Best Female Tennis Players of all time: The history of tennis is filled with many legendary players. However, a few athletes stand out for their amazing skills, grace, and determination. Among them, a special group of female tennis players has made a lasting impact on the sport over the years.
Best Female Tennis Players of all time
In this article, we will discuss the top 25 female tennis players of all time, celebrating their great achievements, memorable moments, and lasting legacies.
Here’s our list of the top 25 best female tennis players ever.
25. Angelique Kerber
- Date of Birth: 18 January 1988
- Career Prize Money: $32,519,180
- Career Titles: 14
- Grand Slams: 3x (1 AO, 1 RG, 1 UO)
At number 25 is Angelique Kerber. She was a German tennis player known for her strong left-handed play.
She was ranked No. 1 in singles for 34 weeks and won three major titles: the 2016 Australian Open, the 2016 US Open, and the 2018 Wimbledon. She also won a silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Kerber started her career in 2003 and gained fame by reaching the semifinals of the 2011 US Open. She entered the top 5 in 2012 and became No. 1 on September 12, 2016.
In total, she won 14 singles titles, including three majors.
24. Simona Halep
- Date of Birth: September 27, 1991
- Career Prize Money: $40,227,773
- Career Titles: 24
- Grand Slams: 2x (1 RG, 1 W)
At number 24 is Simona Halep. She is one of the top female tennis players. She won two Grand Slam titles: the 2018 French Open and the 2019 Wimbledon.
Halep was ranked No. 1 in the world for 64 weeks. She has received WTA Most Popular Player in 2014 and 2015, and WTA Fan Favorite from 2017 to 2019.
Halep is the third Romanian to reach the WTA top 10 and the second Romanian woman to win a major title. She is Known for her strong baseline play and powerful forehand.
Halep is praised for her athleticism and skill in returning shots.
23. Petra Kvitová
- Date of Birth: 8 March 1990
- Career Prize Money: $37,252,032
- Career Titles: 31
- Grand Slams: 2x (2 W)
Petra Kvitová is a top Czech tennis player known for her powerful left-handed play, especially on grass. She has won 31 singles titles, including two Wimbledons in 2011 and 2014, and a bronze medal at the 2016 Olympics. Her highest ranking was world No. 2 in 2011.
Kvitová gained fame by beating world No. 1 Dinara Safina at the 2009 US Open and reached her first major semifinal at Wimbledon in 2010.
In 2011, she won Wimbledon and helped the Czech Republic win the Fed Cup. She also reached the semifinals of the Australian and French Opens in 2012 and won the Hopman Cup.
In 2019, she was the runner-up at the Australian Open.
22. Amelie Mauresmo
- Date of Birth: July 5, 1979
- Career Prize Money: $15,022,476
- Career Titles: 25
- Grand Slams: 2x (1 AO, 1 UO)
Amélie Mauresmo ranks 22nd among the list of best female tennis players of all time. She won two Grand Slam singles titles: the 2006 Australian Open and the 2008 Wimbledon Championships.
Mauresmo reached the finals of the French Open three times and the US Open once, known for her all-court game, powerful serve, and strategic intelligence.
Starting tennis young, she won junior titles at Roland-Garros and Wimbledon. She became the world No. 1 and is celebrated as the most successful Frenchwoman in tennis history.
After retiring in 2009, she transitioned to coaching and had a 49-week reign as world No. 1 in singles, the second longest for a Frenchwoman.
21. Ana Ivanovic
- Date of Birth: 6 November 1987
- Career Prize Money: $15,510,787
- Career Titles: 15
- Grand Slams: 1x (1 RG)
Ana Ivanovic is a retired Serbian tennis player known for her powerful game and charm. She reached the top ranking after winning the 2008 French Open and held it for 12 weeks.
Ivanovic was a runner-up at the 2007 and 2008 French Open and Australian Open. Throughout her career, she won 15 WTA Tour singles titles, including her Grand Slam title in 2008. She earned over $15.5 million in prize money, ranking 25th all-time.
Ivanovic gained recognition for her aggressive play and impressive forehand. Her breakthrough came in 2004 when she nearly defeated Venus Williams at the Zurich Open. Although she faced challenges after her 2008 victory, including a significant drop in rankings, she bounced back in 2012 and enjoyed a resurgence in 2014.
Ivanovic reached the semifinals of the French Open in 2015 before announcing her retirement in December 2016, citing performance issues as a reason.
20. Tracy Austin
- Date of Birth: December 12, 1962
- Career Prize Money: $2,092,380
- Career Titles: 30
- Grand Slams: 2x (2 UO)
Tracy Austin ranks 20th on our list of the Best Female Tennis Players of all time. She is celebrated for her impressive career, which includes three Grand Slam singles titles: the US Open in 1979 and 1981, and a mixed doubles title at Wimbledon in 1980.
Austin held the world No. 1 singles ranking for four years, from 1980 to 1984. She made history by winning the US Open at just 16 years old in 1979, becoming the youngest player to claim a Grand Slam singles title.
Her powerful serve, strong forehand, and strategic intelligence on the court defined her all-court game. Injuries, however, cut her career short, leading to her retirement in 1986 at the age of 23.
Despite her short career, Tracy Austin made a lasting impact on tennis, ushering in a new era for women’s sports.
19. Victoria Azarenka
- Date of Birth: 31 July 1989
- Career Prize Money: $38,050,197
- Career Titles: 21
- Grand Slams: 2x (2 AO)
Victoria Azarenka is a top Belarusian tennis player. She is known for her aggressive style. She reached world No. 1 in singles on January 30, 2012, and held the ranking for 51 weeks, finishing as year-end No. 1 in 2012.
Azarenka has won 21 WTA singles titles, including two Australian Opens in 2012 and 2013, making her the first Belarusian to win a major. She was a runner-up at the US Open three times.
In doubles, she has won 10 titles and achieved a career-high doubles ranking of No. 7. She also secured three mixed doubles titles, including an Olympic gold in 2012.
18. Lindsay Davenport
- Date of Birth: June 8, 1976
- Career Prize Money: $22.2 million
- Career Titles: 55
- Grand Slams: 3x (1 AO, 1 W, 1 UO)
Lindsay Davenport is ranked 18th among the list of Best Female Tennis Players of all time. She won 55 singles titles, including three Grand Slam titles: the US Open in 1998 and 2000, and the Australian Open in 2000.
Davenport also secured 38 doubles titles, including three Grand Slam doubles championships. She held the world No. 1 singles ranking for 98 weeks and was year-end No. 1 four times.
She retired in 2010 and later became a coach and commentator.
17. Jennifer Capriati
- Date of Birth: March 29, 1976
- Career Prize Money: $10,206,639
- Career Titles: 14
- Grand Slams: 3x (2 AO, 1 RG)
Jennifer Capriati ranks 17th on our list of the Best Female Tennis Players of all time and is considered as one of the sport’s greats. She won three Grand Slam singles titles: the 1990 French Open, and the 1992 and 1993 Australian Opens.
Capriati also earned a gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics. Her career had ups and downs, including personal struggles with drug abuse and depression. After a comeback in the late 1990s, she became the lowest seed to win the Australian Open in 2001, defeating Martina Hingis.
A child prodigy, Capriati began winning titles at just 14 and was seen as a successor to Steffi Graf. After retiring in 2004, she stayed connected to tennis as a coach and commentator and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
16. Naomi Osaka
- Date of Birth: October 16, 1997
- Career Prize Money: $21,776,713
- Career Titles: 7
- Grand Slams: 4x (2 AO, 2 UO)
At number 16 is Naomi Osaka, a tennis player from Japan. She has been ranked world No. 1 in singles and is the first Asian player to achieve this.
Osaka is a four-time Grand Slam champion, with two Australian Open and two US Open titles. She made history by winning her first two major titles back-to-back in 2018 and 2019.
Born in Japan to a Haitian-American father and a Japanese mother, Osaka has lived in the U.S. since she was three. She gained attention at 16 when she beat former champion Samantha Stosur in her first WTA match.
In 2018, she won her first WTA title at Indian Wells and then defeated Serena Williams at the US Open.
Osaka is a highly marketable athlete, ranking eighth in endorsement income in 2020. She is also known for her activism, supporting the Black Lives Matter movement. She lit the Olympic cauldron at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and has an aggressive playing style with a powerful serve.
15. Kim Clijsters
- Date of Birth: June 8, 1983
- Career Prize Money: $24,545,194
- Career Titles: 41
- Grand Slams: 4x (1 AO, 4 UO)
Kim Clijsters is ranked 15th on the list of Best Female Tennis Players of all time. She is widely regarded as one of the sport’s greats. She won four Grand Slam singles titles: the US Open in 2005, 2009, and 2010, and the Australian Open in 2011.
Clijsters also reached the French Open final once and the Wimbledon Championships twice. Initially retiring in 2007 at age 23 to start a family, she made a stunning comeback two years later, winning the US Open as an unranked player in her third tournament back.
She then defended her title in 2010 and won the Australian Open in 2011, becoming the first mother to achieve the world No. 1 ranking.
Clijsters first gained recognition by winning the US Open in 2005 at 22. Her successful return to tennis further solidified her legacy as one of the game’s all-time greats.
14. Maureen Connolly
- Date of Birth: September 17, 1934
- Career Prize Money: N/A
- Career Titles: 23
- Grand Slams: 9x (1 AO, 2 RG, 3 W, 3 UO)
Maureen Connolly is ranked 14th on the list of Best Female Tennis Players of all time. In 1953, at just 18, she made history by winning all four Grand Slam singles titles in a single year, the only woman to do so in the Open Era.
She began her remarkable journey at 16, winning her first Grand Slam at the 1951 US Open. She is known for her aggressive style and powerful serve-and-volley game. However, her career was cut short by a knee injury in 1954.
Despite this, she remains one of the most celebrated female tennis players and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1969.
13. Evonne Goolagong Cawley
- Date of Birth: July 31, 1951
- Career Prize Money: $1,399,431
- Career Titles: 86
- Grand Slams: 11x (4 AO, 1 RG, 2 W, 4 UO)
Evonne Goolagong Cawley is ranked 13th on the list of Best Female Tennis Players of all time. She won seven Grand Slam singles titles, including four Australian Opens, one French Open, and two Wimbledons, making her the first Indigenous Australian to achieve this.
She is known for her graceful and versatile playing style. She adapted well to various opponents and surfaces. After retiring in 1983, she continued to influence the sport as a coach and ambassador, earning her place in the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Goolagong Cawley’s success in the early 1970s highlights her legacy as one of tennis’s all-time greats.
12. Helen Wills Moody
- Date of Birth: October 6, 1905
- Career Prize Money: Unknown
- Career Titles: 55
- Grand Slams: 9x (2 RG, 3 W, 4 UO)
Helen Wills Moody is ranked 12th among the best female tennis players of all time. She won 31 Grand Slam titles, including 19 in singles.
She was a pioneer in tennis, becoming the first American woman athlete to gain worldwide fame. Although she preferred a private life, she mingled with royalty and celebrities.
Wills was known for her elegant playing style, wearing knee-length pleated skirts and a signature white visor. To improve her game, she often practiced against male players, using a powerful baseline strategy to outlast her opponents.
A highlight of her career was the famous Match of the Century against Suzanne Lenglen in 1926.
11. Maria Sharapova
- Date of Birth: April 19, 1987
- Career Prize Money: $38,777,962
- Career Titles: 36
- Grand Slams: 5x (1 AO, 2 RG, 1 W, 1 UO)
Maria Sharapova ranks 11th among the best female tennis players of all time. She became the first Russian woman to win Wimbledon in 2004 and reached the world number one ranking in the WTA. Notably, she won Wimbledon at just 17 years old, defeating Serena Williams.
Sharapova is also one of the most marketable athletes, earning many endorsements. In 2016, she faced a two-year suspension for testing positive for a banned substance, which was later reduced to 15 months on appeal.
Despite the challenges, her impact on tennis and global appeal have made her a significant figure in the sport’s history.
10. Venus Williams
- Date of Birth: June 17, 1980
- Career Prize Money: $42,288,213.
- Career Titles: 49
- Grand Slams: 7x (5 W, 2 UO)
Venus Williams ranks 10th among the best female tennis players of all time. Her career highlights include seven Grand Slam singles titles and a total of 16 Grand Slam finals, most recently at Wimbledon in 2017.
Venus has held the world No. 1 ranking three times, becoming the first African American woman to achieve this in the Open Era.
In women’s doubles, she has won 14 Grand Slam titles with her sister Serena, maintaining an undefeated record in Grand Slam doubles finals.
Venus has also claimed two mixed doubles titles. Her achievements at Wimbledon are impressive, with five singles titles, and she has won four Olympic gold medals—one in singles and three in doubles.
9. Justine Henin
- Date of Birth: June 1, 1982
- Career Prize Money: $20,863,335.
- Career Titles: 50
- Grand Slams: 7x (1 AO, 4 RG, 2 UO)
Justine Henin is ranked 9th among the best female tennis players of all time. She is known for her exceptional athleticism and mental toughness. Despite her smaller stature, she had a powerful game, highlighted by a strong serve and one of the best one-handed backhands in tennis history.
Her career features seven Grand Slam singles titles, including four French Opens and two US Opens.
Henin reached the Wimbledon final twice and won a gold medal at the 2004 Olympics. She also secured 43 WTA singles titles throughout her career.
Henin retired in 2011 due to a chronic elbow injury but made a brief comeback in 2010. She was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2016, cementing her legacy as one of the sport’s greatest players.
8. Martina Hingis
- Date of Birth: September 30, 1980
- Career Prize Money: $24,749,074.
- Career Titles: 45
- Grand Slams: 5x (3 AO, 1 W, 1 UO)
Martina Hingis is ranked 8th among the best female tennis players of all time. She is known for her impressive achievements in the sport. She won five Grand Slam singles titles and spent 209 weeks as the world number one.
In addition to her singles success, Hingis claimed 13 Grand Slam doubles titles and seven mixed doubles titles. She retired for the first time in 2003 at just 22 due to injuries, leaving fans curious about her potential.
Hingis became the youngest Grand Slam champion and world No. 1 in the 1990s, and she was the highest-paid female athlete from 1997 to 2001. After a comeback in 2006, she reached world No. 6 and won two major tournaments before another retirement in 2007 due to injury and a two-year ban for a positive drug test.
Returning to doubles in 2013, Hingis enjoyed significant success, winning multiple Grand Slam titles before her final retirement in 2017. Her legacy cements her as one of the greatest female tennis players in history.
7. Monica Seles
- Date of Birth: December 2, 1973
- Career Prize Money: $14,891,762.
- Career Titles: 53
- Grand Slams: 9x (4 AO, 3 RG, 2 UO)
Monica Seles is ranked 7th among the best female tennis players of all time. She is known for her remarkable achievements and a tragic incident that impacted her career. At just 16, she became the youngest French Open winner in 1990, and by 20, she had already won eight Grand Slam singles titles and held the world No. 1 ranking.
In 1993, Seles was attacked on court by a deranged fan, which sidelined her for over two years. Although she returned in 1995 and won her fourth Australian Open title in 1996, she never fully regained her pre-attack form.
Seles played her last professional match at the 2003 French Open, remaining in the rankings until 2008. Her nine Grand Slam titles, eight won while representing Yugoslavia and one for the United States, highlight her incredible talent.
Inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame in 2009, Seles is known not only for her on-court success but also for her resilience in overcoming adversity.
6. Billie Jean King
- Date of Birth: November 22, 1943
- Career Prize Money: $1,966,487.
- Career Titles: 129
- Grand Slams: 12x (1 AO, 1 RG, 6 W, 4 UO)
Billie Jean King is ranked 6th among the best female tennis players of all time. She has a legacy that goes beyond her remarkable achievements on the court. She is best known for her historic “Battle of the Sexes” match against Bobby Riggs in 1973, where she won at age 29, highlighting her dominance and advocacy for gender equality.
King’s contributions to women’s sports include co-founding the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) and the Women’s Sports Foundation. Her efforts earned her induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1987 and many awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
King dominated Wimbledon from 1966 to 1975, winning six titles and securing a total of 12 Grand Slam singles titles. In recognition of her impact, the USTA National Tennis Center was renamed in her honor in 2006. With her energetic playing style and commitment to gender equality, Billie Jean King remains a true icon in tennis and women’s sports.
5. Chris Evert
- Date of Birth: December 21, 1954
- Career Prize Money: $8,895,195.
- Career Titles: 157
- Grand Slams: 18x (2 AO, 7 RG, 3 W, 6 UO)
Chris Evert is ranked 5th among the Best Female Tennis Players of all time due to her exceptional achievements. Dominating women’s tennis from the mid-1970s to the early 1980s, Evert reached the finals of 34 Grand Slam tournaments, winning 18 titles and claiming victories at every major event at least twice.
She reached the semifinals in 52 of 56 Grand Slams, including a remarkable 34 consecutive appearances from 1971 to 1983. With a career win rate of 89.97%, the highest in the Open Era, and a clay court win rate of 94.55%, Evert set many records.
Beyond playing, she contributed to tennis administration as President of the Women’s Tennis Association.
Inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame, Evert continues to influence the sport as a coach and commentator for ESPN, solidifying her legacy as one of the greatest in tennis history.
4. Margaret Court
- Date of Birth: July 16, 1942
- Career Prize Money: approximately $500,000
- Career Titles: 192
- Grand Slams: 24x (11 AO, 5 RG, 3 W, 5 UO)
Margaret Court is considered the 4th greatest female tennis player ever. She has 24 Grand Slam singles titles and a total of 64 major titles, including doubles and mixed doubles.
Court achieved the Calendar Grand Slam in mixed doubles twice and holds the highest win rate in tennis history at 91.74%. In 1973, she won 11 Australian Open titles in a single event.
She was the first woman in the Open Era to win a Grand Slam in singles in 1970 and is one of only two women to win a mixed doubles Grand Slam twice.
A pioneer in fitness training, Court won every major title in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, solidifying her legacy in tennis.
3. Martina Navratilova
- Date of Birth: October 18, 1956
- Career Prize Money: $21,626,089.
- Career Titles: 167
- Grand Slams: 18x (3 AO, 2 RG, 9 W, 4 UO)
Martina Navratilova is regarded as one of the greatest female tennis players of all time. She is known for her success in the late 1970s and 1980s. She won a record 64 major titles, including 24 singles titles, 19 doubles titles, and 21 mixed doubles titles.
Born in Albury, New South Wales, she won her first Australian Open singles title at 17 and claimed seven consecutive titles there. She completed the career Grand Slam at 21 by winning Wimbledon in 1963. After taking breaks for motherhood, she returned to win three major titles in 1973 and retired in 1977.
Navratilova is one of only three players to achieve the “Boxed Set,” winning every major title in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. She is also the only player to complete a double Boxed Set and won the Fed Cup with Australia four times.
Her incredible achievements have led to her being recognized as the greatest female tennis player, and she has influenced tennis beyond her playing career.
2. Steffi Graf
- Date of Birth: June 14, 1969
- Career Prize Money: $21,891,306.
- Career Titles: 107
- Grand Slams: 22x (4 AO, 6 RG, 7 W, 5 UO)
Steffi Graf is considered the second-best female tennis player ever. She has 22 Grand Slam singles titles, the second most in the Open Era. She was world No. 1 for a record 377 weeks.
She is Known for her powerful forehand and quick footwork. Graf won it on all surfaces: six French Opens, seven Wimbledons, four Australian Opens, and five US Opens.
In 1988, she achieved the Golden Slam, winning all four Grand Slam titles and an Olympic gold medal in the same year.
Graf retired in 1999 as world No. 3 and later married tennis star Andre Agassi. Her legacy in tennis is significant, having dominated the sport from the late 1980s to the mid-1990s.
1. Serena Williams
- Date of Birth: September 26, 1981
- Career Prize Money: $94,588,910.
- Career Titles: 73
- Grand Slams: 23x (7 AO, 3 RG, 7 W, 6 UO)
Serena Williams is regarded as one of the greatest female tennis players of all time. Along with her sister Venus, she has been a dominant force in tennis since the late 1990s, winning 14 Grand Slam doubles titles together.
Serena holds the record for the most Grand Slam singles titles in the Open Era, with 23 titles. Ranked No. 1 by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) eight times between 2002 and 2017, she held the top spot for a total of 319 weeks.
Serena has a total of 39 major titles, including 23 in singles, 14 in doubles, and 2 in mixed doubles. Notably, she has won the most Australian Open titles (7) and has 13 Grand Slam singles titles on hard courts.
Serena has also earned four Olympic gold medals and is known for bringing strength and athleticism to women’s tennis.
Off the court, she was the highest-paid female athlete in 2016 and 2017 and received many awards, including Sportswoman of the Year by Sports Illustrated in 2015.