What makes someone the best or the greatest of all time? Everyone has a differing opinion on what contributes to this title, so qualifying the definitive list is a near-impossible task. When we come to tennis, choosing the 10 best female players of all time is a consuming task with stars from so many generations each having a claim to be the greatest.
We can be stuck with a recency bias, looking at the modern athletes' play styles, nutrition and technology, and call this era the greatest for sports of all time. But this debate is subjective and has to consider the full eras that people were playing in and their impact on the court, the game, and the world themselves.
Criteria for rankings
To be able to look at the game fairly, a set of criteria should be established to define the women in the list so that they can be comparable. In this ranking, the criteria used are:
Performance and achievements
Influence on the game
Consistency and longevity
Awards and recognitions
The 10 best female players in tennis history
10. Justine Henin
A seven-time grand slam champion and one of the fiercest one-handed backhands in the game, Justine Henin was a giant of the game in the early naughties despite being small in stature. Her career was cut short because of burnout, however, she ended the year three times as world number one and has a Gold Medal at the Athens Olympics.
Key achievements
Singles
Australian Open x 1
French Open x 4
US Open x 2
Statistics
(Wins-Loses)
Singles: 523-115
Weeks at #1: 117
9. Martina Hingis
Martina Hingis is still the youngest Grand Slam singles champion in the Open Era, winning the 1997 Australian Open at 16 years and 117 days old. She is the youngest Wimbledon champion ever and won almost every major title in singles and doubles tennis, only missing the French Open singles title.
Injury blighted her career in which she retired twice before coming back both times and having a majorly successful doubles career again after her second return. She was the youngest ever World Number One and the highest-paid female athlete in the world for five consecutive years, from 1997 to 2001.
Key achievements
Singles
Australian Open x 3
Wimbledon x 3
US Open x 3
Doubles women
Australian Open x 5
French Open x 2
Wimbledon x 3
US Open x 3
Doubles mixed
Australian Open x 2
French Open x 1
Wimbledon x 2
Us Open x 2
Statistics
(Wins-Loses)
Singles: 548-135
Doubles Women: 490-110
Doubles Mixed: 54-12
Weeks at #1: 209
8. Venus Williams
The older of the two Williams sisters, Venus Williams is the only person on this list who is still playing as of writing. Venus became the first African-American woman in the open era to reach world number one in February 2002 and the second of all time after Althea Gibson.
In her career, she has won seven Grand Slam titles, has an Olympic gold medal and has won all the Grand Slam women’s doubles titles. Off-court, Venus and her sister ushered in a new era of tennis with their emergence, changing the athleticism of the women's game and acting as an icon for many. Venus is second on the list of all-time women's earnings after her sister.
Key achievements
Singles
Wimbledon x 5
US Open x 2
Doubles women
Australian Open x 1
French Open x 1
Wimbledon x 6
US Open x 2
Doubles mixed
Australian Open x 1
French Open x 1
Statistics
(Wins-Loses)
Singles: 818-278
Doubles Women: 185-38
Doubles Mixed: 28-8
Weeks at #1: 11
7. Billie Jean King
Billie Jean King was a dominant player on the court and a pioneer off it. Overall she won 39 Grand Slam titles in doubles and singles and was a champion for equality in tennis.
She was a founding member of the first women’s professional tour and famously won the 'Battle of the Sexes' tennis match against the 55-year-old Bobby Riggs in 1973.
She was instrumental in the campaign for equal prize money in the women's and men’s games that saw the 1973 US Open become the first major tournament to offer equal prize money for men and women.
Key achievements
Singles
Australian Open x 1
French Open x 1
Wimbledon x 6
US Open x 4
Doubles women
French Open x 1
Wimbledon x 10
US Open x 5
Doubles mixed
Australian Open x 1
French Open x 2
Wimbledon x 4
US Open x 4
Statistics
(Wins-Loses)
Singles: 695-155
Doubles Women: 87-37
Doubles Mixed: n/a
Weeks at #1: 221
6. Monica Seles
Before Martina Hingis stole the crown, Monica Seles was the youngest-ever major winner at 16. From 1990 to 1992 she was the most dominant player before her career was cut short when a fan stabbed the star on the court. In her short time at the top of the sport, Seles won 53 titles overall including nine Grand Slams - one of those coming after the stabbing.
Key achievements
Singles
Australian Open x 4
French Open x 3
US Open x 2
Statistics
(Wins-Loses)
Singles: 595-122
Weeks at #1: 178
5. Chris Evert
Chris Evert is considered one of the greatest tennis players ever due to her 18 Grand Slam titles and unmatched 90% career win rate - men or women - in singles tennis. She dominated the sport in the 1970s and 80s, revolutionising the women's game with her consistent baseline style, especially on clay, where she once had a 125-match win streak.
Her legendary rivalry with Martina Navratilova helped elevate the sport’s popularity. After her playing career, she remains a respected figure in the game through her commentary and mentorship.
Key achievements
Singles
Australian Open x 2
French Open x 7
Wimbledon x 3
US Open x 6
Doubles women
French Open x 2
Wimbledon x 1
Statistics
(Wins-Loses)
Singles: 1309-146
Weeks at #1: 260
4. Margaret Court
At the top of the tree with the most Grand Slam titles is Margaret Court. Her record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles is unmatched, and she is one of only three players to achieve a career ‘Boxed Set’ — winning the singles, doubles, and mixed doubles titles at all four Grand Slams.
Court dominated in both the amateur and Open eras, where she won 64 major titles overall. She will always be known for her powerful serve and athleticism being ahead of her time physically and tactically by incorporating weights and fitness training into her routine.
Key achievements
Singles
Australian Open x 11
French Open x 5
Wimbledon x 3
US Open x 5
Doubles women
Australian Open x 11
French Open x 5
Wimbledon x 3
US Open x 5
Doubles mixed
Australian Open x 8
French Open x 4
Wimbledon x 2
US Open x 5
Statistics
Career titles overall: 192 (92 during Open Era)
Weeks at #1: 202
3. Martina Navratilova
Another one of the three players to win a ‘Boxed Set’ is Martina Navratilova. She won 59 Grand Slam titles in total — including 18 in singles, 31 in doubles, and 10 in mixed doubles — the most combined major titles in history. She held the world number one ranking in singles for 332 weeks and in doubles for 237 weeks, making her the only player ever to top both rankings for over 200 weeks.
Her rivalry with Chris Evert pushed both players to new heights and helped elevate the sport globally. Beyond her stats, Navratilova also broke barriers as one of the first openly gay athletes and remains a powerful advocate for equality in sports.
Key achievements
Singles
Australian Open x 3
French Open x 2
Wimbledon x 9
US Open x 4
Doubles women
Australian Open x 8
French Open x 7
Wimbledon x 7
US Open x 9
Doubles mixed
Australian Open x 1
French Open x 2
Wimbledon x 4
US Open x 3
Statistics
(Wins-Loses)
Singles: 1442-219
Doubles Women: 747-143
Doubles Mixed: n/a
Weeks at #1: 332
2. Steffi Graff
Steffi Graff had a long and successful career. She is considered one of the greatest tennis players ever for her dominance across all surfaces. Graff won 22 Grand Slam singles titles, the most by any player in the Open Era until Serena Williams surpassed her, and, in 1988, she became the first Golden Slam champion — winning all four Grand Slams and Olympic gold— but what makes Graff special is that she is the only person to win the Golden Slam in a calendar year.
Graff also held the world number one ranking for 377 weeks, the longest in history for any player, male or female.
Key achievements
Singles
Australian Open x 4
French Open x 6
Wimbledon x 7
US Open x 5
Doubles women
Wimbledon x 1
Statistics
(Wins-Loses)
Singles: 900-115
Doubles Women: 173-72
Weeks at #1: 377
1. Serena Williams
Number one on the list of the 10 best female players of all time is Serena Williams. The most dominant woman of her era, Williams won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, the most in the Open Era, and 73 WTA singles titles overall.
Over three decades, Williams played competitive tennis and frequently returned to world number one after injuries, setbacks, and motherhood.
Her serve is considered one of the most powerful and effective in tennis history, and her mental toughness in high-stakes matches sets her apart.
Let alone her off-field impact as a Black woman in a predominantly white sport. She transcends the sport being an important figure in culture and fashion and an advocate for equality and empowerment.
Key achievements
Singles
Australian Open x 7
French Open x 3
Wimbledon x 7
US Open x 6
Doubles women
Australian Open x 4
French Open x 2
Wimbledon x 6
US Open x 2
Doubles mixed
Wimbledon x 1
US Open x 1
Statistics
(Wins-Loses)
Singles: 858-156
Doubles Women: 182-35
Doubles Mixed: 27-4
Honourable mentions: Best players in UK tennis history
Ann Haydon-Jones
One of the most successful UK tennis players, Ann Haydon-Jones won eight Grand Slam tennis championships in her career: three in singles, three in women's doubles, and two in mixed doubles. Playing in the same era as Billie Jean King and Margaret Court, Haydon-Jones had fierce competition but managed to show her greatness still.
Sue Barker
Sue Barker only won one Grand Slam singles title - the 1976 French Open - in her career but became a true icon after her playing career working for the BBC from 1993 to 2022. She became synonymous with tennis coverage in the UK among other shows on TV.
Virginia Wade
The most successful British woman of the Open Era, Virginia Wade, won three Grand Slam singles titles (two in the Open Era). She was ranked as high as world number two in the world in singles, and number one in the world in doubles - where she won four Grand Slam titles.
Emma Raducanu
Britain's most recent women’s singles Grand Slam Champion, Emma Radacanu, stormed onto the scene, winning the 2021 US Open at 19 years old. She became the first qualifier in the Open Era to win a Grand Slam singles title and did not drop a set during the tournament. Her career since has been blighted by injury, but her victory stateside will always be remembered.