Smashes, Sportsmanship and Sensational Careers
With her impressive victory over Kaia Kanepi, Serena Williams not only secured herself a place in the quarterfinals of the US Open, but also once again demonstrated her incredible aptitude and dedication towards the sport. In celebration, we’re counting down those woman both past and present who can stand shoulder to shoulder with Ms Williams as some of tennis’ greatest female players.
#5: Billie Jean King
As a supreme champion of her sport, this woman has also become a champion of gender issues long after her final serve. Billie Jean King arrived on the scene as a 16-year-old in 1959, and won her first Grand Slam title in 1966 – the first of six career Wimbledon victories. King famously competed in the 1973 Battle of the Sexes against Bobby Riggs, just one year after being named the Sports Illustrated co-Sportsman of the Year. King’s invaluable contributions to the sport are legendary, and her progressive outlook helped countless female athletes become their best self on and off the court.
#4: Chris Evert
Truly an American icon of professional sports, this woman has won more Grand Slam titles than any person (male or female) in the history of tennis, with a total of 34. Chris Evert made her pro debut in 1972, and by the time it was all said and done, she managed to reach at least the semifinals in 52 of 56 Grand Slam events. In other words, she came to play and was the undisputed boss of the clay by winning 95 percent of her 400 matches. Today, it’s unfathomable to fully process the accomplishments of Chris Evert’s career, but if you ever saw her play, well then you know that she was the real deal.
#3: Martina Navratilova
From 1982 to 1987, there was no one more dominant in individual sports that Martina Navratilova. During this time, she won six consecutive Wimbledon titles and almost won the U.S. Open five times in a row as well. In fact, she won nearly 97 percent of her matches over five seasons, including 86 of her 87 matches in 1983. Her aggressive style of play visibly frightened opponents, and it was her unflinching approach that led to not only 167 singles titles, but 177 doubles titles as well – both all-time records in the open era.
#2: Serena Williams
At 33 years of age in 2015, this American athlete was the #1 ranked player in the world when it came to women’s singles tennis, over 12 years after reaching the top spot for the first time. Serena Williams won her first Grand Slam in 1999 at the U.S. Open and has since become one of the highest-earning female tennis players of all-time. Along with her older sister Venus, she’s also won 13 Grand Slams double championships and walked away with a Gold Medal at the 2012 Summer Games. With a career spanning three decades, Williams may ultimately become the undeniable top female player of all-time, but hey – she’s still working on it.
#1: Steffi Graf
Let’s face it – some women have the complete package. And when it comes to the sport of tennis, Steffi Graf had it all. By the time her 1999 retirement rolled around, Graf had amassed 22 Grand Slam victories, second behind only Margaret Court. Her footwork was second to no one, and she was the sporting epitome of grace under pressure. Steffi Graf could slam a backhand down the line and charm opponents with her beautiful style of play. Some tennis players excel at one particular Grand Slam event, but Steffi excelled at them all.
Be sure to check out the video below to see our picks for the Top 10 Shocking Wimbledon Moments!
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