Tennis is one of the few sports where female competitions receive as much, if not more, attention than male tournaments. As a result, many female tennis players are known across the globe. But who is the best female tennis player of all time? A question that’s a bit tricky to answer, but not impossible. If we compare the number of Grand Slams and weeks at the No. 1 spot, along with head-to-head records, we can get a pretty good idea of how good someone is.
We should also note that the game and even tennis gear have evolved over time, as well as the approach to training. So, while a lot of modern players are better than athletes from previous generations, it’s safe to assume that older players would perform way better if they were born in today’s age. Now that we have established some ground rules, let’s see who is the best female tennis player ever.
Fan Engagement Between Major Tournaments
Fans often love to compare the greatest women’s tennis player of all time by comparing their titles, matchups, win-loss records, and their performance against major rivals. These debates tend to happen during matches since they last up to four hours, or even more. In Hungary, tennis fans also love to play at Weiss casino during breaks, as it’s a nice way to pass the time. It’s a site that’s great to check out during breaks, since they process deposits and withdrawals instantly, and many of their casino games are fast-paced.
As far as debates go, the number of Grand Slam titles is usually the best way to measure one’s athletic prowess. So, we will heavily use it in our rating as well.
Top Contenders for Greatest Women’s Tennis Players of All Time
For the purpose of this analysis, we’ve taken names that consistently appear on top 10 female tennis players of all time lists and compared them across different categories.
| Player Name | Grand Slam Singles | Weeks at No. 1 | Win-Loss Record | Career Span | Era Dominance Score |
| Serena Williams | 23 | 319 | 858–156 (84.6% win rate) | 27 years | 2010-2019 |
| Steffi Graf | 22 | 377 | 279–32 (88.7% win rate) | 17 years | 1988–1990 |
| Martina Navratilova | 18 | 332 weeks | 1,442–219 (86.82% win rate) | 40 | 1982 and 1986 |
| Margaret Court | 24 | Data not available | 1,180–107 (92% win rate) | 18 | 1969–1973 |
| Chris Evert | 18 | 260 | 1309–146 (89.97% win rate) | 20 | 1974–1976 |
Serena Williams – Widely Considered Top Women’s Tennis Player of All Time
While there is no doubt Serena is one of the most famous female tennis players in history, and a clear top performer in the modern era, some older fans of the sport don’t regard her as the GOAT. With 23 Grand Slams, an ability to stay in the game for almost three decades, and a 19-12 record against her sister and rival Venus Williams, it’s hard not to regard the opinion of naysayers as pure bias. She dominated in the era where tennis is way more inclusive and competitive, so it’s hard not to consider her No. 1 out of all time best female tennis players.
Steffi Graf – All-Surface Mastery
This is another strong contender despite having one Grand Slam title fewer than Serena. She has spent significantly more time at the number one spot, and percentage-wise has a better win rating. However, Serena managed to maintain her dominance for 10 years longer. Now, one thing Graf has going for her is the ability to constantly dominate on all surfaces, and she is the only woman to win six Grand Slams on Grass, Clay, and Hard terrain.
Era-by-Era Comparison Table
Comparing all time best female tennis players based on their achievements isn’t exactly fair. The competition has undergone format changes over the past decades, and these factors should be taken into account as well.
| Era | Top Player | Competition Depth | Average Career Length | Historical Context |
| Pre-Open | Margaret Court, Helen Wills Moody | Only top players competed, and it was easier to qualify | 12.1 years | This was the era when pros never competed against amateurs, and amateurs were rarely compensated for playing |
| Early Open | Margaret Court, Chris Evert, and Martina Navratilova | More competitive than Pre-Open | 10–12 years | The major shift happened in this period (1968–1975), as amateurs and pros could now compete against each other |
| Modern | Serena Williams, Steffi Graf | Significantly higher and more physically demanding | 15-16 years | The competition standards have been elevated. Even top players lose to someone who ranks below the top 20. |
| Current | Aryna Sabalenka,Elena Rybakina Iga Swiatek, | High-depth landscape packed with veteran players and fast-rising stars | 14.2 years | We are currently witnessing competition with incredibly talented players. Even lower ranking athletes are better than women tennis greats of pre and early open eras. |
With all of these things in mind it’s a bit clearer why the top contenders are Serena and Steffi. Now Serena has won 73% of her Grand Slam finals, while Steffi won 77%, which is another reason why there is a split within the fan and expert community over who should be considered the best women’s tennis players of all time.
Final Assessment
The divide among fans and experts will continue to persist on this question. It doesn’t help that Serena and Steffi played against one another two times, and the score is tied (1-1). Since both competed in the modern era, it seems fair to compare them based on raw numbers, and those are in Steffi’s favour. She held the number 1 spot for longer, she won all four Grand Slams and an Olympic gold medal in the same year, and has greater field consistency.
Now it wouldn’t be fair to overlook career longevity where Serena leads by a whole 10 years, and is way above the era’s average. So, it’s fully justified to answer this question based on personal criteria, and for the majority of fans, the title of the top women’s tennis players of all time should go to Serena.