Which female tennis players have won the most titles? Read our article to find out.
10 Best Female Tennis Players of All Time
There have been many great female tennis players over the years, but the best of the best stand head and shoulders above the rest. After years of practice perfecting their skills, the top female players have earned trophy after trophy; crafting professional careers that will be remembered long after they retire.
If you’re wondering how to bet on tennis, any experienced bettor would agree that the easiest strategy to win is to back a winning player. From accolades and achievements to world records and world rankings, below are the 10 best players in the history of women’s tennis.
10. Martina Hingis
Martina Hingis earned nearly $25 million in prize money over the course of her professional career. She was ranked number one in the world for 209 weeks and earned 13 Grand Slam Doubles titles, 5 Grand Slam Singles titles, and 45 career titles in total.
Unfortunately, due to a series of injuries early on in her career, Hingis retired from singles tennis when she was only 22 years old. If it weren’t for her early retirement, it’s fairly safe to assume that she would have won at least a few more Grand Slam singles.
9. Justine Henin
Despite her small physique, Justine Henin was one of the toughest, strongest players in female tennis. After winning both the French Open and the US Open in 2003, she was ranked as the best player in the world for quite a while.
In 2004, Henin won a gold medal at the Athens Olympics and her first Australian Open title. She won seven Grand Slam titles before her impromptu retirement. When asked about her reason for retirement, Henin pointed to burnout after an intense 20-year career.
8. Venus Williams
Venus and Serena Williams have gone head-to-head for nine Grand Slam titles. Her sister may be more successful overall, but Venus is more than capable of holding her own. In fact, she’s earned more prize money than Hingis and Henin combined.
Venus holds 49 career titles, including seven Grand Slams. With five of those Grand Slams won at Wimbledon, Venus is clearly a formidable grasscourt player. Even though her career was plagued by injuries, she was still able to reach world number one three times.
7. Billie Jean King
When Billie Jean King went up against Bobby Riggs in 1973, no one expected her to wipe the proverbial floor with him. King proved that the battle of the sexes is far from cut and dry, but she also dominated women’s tennis for the greater part of a decade.
Thanks to a highly aggressive playstyle, King was able to win six Wimbledon titles between 1966 and 1975. She also won four US Open, one French Open, and one Australian Open.
6. Monica Seles
In 1993, when an obsessed fan ran up to Monica Seles during a match, no one could have foreseen the shocking event that would follow. Seles was attacked by the fan, bringing a sudden end to one of the most promising tennis player’s careers.
Before her tragic incident, Seles had won eight Grand Slam titles and over $10 million in prize money. After a two-year recovery period, Seles returned to tennis and managed to win an Australian Open; which was the only title she won before retiring for good.
5. Chris Evert
Over the course of her 17-year career, Chris Evert was the world’s best player of the year seven times. Although she retired n 1989, she still holds the record for the most Grand Slams singles finals appearances.
Evert won every Grand Slam singles title at least twice, with 7 French Open and 6 US Open bringing her Grand Slam tally up to 18. Her career winning percentage was over 90%, which is far higher than the vast majority of players.
4. Martina Navratilova
With 18 Grand Slam singles titles, Martina Navratilova is one of the most successful female tennis players in the world. She holds the records for the most Wimbledon titles and the most career titles.
Aside from her illustrious singles career, Navratilova was also a prolific doubles player. She won 31 Grand Slam Doubles titles and 10 Grand Slam Mixed Doubles titles, giving her a total of 59 Grand Slam titles.
3. Steffi Graf
Whether it’s clay courts, grass courts, or any other type of court, Steffi Graf was renowned for her ability to adapt to any surface. She was ranked number one in the world for 377 weeks, which is a record for both male and female players.
In 1988, Graf became the first player to win all four Grand Slam titles and a gold medal at the Summer Olympics; all within the same year. When she retired in 1999, she was still ranked as the third-best player in the world.
2. Serena Williams
With close to $100 million in prize money, Serena Williams has won far more tournaments than any other female player in modern-day tennis. She’s won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, which is one less than the current record-holder.
Serena’s career has been defined by a consistent stream of accolades and achievements. Despite turning 40 last year, she continues to play professionally in the hopes of securing a 24th title, which would officially make her the best female player in history.
- Margaret Court
Although it can be argued that Margaret Court played in a time before tennis became a mainstream sport, there’s no disputing the fact that she has won the most Grand Slam Singles titles and the most Grand Slam titles overall.
She was the best player in the world until she retired in 1977, and she still holds the record for the most singles titles and the most Grand Slam titles. She was also the first female player who emphasized fitness and training, which led to an injury-free career.
Margaret Court · Monica Seles · Serena Williams · Steffi Graf · WTA
catherine · April 20, 2022 at 11:05 am
No question – Steffi Graf shortly to be followed by Iga Swiatek.
Scoop Malinowski · April 20, 2022 at 5:18 pm
For sure Iga will hit the elite echelon, as Barty was well on her way to do also. Hope Iga doesn’t suddenly retire soon like Barty did.
catherine · April 21, 2022 at 2:31 am
It’s unlikely. Ashleigh has many interests whereas Swiatek seems completely focussed on tennis. BTW – I know Steffi hasn’t as many titles as Court but I rate her the best I ever saw and Iga shares a certain quality with her – when they go out to play you know, barring accidents, that they are going to win. Early days for Iga of course.
Scoop Malinowski · April 21, 2022 at 8:18 am
Nobody saw the Barty no mas coming Catherine, she was dominating the WTA and making millions and from all indications I saw loving the luxury life of the WTA especially as the Queen of the sport. Not buying her explanation, as “the truth is never told, it has to be learned.” She showed no stress and pressure of being no. 1 she was loving it and still improving too. It looks like the WTA was happy with the decision and would prefer Coco, Osaka or Emma to be the face of the WTA. Question everything.
Scoop Malinowski · April 21, 2022 at 10:11 am
If Barty was really feeling like quitting after winning AO and even Wimbledon why didn’t she say it at the press conference? What harm would that have caused? Just doesn’t make sense. These players work their whole lives to get to the top of tennis, she got there and was dominating. Then quits. No other player did this. The last time she quit she was losing all the time in singles and was struggling badly. Swiatek appears very happy and motivated.
catherine · April 21, 2022 at 11:08 am
Scoop – I know you’ll be looking for all sorts of ‘things we aren’t being told’ about Barty’s retirement but to me there’s really no mystery. Ash did what she did because she’s Ashleigh Barty and a young woman who sees pro tennis in her own, maybe different, way from that which we’re used to observing in the general run of athletes. She comes from a big country and sees the opportunities; she’s family minded and planning marriage in the near future. I doubt the WTA had any say in the matter at all, or that Ashleigh would have taken any notice if anyone had tried to influence her.
I recognise her accent; I recognise her world view.
Remember Margaret Smith left the game in her 20s, to run a dress shop in Perth. It was Barry Court who persuaded her to reurn to the game. And Sabatini ? She turned her back on tennis in her midtwenties and shut the door.
Scoop Malinowski · April 21, 2022 at 6:16 pm
Catherine, it’s very possible Barty just had enough of it, not denying that. But the other explanation is also possible. We may never know. There was no money in the sport when Court ruled, she told me in Biofile one year she won AO and her prize was an umbrella. I didn’t know she had a dress shop. I miss Barty already, she was something special and she was on her way to all time greatness. The sport lives on without her but she was the very best of her era. Now it’s Iga.