The epoch of female tennis has seen different styles, influences and controversies, but it has been integral to the great sport of tennis. To name one female player as the all-time greatest would be a insult to other such stars who are firmly ensconced in the pantheon of the women's game.

Australian Margaret Court was one of the first great players of woman’s tennis. In the seventies, she was the first female player to win all four Grand Slam titles in a calendar year. She won an incredible 24 Grand Slam singles titles, more than any other woman in history. Overall she won an astonishing 62 Grand Slam titles – and many consider her to be the first great in ladies tennis. 

She was highly controversial, being very outspoken about homosexuality. She stated that lesbians and bisexuals were ruining the game, and stated they commit “sins of the flesh”. She also campaigned against Australia’s law changes that gave gays and lesbians equal rights to de facto and married “normal” couples.

'American Chris Evert won 18 Grand Slam titles, including a record seven titles on the treacherous clay of Roland Garros'


Billie Jean King was one of the pioneers of tennis. She won 12 Grand Slam titles – and unlike Court was an activist against sexism in sports and society. She won a famous match defeating Bobby Riggs, in a “battle of the sexes”.

King was more highly regarded for her drive to make the game professional. In the late sixties, the American opinion of the game was poor, and she pushed for the game to be regarded with pride and not shame. At the beginning of the Open era, she was the first campaigner for equal prize money in men’s and women’s games. It was her fierce determination that made the 1973 US Open the first major tournament to offer equal prize money to male and female competitors.

American Chris Evert won 18 Grand Slam titles, including a record seven titles on the treacherous clay of Roland Garros. World No.1 for seven years, she has a 90% winning record in single matches over her career, the best win-loss record of any player in history. She also holds the record of never being eliminated earlier than the third round of any Slam.

Martina Navratilova made huge claims to being the dominant female tennis player of all time. She won 18 singles Grand Slam titles, but an incredible world record 31 women’s doubles Slam titles. She won the coveted Wimbledon title nine times. She won 167 titles and 177 doubles titles, more than any other person alive. 

She also holds the record for most consecutive victories with a 74-game winning streak. With Pam Shriver, she won 109 straight games and won a calendar Grand Slam in 1984. She was a crusader for lesbian rights, admitting her love for female tennis players which caused uproar from other notables in the game, particularly Margaret Court.

Steffi Graf, the incredible German, is considered by numerous experts to be the No.1 tennis player of all time. She won 22 Grand Slam titles. In 1999, a panel of experts named her the greatest female tennis player of all time. She also won nine runners-up medals at the Slams, and in 1988 won all four Grand Slams and the Olympic Gold medal. 

She is the only player to have won at least four of all the major single tournaments – Wimbledon, French, US and Australian Open – at least four times. She was ranked the No.1 player in the world for over seven straight years – a record for any player since professional rankings began.

Of the current players, arguably Justine Henin, the Belgian world No.1 is the finest player currently on the circuit. She has won seven Grand Slam titles, three of them consecutive French open titles. She still has not won at Wimbledon, but has reached the final twice. She also won the Olympic gold medal in Athens.

Also of notable mention is Serena Williams, winner of eight Grand Slams and one of the most powerful female players ever. She is the last person to hold all four Slams at one time. Her sister, Venus, has won six Grand Slams, and together in 2001 onwards, they held an intimidating grip on world tennis, although inconsistency and injuries have hampered their form.

All-in-all, we have seen some remarkable woman come through the ranks of the game – and the quality of the woman on tour now is highly elite. They have captured the imagination and the eye of female and male fans alike – and make the game, infinitely more watchable.

A toast to the ladies of the courts!