10 Rosewall. WebTop British Female Tennis Players 1: Angela Mortimer. The second-most successful female British Olympian, Godfree won five Olympic medals in two Olympic Games. Sue Barker is an English former professional tennis player. Of, Read More 15 Best Tennis CountriesContinue, Tennis, like every other sport, is a game of rivalry. Because its almost not to achieve. Then, in 2013, she far surpassed that feat. Graf, the only player to have won all four majors at least four times, finished with 22 Grand Slam singles titles despite playing about a decade less than Williams. Martina Hingis isnt the most physically imposing player, especially in todays modern game. Forty-three players made the list from the Americas, 39 from Europe and 18 from Oceania. There were so many great Graf matches. Best British Tennis Players 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. When looking across her career resume, its hard to find a more well-rounded player. Country: Germany. With that in mind, we are spending the Wimbledon fortnight debating which of the greats is the greatest of them all. Steffi Graf. In her short time as a top-level player, she had seemingly no weaknesses in her game. British Female Tennis Players People of her circle claimed that her achievement should be considered as a Grand Slam cause nowadays it wouldnt be possible anymore to achieve Grand Slam . Domien Takx. Once ranked world number five, British tennis player Jo Durie has two Grand Slam titles in her kitty. She became the first Grand Slam winner from Japan after stunning the tennis world with a finals win over Serena Williams at the 2018 U.S. Open. If Virginia Wade was the last great British womens champion of the 20th century, Dorothy Round was one of the first. Billie Jean King was already a very accomplished tennis player before she became a worldwide celebrity in 1973. Her father was an aspiring tennis coach. Sure, other players have won more slams, but Seles will always be the best player to have ever played the sport. She didnt hit hard, she was relatively small for a tennis player and she had a pretty laid-back demeanor. 2 who turned pro in 1968 and retired in 1986. British Tennis Players At her best, she was unbeatable. British Tennis Players British tennis players Florence Angela Margret Mortimer Berret, better known as simply Angela Mortimer, is the 2: Ann Jones. Angela Mortimer Althea Gibson By Associated Press / Public domain Florence Angela Margaret Mortimer Barrett is a 4. Died: May 29, 2015, Coral Gables, Florida (Age 89). With 19 singles titles at Grand Slam championships, her well-rounded game made her a celebrity. Top 5 British Tennis Players of All Time 1. Angela Mortimer Althea Gibson By Associated Press / Public domain Florence Angela Margaret Mortimer Barrett is a 4. Now its time to hear from our readers. Halep figures to add to her resume as one of the greats in years to come. Based on 2022 results, Iga Swiatek has entered the top 20. Born: June 1, 1982, Liege, Belgium (Age 37). At only 22 years, Naomi Osaka has established herself as an iconic tennis star and champion. No tennis match had been seen by so many. Bottom line: Aranxta Sanchez Vicario was the womens games great clay champion at the end of the 20th century. 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. Best Women but failed to do so. Once known as a media darling, Maria Sharapova has fallen on hard times in the last few years. You rarely saw an unforced error from Evert. This week our writers have made the case for. Things can change in a hurry, as some current players could move up the list, or into the list. 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. WebEasily one of the most successful female British tennis players, Virginia Wade is a three-time Grand Slam champion and former world No. She previously won a junior title at Wimbledon. Her trademarks the footwork of a ballerina, the speed of a gazelle, the impeccably carved backhand slice and that monstrous bazooka of a forehand coalesced into a rare brand of athleticism, as beautiful as it was brutal. 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. Than its not a hit anymore. Now 53 years old, she is a former professional player who ranked World No.1 for a record 377 weeks. Born: Nov. 22, 1943, Long Beach, California. If it was not for elbow injury issues that simply wouldnt go away, Henin likely wouldve played a few more years. British tennis player Anne Keothavong, hailed for winning 28 titles on the ITF Women's Circuit, played her first professional match at age of fourteen, reaching a career-high singles ranking of world No. Beyond the race issue, she was a breath of fresh air on our TV screens in the 1970s. Greatest British Tennis Players it destroyed her confidence. At full flight in her imperious pomp, she embodied what was possible with a tennis racket, doing so with incomparable poise while dragging her sport forward into the modern era. Seles took the initiative in every single match she played, hitting the lines and depriving her opponents of time. Greatest Women's Tennis Players of All Time This article was amended on 6 July 2020. Maria Sharapova became an international icon by winning her first Wimbledon title at 17. But she is currently the premier defender in the game. Francesca Jones is a British tennis player who has won six ITF Circuit titles so far in her career. She won four times at her home Australian Open and seven Grand Slam titles total, as well as leading Australia to three Fed Cup titles. Graf gave even proof that she would have had the capacity to regain the # 1 position: After an almost 2 years injury break with back and knee surgery, she had made it already back from not being listed any more to #3 of the ranking. WebKathleen McKane Godfree was a British badminton and tennis player. The face of tennis is notably more diverse than when she and her sister arrived. Its not impossible, but her record of 49 total grand slam titles will be very tough to beat. Wills got the better of Jacobs six times, but the seventh time, at the 1933 U.S. Open, Jacobs came away the victor. Despite barely being 55 tall, she could hang in with just about any player on tour. At just 56 tall, she has a very well-rounded game compared to other modern players. She had most of her success at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, winning a total of 10 titles between the two. She was the only woman to win each Grand Slam at least four times, and in perhaps an even more unique achievement, she collected the "Golden Slam" in 1988, winning each of the four majors and the Olympic gold medal in the same year. The TenWho are the 10 best women's tennis players of all time? Seles started her career young, turning pro in 1989, aged just 16. Furthermore, she achieved the "Box Set" of winning all four Grand Slams in singles, doubles and mixed doubles. 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. A journeywoman for the first few years of her career, she showed she belonged at the top by winning the U.S. Open in 2011 over Serena Williams. 3. But when the moment came for her to perform at the highest level, she did not disappoint. 10 Rosewall. In 1993, she was stabbed by a deranged fan. 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. Being the greatest is not simply a case of having the numbers (though any way you spin it, Graf is in the conversation). Tennis is truly a global sport these days, with top players representing countries all around the globe. Wills finished her career with 19 Grand Slam titles. Many of the women on this list were teenage sensations, finding championship success instantly on the tour. Its been said that no backhand in the history of womens tennis has been as great as Justine Henin. However, her ability to dominate in the first half of the 1970s is hard to overlook. 48 at twenty-five. Garbine Muguruza is part of a new wave of emerging tennis champions. With that in mind, we are spending the Wimbledon fortnight debating which of the greats is the greatest of them all. On the court, she proved her worth by winning two Grand Slam titles over the likes of Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova. The greatest female tennis player of Still, its hard to overlook her career Grand Slam and a total of five titles in her career. Courageous, indomitable and also stubborn, she refused to bow to the press, who treated her with suspicion. Known as The Little Wonder, Lottie Dod gained fame as a remarkable tennis player and a five-time Wimbledon Ladies' Singles champion. Born: September 17, 1934, San Diego, California, Died: June 21, 1969, Dallas, Texas (Age 34). 6 Borg, No. Wades tally of 55 is particularly impressive. In the early 1950s, she took the tennis world by storm, winning six straight Grand Slam singles titles between 1952 and 1953. She has been world No 1 for 319 weeks. Serena who is listed as #1 23 & 72 titles less than 1/2 of M Court. 20 Greatest Female Tennis Players Of All Time Most memorable British tennis players 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 2. (VOTE) There was agreement on five players: No. Her demolition of her arch-rival Monica Seles at Wimbledon in 1992 after losing a heartbreaker at Roland Garros just weeks earlier was particularly fulfilling. I am glad she made the Top 10. Top Is Serena Williams the GOAT? Probably. Maybe. Without a She also won two US Open doubles titles and three Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. Died: Nov. 22, 1959, Stockholm, Sweden (Age 75). Not only did she win 12 Grand Slam titles in singles, but she took home the career Grand Slam, winning all four majors. Twice. 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. Undeterred by this adversity, Kvitova fought to reach the 2019 Australian Open final and the top of the tennis world once again. WebEasily one of the most successful female British tennis players, Virginia Wade is a three-time Grand Slam champion and former world No. Evonne often bullied her opposition, dominating early on and consistently throughout matches. Navratilova won twice a false one. 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. Sam Stosurs game stood out for the sheer power of her serve and heavy topspin forehand. May be younger tennis fans should know that terms likecareer grand slam or false grand slam are temporary new creations. Her style of play that relentless serve and volley approach where she would attack the net at every opportunity stood out among the sea of baseliners and her rivalry with Chris Evert is the soundtrack of womens tennis in this era. Although she's never won a Grand Slam, her consistency propelled her to the top of the world rankings for the first time in 2008. But Graf was even more dominant in her time: She hold the #1 positon for the record number of 377 weeks, Serena did so only 319 weeks (as all time third behind Steffi and Martina Navratilova). 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. She also beat Venus Williams to win the crown at Wimbledon. 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. Your email address will not be published. Here is the full list of the greatest female tennis players of all time. WebVirginia Wade and Andy Murray are the most successful British tennis players in the Open Era by singles titles. Steffi Grafs dominance transcended all surfaces more than any other player in the modern era. Dorothea Douglass Lambert Chambers was a British tennis player who won seven Wimbledon singles titles in an illustrious career that spanned more than 25 years. Sloane Stephens is a bright light for American tennis in the post-Williams sisters future. 2, Jones managed to establish herself as a praiseworthy player despite playing in a highly competitive era; she played against some of the all-time greats like Margaret Court and Billie Jean King. Martina Navratilova boasted perhaps the greatest serve-and-volley game that womens tennis has ever seen. She won seven grand slams and an Olympic gold medal in a hugely competitive era in the womens game. Died: May 31, 2011, Potomac, Maryland (Age 91). That record still stands today as the most ever won by a woman. She also became a huge inspiration for a lot of mothers when she came back after giving birth. Making a list of the greatest tennis players of all time is certainly a challenging task. 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. Suzanne Lenglen is the greatest tennis champion that France has ever produced. Throughout her 11 year career, she showed she was a continually great competitor. A popular tennis player, Jones won eight Grand Slam titles during her career. That last, dramatic French Open triumph against Hingis in 1999 is up there for the unexpected delight of it all. Top 5 British Tennis Players of All Time In 1983, she played 87 matches and lost only one of them. That lead to seven Grand Slam singles titles, and a dominant run at the French Open. Wades tally of 55 is particularly impressive. Number 2 of the greatest female tennis player and most tennis Grand Slams womens division winners we have Steffi Graf. Vote up the best women's tennis players ever. Vote up the best women's tennis players ever. 3. In total, she won 3 Grand Slams, the 1955 French Open, 1958 Australian Open and Wimbledon in 1961. Thanks to everyone who took part. She was clearly the best player of that time. When she was able to win, many people saw this as a monumental moment in womens sports. WebAn international panel of tennis experts determined this ranking of 62 men and 38 women. In 2011, she became the first woman from Asia to reach a Grand Slam final and then win a Slam outright at the French Open, in front of a TV audience of hundreds of millions of Chinese fans. Right IconThis ranking is based on an algorithm that combines various factors, including the votes of our users and search trends on the internet. Played: Right-handed (two-handed backhand). She also holds the record for five consecutive years ending the season number one in singles. Forty-three players made the list from the Americas, 39 from Europe and 18 from Oceania. 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. This guy was the tennis pro of the 90s. (VOTE) There was agreement on five players: No. 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. Talk about a child prodigy Tim Henman. She also won two US Open doubles titles and three Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. Chris Evert won 90% of the singles matches she played, a record for men or women. he 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. Although she did well on home soil, winning the French Open twice, she found her greatest success at Wimbledon, winning that event six times. I remember watching her in action on an old black and white TV with my mum and sister. The TenWho are the 10 best women's tennis players of all time? British tennis players To prove her milestone victory was not a fluke, she won the Australian Open title in 2014. Godfree won two Wimbledon singles titles. Died: June 8, 2018, Sao Paulo, Brazil (Age 78). Born: June 14, 1969, Mannheim, West Germany. 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. 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. Just got done watching the great McEnroe bio on Showtime. The daughter of British aristocrats Ralph Percy and Jane Richard, Lady Melissa Percy quit school at 14 to follow a career in tennis. Some weeks later she crowned her Grand Slam with the Olympic Gold becoming the only player ever to achieve the Golden Slam. Yea, unquestionably Serena was a very dominant player in her era. Bottom line:The daughter of a Norwegian Army officer, Molla Mallory won matches with a power game atypical of her era. (VOTE) There was agreement on five players: No. WebAn international panel of tennis experts determined this ranking of 62 men and 38 women. 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 Andy Murray 2. 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. In 2016, she won the mixed-doubles at Wimbledon, becoming the first British player to win at Wimbledon since Joanna Mary Durie in 1987. In 2012, she became the first British female player to win a WTA singles title since 1988. The local media covered her matches with the same interest they covered Muhammad Alis boxing bouts. For those who arent quite convinced Serena Williams is number one all-time just yet, the most mentioned name is Steffi Graf. Most Successful British Tennis Players Of All She also won the 1925 Wightman Cup. All told, the Swiss champion won five singles Grand Slam titles before celebrating her 20th birthday. On the court, Sharapova dictated points with a strong serve and heavy groundstrokes and won all four majors for the career Grand Slam. Rebecca Joyce. She is the only player in womens tennis history to be number one at singles and doubles for over 200 weeks. Post-retirement, she has stepped into a broadcasting career and has also appeared on ITVs Interceptor and Channel 4s Treasure Hunt. These rankings determine who holds the crown. The most impressive thing about Osaka may be that, as accomplished as she is, her best likely lies ahead. 92 in the world when she broke out by reaching the U.S. Open semifinal. Justine Henin is one of the last great tennis champions in the women's game to use a one-handed backhand. 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. Throughout her 11 year career, she showed she was a continually great competitor. Her first Grand Slam victory came in 1968 at the US Open, and shed go on to win 55 singles titles throughout her career. Not only do countries embrace the sport at the recreational level, but fans follow their favorite players. The 48 games played between them remains a record for most games in a single U.S. Open finals match. 100 Greatest of All Time After that, they just need to do their, Read More 10 Greatest Tennis Servers Of All TimeContinue. Johanna Konta is a British tennis player who represented Australia till 2012. She also found success in doubles, winning at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open into her thirties, to bring her career full circle. She memorably won Wimbledon again nine years later. 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. Born: Oct. 18, 1956, Prague, Czechoslovakia. Now 53 years old, she is a former professional player who ranked World No.1 for a record 377 weeks. WebEasily one of the most successful female British tennis players, Virginia Wade is a three-time Grand Slam champion and former world No. 6 Borg, No. Some people believe that Serena Williams still has work to do to become the greatest tennis player of all time. Serena's power game, anchored by a devastating serve, is without equal in the history of the womens game. 2006 was the year she put it all together, winning the Australian Open and Wimbledon for her only two Grand Slam singles titles. 1 Federer, No. 2 who turned pro in 1968 and retired in 1986. Its very popular these days to put Serena ahead of Graf on the all time greatest list. Most memorable British tennis players Godfree won two Wimbledon singles titles. Evonne Goolagong-Cawley at Wimbledon in 1981. dramatic French Open triumph against Hingis in 1999. Martina Hingis was a teenage tennis sensation. There was a lot on the line. 12 Ivanovic even went one step further and won a Grand Slam, taking home the French Open that year in convincing fashion. She was physically fit throughout her career, capable of giving any player a scare, even when she was past her prime. 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 WebHeather Watson is a professional tennis player who has won nine career titles so far, including four singles titles. Serena NEVER had the level of consistent competition that Martina and Chris Evert gave each other. Going way back to the 1920s and 1930s, the game of tennis was dominated by one woman in particular. It just so happens that it was her sister Serena, who largely overshadowed her throughout her career. 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. The game has changed so much, and the racquets, in particular, have turned the modern game into something vastly different from the past. Born: Oct. 2, 1984, Le Puy-en-Velay, France, Plays: Right-handed (two-handed on both sides). If she can add a few more Grand Slam titles to her list, she could creep up fast. Her father was an aspiring tennis coach. 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. 2, Wade won three Grand Slam singles titles, including the famous 1977 Wimbledon, which was attended by Queen Elizabeth II. Yes Venus & Serena have been great and deserve praise, but dont forget the past. I position for the first time at the age of nineteen. 1 in doubles, Wade won four Grand Slam doubles titles. Connors and then later in Colorado the mens seniors with McEnroe, Connors , Borg and many more. The only problem? Died: June 2, 1997, East Hampton, New York (Age 88). In 2016, she won the mixed-doubles at Wimbledon, becoming the first British player to win at Wimbledon since Joanna Mary Durie in 1987. Seles started her career young, turning pro in 1989, aged just 16. Justine Henin is one of the greatest and most underrated players in womens tennis. Anastasia Myskina was part of the first wave of young women who helped put the worlds largest country on the map, with her French Open win in 2004, the first singles title for a Russian player. She has translated into being a very successful coach post-career, showing the cerebral side of her game. 1, Smith also represented Britain in the European Cup and Fed Cup on several occasions. In 2012, she became the first British female player to win a WTA singles title since 1988. 12 When she returned, she was able to win one more grand slam singles title, but she was not the same caliber of player. Its pure logic: A slam means a hit. She also won two US Open doubles titles and three Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. She won 12 of the final 13 games. 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. Evert gave American fans an incredible champion to cheer for as she won 157 titles and 18 Grand Slams. A former world No. Here is the full list of the greatest female tennis players of all time. Those who try to diminish her achievement have their own agenda. Justine Henin kisses the French Open trophy in 2003. In 2012, she became the first British female player to win a WTA singles title since 1988. Seles started her career young, turning pro in 1989, aged just 16. Angela Mortimer was certainly one of the greatest British female tennis players alive during the 1950s and early 1960s. Christine Truman Margaret Court doubles Wimbledon By fotograaf onbekend / CC BY-SA 3.0 NL (https://creativecommons. But clay is not the only surface where she shines. She also had amazing drop shots, devastating passing shots, as well as great accuracy and precision. I generally agree with the rankings, especially the top 5 with Chris at 4 ahead of Court at 5. A former British No. Doris Hart achieved things that few others have matched even in the many decades since her playing career ended. Martina Navratilovas athleticism, power and determination to succeed were truly astonishing. Here is the full list of the greatest female tennis players of all time. WebShe is the face of womens tennis in the UK and took home a silver medal at the 2012 Olympic Games. Had she not been stabbed in 1993, the history books would look a lot different. 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. Florence Angela Margret Mortimer Berret, better known as simply Angela Mortimer, is the 2: Ann Jones. Our writers have had their say this week. Heather Watson is a professional tennis player who has won nine career titles so far, including four singles titles. You as fellow tennis players and tennis commentators, they will say Serena is the best female tennis player of all times.