Famous Female Tennis Players: The Greatest of All Time
Women's tennis has produced some of the most dominant, inspiring, and technically brilliant athletes in sports history. From the power of Serena Williams to the precision of Steffi Graf, famous female tennis players have shaped the game as we know it. This guide covers the greatest women in tennis history — their Grand Slam records, playing styles, and the legacy they left on the sport.
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1. Serena Williams (USA)
Grand Slams: 23 | Career: 1995–2022
Serena Williams is widely regarded as the greatest female tennis player of all time. With 23 Grand Slam singles titles — the most by any player in the Open Era — she dominated women's tennis for over two decades. Her combination of explosive power, mental toughness, and competitive fire was unmatched.
Serena won titles on all four surfaces and held all four Grand Slam titles simultaneously twice (the “Serena Slam”). She won her first Grand Slam at the 1999 US Open at age 17 and her last at the 2017 Australian Open — while pregnant. Among all famous female tennis players, Serena's impact on the sport extends far beyond her titles.
2. Steffi Graf (Germany)
Grand Slams: 22 | Career: 1982–1999
Steffi Graf is the only tennis player in history — male or female — to win the Calendar Grand Slam and an Olympic gold medal in the same year (1988). Her 22 Grand Slam titles include at least four wins at each of the four majors, a feat no other player has matched.
Graf's forehand is considered one of the greatest shots in tennis history. She spent 377 weeks as world number one — a record that stood for decades. Her rivalry with Monica Seles defined an era of women's tennis and produced some of the most memorable matches in the sport's history.
3. Martina Navratilova (Czech/USA)
Grand Slams: 18 singles, 31 doubles | Career: 1975–2006
Martina Navratilova is one of the most decorated athletes in tennis history. Her 18 Grand Slam singles titles are complemented by an extraordinary 31 Grand Slam doubles titles — making her the most successful doubles player of all time. She won Wimbledon nine times, a record that stood for decades.
Navratilova revolutionised women's tennis with her serve-and-volley game and exceptional athleticism. She was the first player to truly bring a physical training regimen to the sport, transforming how professional tennis players prepared for competition.
4. Chris Evert (USA)
Grand Slams: 18 | Career: 1972–1989
Chris Evert won 18 Grand Slam singles titles and finished her career with a remarkable 90% win rate on clay — the highest of any player in history on a single surface. Her rivalry with Martina Navratilova is considered the greatest in women's tennis history, producing 80 matches over 16 years.
Evert popularised the two-handed backhand and the baseline game that defines modern tennis. Her consistency, mental composure, and technical precision made her one of the most complete players the sport has ever seen.
5. Margaret Court (Australia)
Grand Slams: 24 | Career: 1960–1977
Margaret Court holds the all-time record for Grand Slam singles titles with 24 — more than any player in history. She won the Calendar Grand Slam in 1970 and dominated women's tennis across two decades. Court's athleticism and aggressive serve-and-volley style were ahead of her time.
6. Venus Williams (USA)
Grand Slams: 7 | Career: 1994–present
Venus Williams won 7 Grand Slam singles titles and was the first Black woman to reach world number one in the Open Era. She won Wimbledon five times and was a dominant force in women's tennis throughout the 2000s. Venus also holds the record for the fastest serve ever recorded by a woman at Wimbledon — 207.6 km/h (129 mph).
Beyond her titles, Venus has been a pioneering advocate for equal prize money in tennis, successfully campaigning for Wimbledon and the French Open to offer equal pay to men and women.
7. Monica Seles (Yugoslavia/USA)
Grand Slams: 9 | Career: 1989–2008
Monica Seles won 9 Grand Slam titles before the age of 20 and was on course to become one of the greatest players of all time before being stabbed on court in 1993 by a deranged fan of Steffi Graf. She returned to the tour in 1995 and won one more Grand Slam, but the attack robbed the sport of what could have been an even more extraordinary career.
Seles popularised the double-handed groundstrokes on both sides and her grunting on court — controversial at the time — is now commonplace across the sport.
8. Billie Jean King (USA)
Grand Slams: 12 | Career: 1959–1983
Billie Jean King won 12 Grand Slam singles titles and is one of the most important figures in the history of tennis — not just women's tennis. She founded the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) in 1973 and famously defeated Bobby Riggs in the “Battle of the Sexes” match, watched by 90 million people worldwide.
King's advocacy for equal prize money, LGBTQ+ rights, and gender equality transformed not just tennis but professional sport as a whole.
9. Justine Henin (Belgium)
Grand Slams: 7 | Career: 2000–2011
Justine Henin won 7 Grand Slam titles and is widely regarded as the most technically gifted player of her generation. Her one-handed backhand — rare in women's tennis — is considered one of the finest shots in the history of the sport. She won four French Open titles and reached world number one despite retiring twice.
10. Naomi Osaka (Japan)
Grand Slams: 4 | Career: 2013–present
Naomi Osaka has won 4 Grand Slam titles and is one of the most recognisable athletes in the world. She won back-to-back US Opens (2018, 2020) and back-to-back Australian Opens (2019, 2021), establishing herself as the dominant force in women's tennis in the early 2020s.
Osaka has also been a powerful voice for mental health awareness in sport, withdrawing from the 2021 French Open to prioritise her wellbeing — a decision that sparked a global conversation about athlete mental health.
11. Iga Świątek (Poland)
Grand Slams: 4+ | Career: 2016–present
Iga Świątek is the dominant force in women's tennis today. She has won multiple French Open titles and held the world number one ranking for an extended period. Her heavy topspin forehand, exceptional footwork, and mental composure make her one of the most complete players of the modern era.
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Famous Female Tennis Players: Grand Slam Records
| Player | Grand Slams | Country | Era |
|---|---|---|---|
| Margaret Court | 24 | Australia | 1960s–70s |
| Serena Williams | 23 | USA | 1999–2017 |
| Steffi Graf | 22 | Germany | 1987–1999 |
| Martina Navratilova | 18 | Czech/USA | 1978–1994 |
| Chris Evert | 18 | USA | 1974–1986 |
| Billie Jean King | 12 | USA | 1966–1975 |
| Monica Seles | 9 | Yugoslavia/USA | 1990–1996 |
| Venus Williams | 7 | USA | 2000–2008 |
| Justine Henin | 7 | Belgium | 2003–2010 |
| Naomi Osaka | 4 | Japan | 2018–2021 |
Frequently Asked Questions: Famous Female Tennis Players
Who is the greatest female tennis player of all time?
Serena Williams is widely considered the greatest female tennis player of all time, with 23 Grand Slam singles titles — the most in the Open Era. Margaret Court holds the all-time record with 24 Grand Slams across all eras.
Who has the most Grand Slam titles among female tennis players?
Margaret Court holds the all-time record with 24 Grand Slam singles titles. Serena Williams is second with 23, followed by Steffi Graf with 22.
Who is the most famous female tennis player today?
Iga Świątek is currently the world's top-ranked female tennis player and the most dominant active player on the WTA Tour. Naomi Osaka remains one of the most globally recognised athletes in the sport.
Who was the first famous female tennis player?
Billie Jean King and Margaret Court were among the pioneers of professional women's tennis in the 1960s and 70s. King's founding of the WTA in 1973 and her advocacy for equal prize money transformed the sport permanently.
