Top 10 WTA Players (Singles) of the Open Era based on Accomplishments

[SonicSpeed]

Same thing like with the men, now only for the women. Top 10 women in Open Era based on mainly singles achievements. What would your list be???

1.) Navratilova (18 slams, 6 slams in a row at one point, very many titles, still playing competitive tennis today)
2.) Graf (just behind, 22 slams, Golden Slam in '88, 8 years ending #1)
3.) Evert (18 slams, very many slam finals, had 120+ winning streak on clay..)
4.) Court (24 slams, 11 at the AO, held the Grand Slam in '70)
5.) King (12 slams)
6.) Seles (9 slams, dominant couple years as #1 player)
7.) Serena (7 slams, held all 4 slams at once)
8.) Goolagong (7 slams)
9.) Hingis (5 slams, 3 of 4 in 1997)
10.) Sanchez-Vicario (4 slams, many slam finals)


Of course this list is subject to change to a few years from now. lol

 

[backhander]

you forgot Hingis....doesn't she have like 5 slams, and won 3 out of 4 one year, and reaching the final of the other?

 

[AndrewD]

SonicSpeed, I guess when you add the condition of 'the open era' it diminishes Court's record somewhat. However, as a dominant figure I would put her ahead of the others for the sheer reason that she won 3 of the 4 major titles on 5 separate occassions, including her Grand Slam year of 1970. Actually, from the US Open in 69 to the Australian in 1970 she won, not 4 in a row but 6. She missed on Wimbledon in 69 but won the French so that gives her 7 or 8 in two years.

I know you can't compare players of different generations and I'd never make a claim for any one being the 'best'. However, I have a hard time seeing anyone as more dominant than Court.

Imagine how good she would have been if they'd let her play tennis left-handed which is what she naturally is.

 

[SonicSpeed]

you forgot Hingis....doesn't she have like 5 slams, and won 3 out of 4 one year, and reaching the final of the other?

Oops you're right she slipped my mind at that moment. Edited!

 

[SonicSpeed]

SonicSpeed, I guess when you add the condition of 'the open era' it diminishes Court's record somewhat. However, as a dominant figure I would put her ahead of the others for the sheer reason that she won 3 of the 4 major titles on 5 separate occassions, including her Grand Slam year of 1970. Actually, from the US Open in 69 to the Australian in 1970 she won, not 4 in a row but 6. She missed on Wimbledon in 69 but won the French so that gives her 7 or 8 in two years.

I know you can't compare players of different generations and I'd never make a claim for any one being the 'best'. However, I have a hard time seeing anyone as more dominant than Court.

Imagine how good she would have been if they'd let her play tennis left-handed which is what she naturally is.

Good point, I had thought about it actually but IMO she belongs at #4 since most of her slams were on grass. Think how much Martina N. (and other players too) would have won if 3 of 4 were on grass...

 

[wildbill88AA]

based on singles only, i would reverse steffi and martina. steffi 8 #1's martina 7. steffi more slams, and the grand slam. steffi would have won more had she played longer, as well(but motherhood, unlike martina, happen to be one of her prioritys).

 

[Steve Huff]

Based on accomplishments, you'd have to put Margaret Court at the top. She was left-handed, but she was taught to play tennis right-handed. Can you imagine how good she might have been as a lefty, her dominant hand.

 

[AndrewD]

Scary thought isn't it Steve. Makes you wonder what the hell they were thinking out here in Australia as Ken Rosewall was also a natural left-hander. Also Maureen Connolly from the States I believe.

I dont think that Court having won so much on grass should be used to place her lower on the list. Navratilova won 12 of her 18 singles on grass with only 2 wins on clay. Court won the French 5 times when it was the only other surface at a major and I find it very, very hard to believe she wouldn't have done just as well on hard courts.

Plus there is one particularly impressive thing about Court's career that none of the other women can say. She won major titles after having had a child. It's not the sort of stat that is ever included but I personally can't think of much more impressive than that.

Possibly the only more impressive part is that she won the French in 73 while pregnant, then came back after giving birth to win the US Open and Aus Opens (also in 73).

Now that is what I call tough.

 

[wildbill88AA]

margaret court at #1? how many years was she ranked #1 for the year? 11 ao's? but was that in an era when the top players didn't play "down under"?

 

[Andy Zarzuela]

Based on accomplishments, you'd have to put Margaret Court at the top. She was left-handed, but she was taught to play tennis right-handed. Can you imagine how good she might have been as a lefty, her dominant hand.

I have that same problem....I am a lefty, but was taught to play right handed...I am a pretty good player at 4.5-5.0.....maybe I could be pro if I learned left-handed. Maybe if I don't get a college scholarship to play tennis anywhere, that's probably what I'll do....Who knows how good I can get...
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Chevrolet 210 Specifications

 

[AndrewD]

Andy Zarzuela, its still quite impressive to do well playing with your non-preferred hand. Apparently the biggest problem Court and Rosewall had was on serve. She could never get enough spin on it and he just didnt have a big serve. Both said it was the one thing that never felt truly natural to them. You have any problems like that ?

wildbill88AA, apart from her first two Aus Opens she was always competing against the likes of King, Goolagong, Wade and the rest of the top players. Once she became the top player all the others came here as they figured the only was to be no.1 was to beat her on her home court. Regardless, I think she was one of those people who need to feel comfortable somewhere in order to win. Im pretty sure if she'd been born in the States she'd have won the US Open 11 times.

Its really just speculation isn't it. If we go purely by the records one person is 'best', if we go by other criteria someone else gets the nod. Personally I put Court, Navratilova and Evert above Graf purely because I feel that the competition was tougher. Court had King as her nemesis (as well as Goolagong, Bueno and Wade), Navratilova had Evert (plus Austin for a short time and Mandlikova), Graf had ? Her dominance dropped when Seles came on the scene. Prior to that she had players over the hill or those not up to scratch. But her record is better than Evert and Martina. So who do you pick?

A champion in one generation will be a champion in any generation. I think rankings are overrated and its probably better to say, 'here's the best of the best, in no particular order'.

 

[Andy Zarzuela]

Andy Zarzuela, its still quite impressive to do well playing with your non-preferred hand. Apparently the biggest problem Court and Rosewall had was on serve. She could never get enough spin on it and he just didnt have a big serve. Both said it was the one thing that never felt truly natural to them. You have any problems like that ?

wildbill88AA, apart from her first two Aus Opens she was always competing against the likes of King, Goolagong, Wade and the rest of the top players. Once she became the top player all the others came here as they figured the only was to be no.1 was to beat her on her home court. Regardless, I think she was one of those people who need to feel comfortable somewhere in order to win. Im pretty sure if she'd been born in the States she'd have won the US Open 11 times.

Its really just speculation isn't it. If we go purely by the records one person is 'best', if we go by other criteria someone else gets the nod. Personally I put Court, Navratilova and Evert above Graf purely because I feel that the competition was tougher. Court had King as her nemesis (as well as Goolagong, Bueno and Wade), Navratilova had Evert (plus Austin for a short time and Mandlikova), Graf had ? Her dominance dropped when Seles came on the scene. Prior to that she had players over the hill or those not up to scratch. But her record is better than Evert and Martina. So who do you pick?

A champion in one generation will be a champion in any generation. I think rankings are overrated and its probably better to say, 'here's the best of the best, in no particular order'.

Yes, in fact I do. My serve has never felt natural to me. My average 1st serve speed is 96-105, but I've always had trouble with my service motion. My backhand is my superior shot that never breaks down and can pinpoint all my winners from it. My forehand is quite powerful, but breaks down alot and is not near as precise. If I had 2 backhands, I'd easily be a 5.5 player or even better. I've tried serving left handed, it felt surprisingly natural even though it'll take years to develop pop in my lefty serve, my service motion is much more natural. I can do the Sharapova like tactic and switch hands when stretch out wide, and my technique on my left forehand looks SO much more natural and smoother than my righty forehand which has quite a few technical problems. I regret not starting tennis with my left hand, but that's the hand my dad put the racquet when I was young...
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[Camilio Pascual]

Good point, I had thought about it actually but IMO she belongs at #4 since most of her slams were on grass. Think how much Martina N. (and other players too) would have won if 3 of 4 were on grass...

When she played, 3 of the 4 Majors and many other tournaments were played on grass, I do not see what you mean by that.

Based upon singles accomplishments here is my list of the Top 10 Women (not players) with the primary reason:

1. Evert: Lifetime .900 winning percentage.
2. Graf: Only person to win each Major at least 4 times.
3. Navratilova: 18 Majors, often having to face Chris Evert.
4. Coetzer: A very long career from a very small woman who rose as high as #3.
5. Venus Williams: The best tennis I've ever seen played by a woman, which occurred during the summers of 2000 and 2001.
6. Hingis: An exhibition of what intelligence, a weak serve, and impeccable technique can accomplish.
7. Seles: One of the first to play Big Babe tennis. I think she has "just" 8 Majors.
8. Court: Grand Slam winner.
9. Serena Williams: Grand Slam winner.
10. ???

 

[MARK ANDERS]

My Take On The Wta

1. Who Cares
2. Womens Tennis Sucks
3. Who Cares
4. Womens Tennis Blows
5. Who Cares
6. Slow Moving
7. Who Cares
8.greatest Woman Of All Time Would Get Smoked By Top College Boy
9.no Power/skill
10. Wta=wnba W H O C A R E S-it Sucks!!!!!!!!!!

 

[wildbill88AA]

1. anna kournikova
2. maria sharapova
3. ashley harkleford
4. elena bovina
5. gabriella sabatini
6. tatiana Golovin.
7. carling basset
8. steffi graf
9. jolene dokic
10. chris evert

 

[thrust]

margaret court at #1? how many years was she ranked #1 for the year? 11 ao's? but was that in an era when the top players didn't play "down under"?

According to Bud Collins book Court was ranked #1 seven times in her career. She won 190 total tournaments, had a winning H-H vs All her top competition. All this despite not playing at all in 67 and half or 71and 72, due to pregnancy. Also, she had the highest winning % of any player from 1961 till now.