Most watchable women tennis players in open era

[Condoleezza]

Who were the most watchable female tennis players since 1968?
Elegance, power, point construction - simply a joy to watch?

Most people who have seen all the great players of the open era would say Steffi Graf of course. But there are a lot of others, maybe not as graceful as Fraulein Forehand but similar interesting to watch.

My list would look like this:

1. Graf
2. Henin
3. Goolagong
4. Mandlikova
5. Navratilova
6. Sabatini
7. V. Williams
8. Court
9. Hingis
10. S. Williams

What do you think?

Condi

 

[Steven87]

Sabatini has some genius form, so I'll go for her instead of Graf. Graf did have a tremendous defensive game tho

 

[slack hack]

Hana Mandlikova for her beautiful inventive shotmaking.
She has to be one of the most gifted players ever.

Goolagong for her graceful flowing tennis.

Sabatini, I think's a bit underrated, regarding her talent by the general public but certainly not by her peers. I saw her once hit a perfectly feathered and placed dropshot off a 100+ mph first serve....good stuff

Natalia Zvereva just unbelievable hands beautiful strokes. Could hit any shot in the book. Only female player I
remember who could switch from a two hand topspin bh two a one hander, during a match, and nail it...fun stuff

Nowadays I enjoy watching Mauresmo and, grudgingly,
"the hand".

 

[Marat Safinator]

graff, hingis, evert, davenport, sabatini and navratilova

 

[BigServer1]

N/A N/A 10 char

 

[Steven87]

I would keep both of the williams sisters of the list mainly because you asked about WOMEN tennis players. They are grunting men in dresses. BTW, i only watch sharapova on mute. The rest of the list looks good though.

So....know tennis much?

 

[Marat Safinator]

I would keep both of the williams sisters of the list mainly because you asked about WOMEN tennis players. They are grunting men in dresses. BTW, i only watch sharapova on mute. The rest of the list looks good though.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA YOUR THE MAN!!!!

 

[BigServer1]

sorry...maybe i should try to make my sarcasm more obvious in my posts...no offense intended to williams' fans.

 

[BigServer1]

they are great players. just not my cup of tea.

 

[Arafel]

I never have seen footage of Court play. My list would go:

1) Evert
2) Graf
3) Navratilova
4) Sabatini
5) Sanchez-Vicario
6) Mauresmo
7) Goolagong
8) Capriati
9) Hingis
10) Austin

 

[No Ace No Glory]

I've never seen live tennis before 1992/3, but by the 3 criteria of 'power' + 'elegance' + 'point construction,' I'd have to say that the following players don't fit in, though they are good to watch:

Hingis (excellent point construction, elegant, very little power)
Williams' (massive power, clever tactics, but NO elegance)
Davenport (same as the above, though Lindsay does have more fluid groundstrokes)
Navratilova (sure she fits in with 2 of the criteria, but was her play ever elegant? I find it pretty hard to call any power playing serve-and-volleyer, particularly on the women's tour, 'elegant.' Her shots seemed natural, but not exactly graceful, especially in comparison to Chris Evert).

Please bear in mind this is pretty subjective stuff, and my knowledge of the game prior to '92/3 is based purely on highlights of classic matches. It's purely a matter of opinion and so every post is valid, and there are no 'right' or 'wrong' lists of players.

IMO you've gotta place down the top 2 women's players to watch as:

1. Steffi Graff
2. Justine Henin-Hardenne

And then I'd say you could throw in the likes of Sanchez-Vicario, Evert, Sabatini and Mauresmo (in no particular order).

IMO Kim Clijsters and Patty Schnyder play some exciting and creative tennis, though they don't quite match the others already mentioned in all 3 criteria. :mrgreen:

 

[baros]

are you crazy no mauresmo.
________
Honda RA106 history

 

[unjugon]

I like watching Hingis way more than an other WTA player.

 

[FiveO]

chronologically:

1) Court (overall athleticism)
2) King (textbook transitions and volleys)
3) Evert (unfathomable pace, depth and consistency in contrast to King and Court's style)
4) Goolagong (a sometimes befuddling joy to watch, like a butterfly in movement and mind/walkabouts)
5) Navratilova (the imposing and intimidating force she chiselled from a pudgy, erratic, always on an emotional thread teen)
6) Graf (just amazing from day one, awesome athlete and a classy champion)
7) Hingis (a true all-courter and a world class tennis mind)
8) Capriati (brat, but you couldn't deny the fighter in her and her rise from the trash bin)
9) JHH (aside from Hingis the most variety in a woman's game in a while)
10) Molik (it was nice to see s&v in a skirt again)

 

[MT120]

Like, or dislike there games, or attitudes there is no doubt that Venus and Serena have done more for the sport of tennis than any other women in the era, and they could be on par with a lot of men. When they where on top they attracted just as much attention as fed does now.

 

[Polaris]

chronologically:

1) Court (overall athleticism)
2) King (textbook transitions and volleys)
3) Evert (unfathomable pace, depth and consistency in contrast to King and Court's style)
4) Goolagong (a sometimes befuddling joy to watch, like a butterfly in movement and mind/walkabouts)
5) Navratilova (the imposing and intimidating force she chiselled from a pudgy, erratic, always on an emotional thread teen)
6) Graf (just amazing from day one, awesome athlete and a classy champion)
7) Hingis (a true all-courter and a world class tennis mind)
8) Capriati (brat, but you couldn't deny the fighter in her and her rise from the trash bin)
9) JHH (aside from Hingis the most variety in a woman's game in a while)
10) Molik (it was nice to see s&v in a skirt again)

Perfect. Just so.
My post of the day.

 

[AndrewD]

In no particular order, for elegance, point construction, athleticism and power (assuming all are required in the same package):
Mandlikova
Evert
Sabatini
Goolagong
Navratilova
Hingis
King
Henin
Zvereva
Mauresmo