Who do you consider the top 15 woman players of the open era?

tennisfan911

New User
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) Hana Mandlikova

15) Kim Clijsters


That is my list, how would you historically rank based on 1968 - present?
 

martinezownsclay

Hall of Fame
Seles ahead of Court is batshit crazy. Even the what if for the stabbing which is flawed principle to begin with anyway, would never be enough considering Seles never wins even close to 24 singles slams even without the stabbing. Let alone atleast 3 majors at all the slams (imagine Seles winning Wimbledon 3 times without the stabbing, ROTFL) and Court has her amazing doubles career too.
 

martinezownsclay

Hall of Fame
My rankings:

1. Serena/Graf- I go back on forth on the two.

3. Court- although I thought of putting her #1, particularly factoring her doubles, but I know that would case an eruption here.

4. Navratilova- I thought of putting Evert over her but gave Navratilova the edge mainly just for her doubles.

5. Evert

6. Billie Jean King

7. Venus- Have her over Seles and Henin mainly for her doubles. That plus her 9-1 head to head with Seles in singles, 5 Wimbledons to Seles's 0, and when you add in her doubles and Olympic achievements, it is hard to not put her over Seles, despite that Seles had the overall better singles career still.

8. Seles

9. Henin

10. Bueno- I think she is clearly better than Goolagong. 3 or 4 years considered the #1. 7 titles at the 2 most important tournaments then to only 2 for Goolagong. I think some will wind up ranking Goolagong over Bueno which is crazy.

11. Hingis- Considering 4 of Goolagong's slams were Australian Opens, and all Hingis's time at #1, I think her singles career is even clearly superior to Goolagong's, and with doubles she easily ranks ahead. Goolagong wouldn't achieve what Hingis did in any era. I thought of putting Hingis over Bueno, but decided against it.

12. Goolagong- Very talented, beautiful to watch, but lacked either the firepower, consistency or mental strength to ever be even a semi dominant player. At best she would be an interim biggest rival to the dominant player like she was for 2 years or so for Evert when Court/King were super old/retired and before Navratilova got stronger. Evert herself said she was kind of an inferior version of Mandlikova, even though due to her record she is greater than Hana, but tennis wise that was her view. As noted above 4 of her 7 singles slams were Australian Opens which was a nothing slam back then. If Court is docked for that, Goolagong who was never a dominant player like Court certainly has to be. Worst of all though only 2 weeks at #1, which pales compared to some women I still have behind her.

13. Sharapova- Honestly objectively she should probably be over Evonne, but I love Evonne and hate Maria, so this might be my one ranking where some bias comes into play. Evonne did have some success in doubles too though, unlike Maria, and since I have been consistent factoring in doubles, that is another factor, when the singles are still fairly close. Still with her Career Slam and 5 legit slams, and some time at #1 (never sustained) she probably had a better singles career than Evonne.

14. Davenport- Thought of putting her both behind Clijlsters, above Sharapova, and also above Goolagong due to her 4 YE#1s which are impressive, even if atleast 2 of them are kind of joke-ish subjectively speaking. Only 3 singles majors though. Really thought of putting her over Maria due to her doubles, but honestly her doubles career while good is nowhere near dominant like some of these others, so that still wasn't enough, nor all her time at #1. If she won 1 more major would probably rise her to #12, or maybe even #11 considering how much she owned Hingis head to head wise, but it is what it is.

15. Clijsters- Thought of putting her higher, but honestly despite having 1 more major than Davenport, a legacy at the US Open, one of the most impressive comebacks from retirement, and unlike a Maria some good doubles, it isn't enough to put her higher.

Honorable mentions- Sanchez Vicario, Mandlikova, Osaka, Barty

Sanchez Vicario- Her career IMO is tainted even more by the Seles stabbing than Graf. And I just don't think playing level wise she is good enough. Overachieved to win 4 slams. And was never even a semi dominant player really, not even in her best year ever in 1994 where she probably deserved the YE#1 instead of Graf.

Mandlikova- Just didn't achieve enough either. 4 majors, and a lot of other very good performances in majors she didn't win, but inconsistent on regular tour and for periods in slams where she also posted some stretches of awful showings, and 2 of those were Australian Opens when it was still not a fully legit slam. Even the 2nd she beat Navratilova to win it, both Evert and Graf (2 major contenders, who both would have had huge chances to beat her) didn't even play, and not due to injuries, but the general status of this slam at the time. IMO an even more talented and much more powerful version of Goolagong, while like Goolagong being incredibly athletic, fluid, versatile, amazing touch, beautiful to watch, but alas results are results.

Osaka- Didn't achieve enough except those 4 slams.

Barty- Didn't achieve enough despite her 3 slams, and time at #1, some of those in the weird Covid time. She is probably the one I thought of putting most due to her time at #1 but still not enough looking at the people who did make the list.
 
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PDJ

G.O.A.T.
I don't take much store by GOAT conversations, but my personal Top 15

1) Chris Evert

2) Martina Navratilova

3) Steffi Graf

4) Margaret Court

5) Serena Williams

6) Evonne Goolagong

7) Monica Seles

8) Billy Jean King

9) Venus Williams

10) Justin Henin

11) Arantxa Sánchez Vicario

12) Martina Hingis

13) Hana Mandlikova

14) Maria Sharapova

15) Kim Clijsters
 

Hoi Polloi

Professional
I don't take much store by GOAT conversations, but my personal Top 15

1) Chris Evert

2) Martina Navratilova

3) Steffi Graf

4) Margaret Court

5) Serena Williams

6) Evonne Goolagong

7) Monica Seles

8) Billy Jean King

9) Venus Williams

10) Justin Henin

11) Arantxa Sánchez Vicario

12) Martina Hingis

13) Hana Mandlikova

14) Maria Sharapova

15) Kim Clijsters

Evert was very consistent, is often a bit overlooked today. Maybe due to her mechanical style of tennis. Great strategist.

But many people remember how Navratilova dominated her post-1982, even with a 13-match win streak at some point. Plus only 18 slams, no Grand Slam, not even one year with 3 slam wins.

I think #5 is a good place for her, narrowly behind Serena.
 

martinezownsclay

Hall of Fame
Evert was very consistent, is often a bit overlooked today. Maybe due to her mechanical style of tennis. Great strategist.

But many people remember how Navratilova dominated her post-1982, even with a 13-match win streak at some point. Plus only 18 slams, no Grand Slam, not even one year with 3 slam wins.

I think #5 is a good place for her, narrowly behind Serena.

I think people remember that well, and it is why she is almost always ranked behind Martina, despite her singles career atleast comparing favorably stats wise.

Perhaps it is too remembered in the sense it overshadows her unmatched to this day consistency, and many of her other marks of greatness, such as reaching the semis of every slam played for 12 years. Her 125 match win streak on a given surface. Her holding the Open Era record at 2 different slams. While Martina at her absolute best was better, that does not mean her overall career should be rated as superior, as most automatically seem to do.
 

thrust

Legend
I don't take much store by GOAT conversations, but my personal Top 15

1) Chris Evert

2) Martina Navratilova

3) Steffi Graf

4) Margaret Court

5) Serena Williams

6) Evonne Goolagong

7) Monica Seles

8) Billy Jean King

9) Venus Williams

10) Justin Henin

11) Arantxa Sánchez Vicario

12) Martina Hingis

13) Hana Mandlikova

14) Maria Sharapova

15) Kim Clijsters
Henin over Goolagong. These are two of my all time FAVORITE female players but Justine won her slams against better players. Evonne's AO titles are of a lesser quality than Court's, by far.
 

martinezownsclay

Hall of Fame
Henin over Goolagong. These are two of my all time FAVORITE female players but Justine won her slams against better players. Evonne's AO titles are of a lesser quality than Court's, by far.

Court's are also questionable, but she atleast beat Bueno a couple times, King once or twice, Richey, Turner. And plus would have been the heavy favorite and probably won between 8-10 of the 11 even if everyone played.

Goolagong really only beat Evert once, and that is it. I don't even think beating a way before prime Navratilova in 75 is noteable. She couldn't even beat Wade (she skipped every other year) the only time they met there, and Wade is her pigeon overall. And while she would have a good chance in a full field even, as this is her best venue, it is by no means a foregone conclusion like Court.

The biggest thing against Goolagong in this comparision is not even the Aussie Open asterisk though. It is that she was almost never truly the #1. Some believe she was the #1 player of 71, but the expert sources are split between her, King, and Court, so even this isn't clear. Computer rankings began in the midst of her prime and she spent only 2 weeks at #1, and never had a year as best player even arguably except for maybe 71. Henin was arguably the best player 4 different years- 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, and official YE#1 in 2003, 2006, 2007. And had atleast one very dominant year in 2007, which Goolagong never had. 2003-2007 overall is probably the Henin era, despite that she wasn't the best at every single point. There definitely is no Goolagong era, not even close.
 
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PDJ

G.O.A.T.
Henin over Goolagong. These are two of my all time FAVORITE female players but Justine won her slams against better players. Evonne's AO titles are of a lesser quality than Court's, by far.
I prefer Goolagong-Cawley, plus she has two Wimbledon Singles. And an exemplary good sport.
I have no issue with you placing Henin higher on your list. It's your list.
 

thrust

Legend
I prefer Goolagong-Cawley, plus she has two Wimbledon Singles. And an exemplary good sport.
I have no issue with you placing Henin higher on your list. It's your list.
I can understand you liking Evonne more, personally, but as great as her game could be at times she was rather inconsistent and does not deserve #6 on this list especially over Seles. IMO, you give too much credit for winning Wimbledon.
 

martinezownsclay

Hall of Fame
One thing that really damages Goolagong is not getting a US Open. She lost 4 straight finals, 3 in excellent matches. A 3 setter to Court, a 3 setter to King, a 3 setter to Evert on clay. Winning just one of those would have really boosted her, but she couldn't do it. And not winning a single non Australian Open between 71 (the year of her first Wimbledon and French Open) and 80 (the year of her 2nd Wimbledon) too is a big negative.
 

thrust

Legend
One thing that really damages Goolagong is not getting a US Open. She lost 4 straight finals, 3 in excellent matches. A 3 setter to Court, a 3 setter to King, a 3 setter to Evert on clay. Winning just one of those would have really boosted her, but she couldn't do it. And not winning a single non Australian Open between 71 (the year of her first Wimbledon and French Open) and 80 (the year of her 2nd Wimbledon) too is a big negative.
More important is that Evonne never had a YE #1 ranking and very few week at #1. Yet she won over 60 tournaments with signficant wins over Evert, though she lost to Chrissie more times. Whatever, Evonne was a joy to watch and, at her best, capable of beating any woman on tour.
 

martinezownsclay

Hall of Fame
More important is that Evonne never had a YE #1 ranking and very few week at #1. Yet she won over 60 tournaments with signficant wins over Evert, though she lost to Chrissie more times. Whatever, Evonne was a joy to watch and, at her best, capable of beating any woman on tour.

You could argue she was #1 in 1971 before computer rankings, but as I said earlier even that year the expert YE#1 picks were 3 way split between Goolagong, King, and Court, so that isn't clear cut even. I would give it to her since she won the French and Wimbledon, and narrowly lost the Australian to Court, and didn't play the Open (which King won with BOTH Court and Goolagong absent). So in big events she was the best that year, but the tour was structured differently then, and not as majors heavy as today.

Evonne's legacy is more how incredibly beautiful she was to watch, and what a gracious champion she is than her actual achievements, although her achievements are considerable too.
 

boredone3456

G.O.A.T.
co number 1 Graf/Navratilova
3. Serena
4. Evert
5. Court
6. King
7. Seles
8. Goolagong
9. Henin
10. Venus
11. Hingis
12. Sharapova
13. Vicario
14. Clijsters
15. Davenport or Mandlikova.....hard for me to pick between the 2
 

boredone3456

G.O.A.T.
You could argue she was #1 in 1971 before computer rankings, but as I said earlier even that year the expert YE#1 picks were 3 way split between Goolagong, King, and Court, so that isn't clear cut even. I would give it to her since she won the French and Wimbledon, and narrowly lost the Australian to Court, and didn't play the Open (which King won with BOTH Court and Goolagong absent). So in big events she was the best that year, but the tour was structured differently then, and not as majors heavy as today.

Evonne's legacy is more how incredibly beautiful she was to watch, and what a gracious champion she is than her actual achievements, although her achievements are considerable too.

I'd also give an edge to Evonne in 1971. At Wimbledon, the lone major all 3 ladies played, she beat both Court and King in straight sets. The argument for King I think lies in that she won almost twice as many singles titles that year. But at the biggest tour events arguably Goolagong did the best of the 3.
 

ibbi

G.O.A.T.
To me, there are 13 (Graf, Navratilova, Evert, Court, Henin, Seles, Venus and Serena, Goolagong, Hingis, Arantxa, Sharapova, and Billie-Jean) and then the last two spots are pretty wide open...

Mandlikova, Capriati, Clijsters, Halep, Kerber, Davenport, Mauresmo...

I probably go Mandlikova as a fairly comfortable 14, and then................. Capriati, I think.
 

Anni.Angel

Semi-Pro
1. Henin
2. Graf
3. Sharapova
4. Petrova
5. Seles
6. Muguruza
7. Golovin
8. Kontaveit
9, Pierce
10. Davenport
11. Myskina
12. Safarova
13. Lisicki
14. Kirilenko
15. Kuznetsova
16. Vesnina and Garcia, (honorable mentions)

It is based on players I would love to watch. If I'd have to watch a women's match right I would chose from the above mentioned.

It is totally hypocritical of me to call a woman best player when I would rather watch something else. You know that word: "Put your money where mouth is".
 
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Hoi Polloi

Professional
1. Henin
2. Graff
3. Sharapova
4. Petrova
5. Seles
6. Muguruza
7. Golovin
8. Kontaveit
9, Pierce
10. Davenport
11. Myskina
12. Safarova
13. Lisicki
14. Kirilenko
15. Kuznetsova
16. Vesnina and Garcia, (honorable mentions)

It is based on players I would love to watch. If I'd have to watch a women's match right I would chose from the above mentioned.

It is totally hypocritical of me to call a woman best player when I would rather watch something else. You know that word: "Put your money where mouth is".

You butchered one name in your list. Guess which….
 

THUNDERVOLLEY

G.O.A.T.
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) Hana Mandlikova

15) Kim Clijsters


That is my list, how would you historically rank based on 1968 - present?

You focused on 15 women, so I'm listing that number, but three sit at #1, and as tennis is one sport with one history, my list is not centered on the Open Era alone.

1. Tie between winners of the Grand Slam: Maureen Connolly, Margaret Court and Steffi Graf.

2. Undoubtedly the best of the rest: Serena Williams.


Significant gap between Serena and the others:

3. Navratilova.

4. Billie Jean King.

5. Venus Williams.

6. Althea Gibson.

7. Evonne Goolagong Cawley.

8. Justine Henin.

9. Monica Seles.

10. Alice Marble.

11. Shirley Fry.

12. Chris Evert.

13: Arantxa Sánchez Vicario.
 
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BorgTheGOAT

Legend
You focused on 15 women, so I'm listing that number, but three sit at #1, and as tennis is one sport with one history, my list is not centered on the Open Era alone.

1. Tie between winners of the Grand Slam: Maureen Connolly, Margaret Court and Steffi Graf.

2. Undoubtedly the best of the rest: Serena Williams.


Significant gap between Serena and the others:

3. Navratilova.

4. Billie Jean King.

5. Venus Williams.

6. Althea Gibson.

7. Evonne Goolagong Cawley.

8. Justine Henin.

9. Monica Seles.

10. Alice Marble.

11. Shirley Fry.

12.
Where is Evert in your list? Not even top 15? Behind Henin and Seles? Agree with your number 1 though.
 

jimmy8

G.O.A.T.
1. Iga Swiatek
2. Iga Swiatek
3. Iga Swiatek
4. Iga Swiatek
5. Iga Swiatek
6. Iga Swiatek
7. Iga Swiatek
8. Iga Swiatek
9. Iga Swiatek
10. Iga Swiatek
11. Iga Swiatek
12. Iga Swiatek
13. Iga Swiatek
14. Iga Swiatek
15. Iga Swiatek
 

BGod

G.O.A.T.
I'll just take a stab without even trying to look up names.

Graf, Court, Navratilova, Seles, Evert, Williams x2, Henin, Barty, Hingis, Clijsters, King, Goolagong, Sharapova, Vicario.

And looking at that I don't think there's much controversy. Yeah Barty at 3 Slams but those weeks at #1 man.

Remains to be seen with Swiatek I guess. Mandlikova deserves a mention but 2/4 titles were against forgettables so yeah. I mean again let's see how Swiatek goes because Barty is hard to rank.
 

Hoi Polloi

Professional
I'll just take a stab without even trying to look up names.

Graf, Court, Navratilova, Seles, Evert, Williams x2, Henin, Barty, Hingis, Clijsters, King, Goolagong, Sharapova, Vicario.

And looking at that I don't think there's much controversy. Yeah Barty at 3 Slams but those weeks at #1 man.

Remains to be seen with Swiatek I guess. Mandlikova deserves a mention but 2/4 titles were against forgettables so yeah. I mean again let's see how Swiatek goes because Barty is hard to rank.

Was Barty #1 for longer than Hingis and Davenport?

Is your list a ranked one or not?
 

THUNDERVOLLEY

G.O.A.T.
In a thread where names such as Radwasnka, Swiatek, Barty & Safarova are placing among the top of a list of this kind, you know its going off of the rails.
 
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