Top 15 woman tennis players of the open era

[tennisfan911]

Who are the top 15 open era woman tennis players over the last 54 years or so.

1)
Martina Navratilova

2) Serena Williams

3) Steffi Graff

4) Chris Evert

5) Margaret Court

6) Billy Jean King

7) Monica Seles

8) Evonne Goolagong

9) Venus Williams

10) Justin Henin

11) Arantxa Sánchez Vicario

12) Martina Hingis

13) Maria Sharapova

14) Kim Clijsters

15) Hana Mandlikova

That's my list, what yours?

Only count open era titles,stats,etc. So no pre-era stats allowed.

 

[Hoi Polloi]

1) Steffi Graf

2) Margaret Court

3) Martina Navratillova

4) Serena Wiliams

5) Chris Evert

6) Justine Henin

7) Billie Jean Kingg

8) Monica Selles

9) Venus Wiliams

10) Evonne Goolagong

11) Martina Hingis

12) Hana Mandlikova

13) Arantxa Sanchez

14) Iga Swiatek

15) Gabriela Sabatini

 

[thrust]

Open era only applies to Men's tennis, as there was NO Women's Pro Tour before 1968. Whatever, Henin should be above Venus and especially Goolagong.

 

[Tennfan123]

Court
Graf
Navratilova
Evert
Seles
S Williams
BjK
Goolagong
Henin
Hingis
V Williams
Sanchez Vicario
Mandlikova
Capriati
Sabatini

 

[martinezownsclay]

1. Serena
2. Graf
3. Court
4. Evert
5. Navratilova
6. King
7. Venus
8. Seles
9. Henin
10. Hingis
11. Goolagong
12. Sharapova
13. Clijsters
14. Davenport
15. Capriati or Mandlikova

 

[martinezownsclay]

1) Steffi Graf

2) Margaret Court

3) Martina Navratillova

4) Serena Wiliams

5) Chris Evert

6) Justine Henin

7) Billie Jean Kingg

8) Monica Selles

9) Venus Wiliams

10) Evonne Goolagong

11) Martina Hingis

12) Hana Mandlikova

13) Arantxa Sanchez

14) Iga Swiatek

15) Gabriela Sabatini

Swiatek top 15 already? Interesting. I do think she is a certainty to be there eventually, but I wouldn't have her there now.

 

[THUNDERVOLLEY]

Top female players in tennis history--as it is only one history:

The GOAT--

Court, Graf and Connolly.

The Best of the Rest--

Serena above all others in this category by considerable distance.




She is followed by the likes of Navratilova, Evert, King, Seles, Venus, et al.

14) Iga Swiatek

What? She's not not even top 15 of this century, let alone of the the open era or of all time.

 

[Scott_tennis]

Open era only applies to Men's tennis, as there was NO Women's Pro Tour before 1968. Whatever, Henin should be above Venus and especially Goolagong.

There were a few scattered women's tours prior to 1968:

1926-27 Suzanne Lenglen vs Mary K Browne

1936 Ethel Burkhardt Arnold vs Jane Sharp
Part of tour with Bill Tilden and Bruce Barnes

1941 Alice Marble vs Mary Hardwick (Hare)
Part of tour with Bill Tilden and Don Budge
[Also short 1947 series]

1947-48 Pauline Betz (Addie) vs Sarah Palfrey Cooke

1950-51 Pauline Betz (Addie) vs Gussie Moran
Part of tour with Jack Kramer and Pancho Segura

1959 Althea Gibson vs Karol Fageros
In conjunction with Harlem Globetrotters tour

 

[martinezownsclay]

Why on earth is this not on the "Former" Pro Player section, LOL!

 

[Kiam]

I base my opinion on….tournaments won, total matches won, weeks at number one, weeks in top 2 or 3, career winning percentage, Grand Slams won, finals reached, all around success at grand slams, other considerations.

So the list reads):
1) Martina N
2) Chrissie
3) Steffi
4) Margaret
5) Serena,
6)Monica Seles
7)Billie Jean
8)Justine
9) Venus
10)Evonne
11)Martina H
12) Maria
13) Lindsay
14) Arantxa
15) Kim.
Serena won about 60 percent of the matches that Martina N did. Her career winning percentage is the lowest of the top five. She won only about half as many tournaments as Martina or Chris. She won 23 slams, but Chris and Martina each won 18, but SKIPPED ten (French and Australian) at their absolute primes, when they were the odds on favorites to win the title. Despite that, each of them reached more slam finals, more semis, and more quarters than Serena, who took several early exits from slams (first 3 rounds), and they never did. Steffi won 22 slams, and retired at 30 while still a major contender….Serena played on into her 40s, and won most of her slams in her 30s. Serena won 80 percent of the time in her 20s, but almost 90 percent in her 30s. She had a poor coach, until she hired Mortagalou in her 30s.

 

[thrust]

There were a few scattered women's tours prior to 1968:

1926-27 Suzanne Lenglen vs Mary K Browne

1936 Ethel Burkhardt Arnold vs Jane Sharp
Part of tour with Bill Tilden and Bruce Barnes

1941 Alice Marble vs Mary Hardwick (Hare)
Part of tour with Bill Tilden and Don Budge
[Also short 1947 series]

1947-48 Pauline Betz (Addie) vs Sarah Palfrey Cooke

1950-51 Pauline Betz (Addie) vs Gussie Moran
Part of tour with Jack Kramer and Pancho Segura

1959 Althea Gibson vs Karol Fageros
In conjunction with Harlem Globetrotters tour

The only tour of any significance was the Betz-Cooke in 47. Though Betz was still a top player, Cook was past her peak. The other tours were with players past their peak or low ranked players.

 

[PDJ]

Post 1968
Top Tier chronologically
Court
Evert
Navratilova
Graf
Williams

Then a host of others a tier below.

 

[martinezownsclay]

Post 1968
Top Tier chronologically
Court
Evert
Navratilova
Graf
Williams

Then a host of others a tier below.

I would consider counting Seles in the first tier just because it is fairly likely she is at atleast 18 slams without the stabbing, but not sure if others feel the same way about that. Not looking to ignite a Graf/Seles fan war, just that I feel both belong first tier.

 

[thrust]

I would consider counting Seles in the first tier just because it is fairly likely she is at atleast 18 slams without the stabbing, but not sure if others feel the same way about that. Not looking to ignite a Graf/Seles fan war, just that I feel both belong first tier.

I AGREE! Several more slams, at least.

 

[PDJ]

I would consider counting Seles in the first tier just because it is fairly likely she is at atleast 18 slams without the stabbing, but not sure if others feel the same way about that. Not looking to ignite a Graf/Seles fan war, just that I feel both belong first tier.

And you can count her in your list. I certainly wouldn't take issue. She just doesn't make my Top Tier List.
PS I have no horse in the Graf/Seles debate.

 

[martinezownsclay]

And you can count her in your list. I certainly wouldn't take issue. She just doesn't make my Top Tier List.
PS I have no horse in the Graf/Seles debate.

Fair enough. I do think it is fairly clear she would belong on the first tier (not neccessarily be the GOAT) had the stabbing not occured, and to those who she isn't, or if she isn't, it is only due to the tragic stabbing. However ranking and judging players even partly by what ifs is a dangerous can of worms, but her case is also unique and almost unprecedented, and different from say the what ifs without bad luck of injury and other such things.

 

[Kiam]

Post 1968
Top Tier chronologically
Court
Evert
Navratilova
Graf
Williams
Then a host of others a tier below.

 

[Bride of Alcaraz]

When i watch videos of past greats, its very clear, peak Hingis is the greatest woman tennis player of all-time

 

[thrust]

When i watch videos of past greats, its very clear, peak Hingis is the greatest woman tennis player of all-time

TOTAL NONSENSE! Perhaps that was that supposed to be a joke?

 

[PDJ]

When i watch videos of past greats, its very clear, peak Hingis is the greatest woman tennis player of all-time

She was certainly a joy to watch, especially doubles.