Famous Female Tennis Players

Millions of women have tried their hand at tennis at some point or other in their lives, and yet only a handful have ever reached true greatness. Here you can read brief bios on some of the most famous female tennis players to ever grace the courts.

Billie Jean King

Billie Jean King dominated women's tennis from the 1960s through the 1970s. She was such an exceptional player, that in 1972 she was the first woman athlete to earn Sports Illustrated's "Sportsperson of the Year" title. King's contributions to the sport did not end when she retired, she also has the unique distinction of founding the Women's Tennis Association.

The Williams Sisters

The great Althea Gibson, the first African American female tennis pro, gets an honorable mention for paving the way for the superstar Williams sisters, Venus and Serena. Venus and Serena revolutionized the sport with their record-breaking serves, and volleyed for the first place rank in women's tennis for several years.

Steffi Graf

The incomparable Steffi Graf won more than 100 singles titles during her career including 22 Grand Slams. Graf still holds the record for the most time spent at the top of the world rankings (377 weeks). More than one reputable tennis organization has named her the greatest female tennis player ever.

Martina Navritalova

Martina Navritalova often jockeys with Steffi Graf for the "best female tennis player ever" title. Though Navritalova was an exceptional singles player, earning an impressive 18 Grand Slam titles during her professional career; she is perhaps best known for her versatility with an additional 31 doubles Grand Slam titles and 10 mixed doubles Grand Slam titles.

Dozens of exceptional female tennis players have graced professional tournaments around the world, but the women profiled above have truly changed the sport.