Australian, 6 French, 7 Wimbledon, 5 US Open) and an Olympic gold medal, Graf is widely considered the greatest tennis player of all time. Her versatile game, athleticism, and mental strength made her a feared opponent on any surface.
During her 17-year career, Steffi Graf was a model of consistency, winning on all surfaces. Her record of 377 weeks as world No. 1 was recently broken by Novak Djokovic.
In 1988, Graf achieved what is considered the Golden Slam of the calendar year by winning all four Grand Slam tournaments and an Olympic gold medal in the same year an extraordinary feat.
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From the late 1980s to the mid-1990s, Steffi Graf was almost unbeatable, and when she retired in 1999, she was still number three in the ATP world rankings.
Career prize money: $21,891,306
22 Grand Slam Singles Titles
107 career titles
2: Serena Williams
With 23 Grand Slam singles titles (7 Australian, 3 French, 7 Wimbledon, 6 US Open) and 14 doubles titles, Serena Williams is one of the most dominant players in tennis history. Her powerful serve, aggressive play, and mental fortitude have earned her a place among the all-time greats.
Serena Williams is undoubtedly one of the strongest and most powerful women to ever play tennis and has left an indelible mark on the sport. Since the late 1990s, Serena and her sister Venus have been an unstoppable force in women’s tennis, winning 14 Grand Slam doubles titles between them.
With 23 Grand Slam singles titles, including the 2017 Australian Open, Serena holds the record for the most Grand Slam singles titles in the Open Era by a tennis player, male or female.
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Serena’s game has proven resilient in the face of time and competition. Her Grand Slam titles span 18 years, beginning in 1999 with her last victory at the 2017 Australian Open. Despite being unable to compete for most of 2017 due to her pregnancy, Serena made a remarkable comeback, reaching four Grand Slam finals but failing to win her coveted 24th Grand Slam title.
After the 2022 US Open, Serena announced her retirement from professional tennis, having left a lasting legacy as one of the sport’s greatest players.
Career prize money: $94,588,910
23 Grand Slam Singles Titles
73 career titles
3: Martina Navratilova
Navratilova’s versatility, athleticism, and longevity make her one of the greatest tennis players of all time. She won 18 Grand Slam titles (3 Australian, 2 French, 9 Wimbledon, 4 US Open) in singles and a record 31 titles in women’s doubles.
Martina Navratilova dominated women’s tennis from the late 1970s to the 1980s, setting new standards in athleticism and aggressiveness. She holds the Open Era record with 167 titles and won an astounding 59 Grand Slam titles in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, including a record nine Wimbledon titles. Her legacy as a trailblazer and one of the greatest doubles players of all time will never be forgotten.
Career prize money: $21,626,089
18 Grand Slam Singles Titles
167 career titles
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4: Margaret Court
Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam titles (11 Australian, 5 French, 3 Wimbledon, 5 US Open) in singles still stands today, making her one of the most successful players in tennis history. She was known for her powerful serve and volley game.
Margaret Court is widely regarded as the best player of all time with a record 62 Major titles, including 24 Grand Slam titles in singles, 19 titles in doubles, and 19 in mixed doubles. She was the first woman in the Open Era to win the Grand Slam in singles in 1970. She incorporated weights and fitness training into her routine, which allowed her to have a long and injury-free career.
Career prize money of approximately: $500,000
24 Grand Slam Singles Titles
192 career titles
5: Chris Evert
Evert’s consistency, precision, and mental toughness made her a dominant force in tennis during the 1970s and 1980s. She won 18 Grand Slam (2 Australian, 7 French, 3 Wimbledon, 6 US Open) singles titles and held the world’s No. 1 ranking for 260 weeks.
Chris Evert, with her two-handed backhand shot, was a dominant force in women’s tennis from the mid-1970s to the early 1980s. She holds the record for reaching the most Grand Slam singles finals with 34, winning 18 of them, including every major at least twice.
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Evert had a career-winning percentage in singles matches of over 90 percent and was the year-ending number-one player in the world for seven years. Her rivalry with Martina Navratilova in the late 1970s provided fans with a great on-court spectacle.
Career prize money: $8,895,195
18 Grand Slam Singles Titles
157 career titles
