The 10 Greatest Tennis Women's Players of All Time, Ranked

Serena Williams redefined what power looked like in women's tennis. Her serve, routinely exceeding 120 mph, became the most devastating weapon the women's game had ever seen. But it was her competitiv...

• ★23 Grand Slam singles titles (Open Era record)
• ★319 weeks as World No. 1
• ★Completed Career Golden Slam

Why #1: Tops the rankings thanks to elite peak performance. Career Golden Slam, Serena Slam, won Australian Open while pregnant

Martina Navratilova defected from Czechoslovakia at 18, leaving behind her family to pursue tennis freedom in the West. What followed was a career that rewrote every record book. Her serve-and-volley ...

• ★18 Grand Slam singles titles
• ★31 Grand Slam doubles titles
• ★10 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles

Why #2: Falls just behind Serena Williams but excels in longevity. 30+ years, singles titles across 21 years, doubles titles into her 40s

Billie Jean King's impact extends far beyond her 39 Grand Slam titles. She founded the Women's Tennis Association, fought for equal prize money, and changed how female athletes were valued. The 1973 "...

• ★12 Grand Slam singles titles
• ★39 Grand Slam titles across all events
• ★Founded Women's Tennis Association

Why #3: Falls just behind Martina Navratilova but excels in cultural impact. Battle of the Sexes, Title IX pioneer, WTA founder, equal pay — transformed sport

Chris Evert brought poker-faced precision to women's tennis, her two-handed backhand becoming the most reliable shot in the sport's history. The 90% career winning percentage speaks to a consistency t...

• ★18 Grand Slam singles titles
• ★260 weeks as World No. 1
• ★90% career winning percentage

Why #4: Falls just behind Billie Jean King but excels in longevity. 17 years (1972-89). Consistent excellence over nearly two decades

Margaret Court compiled numbers that still stagger the imagination. The 24 Grand Slam singles titles remain the all-time record, achieved across both the amateur and Open eras. Her 64 total Grand Slam...

• ★24 Grand Slam singles titles (all-time record)
• ★Completed Career Grand Slam
• ★64 Grand Slam titles across all events

Why #5: Falls just behind Chris Evert but excels in statistics. 24 Grand Slam singles (all-time record), 64 total Slam titles — unmatched volume

Venus Williams arrived first, blazing the trail that Serena would follow. Her serve was the weapon that changed women's tennis - 129 mph at Wimbledon 2008 remains one of the fastest ever recorded by a...

• ★7 Grand Slam singles titles
• ★5 Wimbledon titles
• ★14 Grand Slam doubles titles with Serena

Why #6: Falls just behind Margaret Court but excels in strength of competition. Had to beat the GOAT (Serena) + Henin, Clijsters, Sharapova — deepest era

Steffi Graf achieved something no tennis player has ever matched: the Golden Slam, winning all four Grand Slam tournaments plus Olympic gold in a single calendar year. Her 1988 season stands as perhap...

• ★22 Grand Slam singles titles
• ★377 weeks as World No. 1 (record for WTA)
• ★Only Golden Slam winner (1988)

Why #7: Falls just behind Venus Williams but excels in peak performance. 1988 Calendar Golden Slam: all 4 Slams + Olympic gold — unique in history

Monica Seles played tennis with a ferocity that rewrote what was possible for a teenager. Her two-handed grips on both sides created thudding groundstrokes that drove opponents backward, and her aggre...

• ★9 Grand Slam singles titles
• ★178 weeks as World No. 1
• ★Youngest French Open champion (16)

Why #8: Falls just behind Steffi Graf but excels in peak performance. 8 of 12 Slams from age 16-19, most dominant pre-injury stretch ever

Evonne Goolagong Cawley played tennis with a fluidity that earned her the nickname "Sunshine Super Girl." The first Indigenous Australian to win a Grand Slam, she grew up in the small town of Barellan...

• ★7 Grand Slam singles titles
• ★4 consecutive Australian Open titles (1974-77)
• ★2 Wimbledon titles (1971, 1980)

Why #9: Falls just behind Monica Seles but excels in longevity. 15-year career (1968-83), won Wimbledon 9 years apart

Justine Henin proved that in an era of power, elegance could still triumph. Her one-handed backhand, hit with perfect technique and disguised with subtle changes of grip, became the most beautiful sho...

• ★7 Grand Slam singles titles
• ★117 weeks as World No. 1
• ★4 French Open titles

Why #10: Falls just behind Evonne Goolagong Cawley but excels in strength of competition. Beat Serena, Venus, Clijsters, Sharapova — competed in deepest era

How Rankings Change Under Different Philosophies

GOAT rankings depend on what you value. Here is the top 3 under each preset: