Tennis
Who is the GOAT of Female Tennis?
GOAT, short for Greatest of All Time, is an overused term in sport, let alone tennis. Novak Djokovic’s 24 Grand Slams help him build a strong case for being the best male tennis player of all time, but what about on the women’s side? To be considered the GOAT, it requires a careful examination of various criteria. This includes factoring in the titles won, high levels of consistency, versatility across different surfaces, longevity, and the impact they had on the sport. This article shines a spotlight on the top contenders for female tennis supremacy, analyzing their careers, styles, and the legacies they created for themselves.
Serena Williams /Getty Images
Methodology
The GOAT ranking for measuring the best female tennis players were as follows:
- Grand Slam Titles: Singles and total won (including doubles/mixed).
- Consistency: Career longevity, final appearances, and head-to-head records against other top players.
- Versatility: Success across all surfaces (hard, clay, grass).
- Impact on Sport: Contribution to women’s tennis evolution and influence beyond the court.
Blending the raw data with expert opinions brought about the ‘SB Market Index’, a purpose-built rating system where the results provided were fair and transparent.
SB Market Index Table: Top Female Tennis GOAT Contenders
| Rank | Player | Slam Singles | Slam Total | Playing Style | Key Achievements | SB Market Index |
| 1 | Serena Williams | 23 | 39 | Powerful baseline, athletic, aggressive | Multiple ‘Serena Slams’, Olympic golds, dominance over 20+ years | 98 |
| 2 | Steffi Graf | 22 | 22 | Footwork-focused, powerful forehand | Only player with Golden Slam (1988), 13 consecutive slam finals | 95 |
| 3 | Martina Navratilova | 18 | 59 | Serve-and-volley, all-court, agile | 9 Wimbledon titles, dominant doubles career, long-standing rivalries with Evert | 94 |
| 4 | Margaret Court | 24 | 64 | All-court, consistent | First woman in Open Era to win calendar Grand Slam, versatile surface success | 92 |
| 5 | Chris Evert | 18 | 39 | Baseline consistency, tactical, clay specialist | 52 semi-final appearances in 56 slams, dominant clay-court record | 90 |
| 6 | Billie Jean King | 12 | 39 | Aggressive, hard-hitting, fast around the court | Pioneer for gender equality, 6 Wimbledon titles, career Grand Slam | 88 |
The ‘SB Market Index’ scores reflect career impact, titles, consistency, versatility, and overall influence in women’s tennis on a scale of 1-100.
Player Profiles
Serena Williams
A generational athlete who combined raw power with incredible agility to rise to the top of the sport, Serena Williams was often invincible when she stepped onto court. She had one of the fastest serves, and while Slam number 24 fell tantalisingly out of reach, her mental toughness and competitiveness helped her redefine women’s tennis, and she topped our rankings with an outstanding ‘SB Market Index’ rating.
Steffi Graf
A serial Grand Slam winner with unmatched precision and versatility on all surfaces, Steffi Graf prided herself on her immaculate footwork. She was also a Golden Slam winner in 1988, the only player to win all four Slam titles and an Olympic gold in the same year, which is truly remarkable. Graf turned out an excellent ‘SB Market Index’ mark.
Martina Navratilova
The Czech superstar was undisputably the best grass-court player and a Wimbledon icon. Yes, nine titles at SW19 pay testament to this, and she established one of the greatest rivalries in tennis with Chris Evert. Navratilova was almost equally as formidable at doubles as she was at singles, and her serve and volleying game was second to none.
Margaret Court
In terms of Grand Slams, Margaret Court is untouchable with 24 to her name. Her home Slam in Australia was where she was most dominant, winning 11 times, but she was hugely consistent across all surfaces. Her ‘SB Market Index’ rating of 92 indicated the legacy she left on the women’s game.
Chris Evert
A clay-court supremo, Chris Evert had a remarkable record of going deep at Grand Slam tournaments. She reached 52 semi-finals in 56 appearances which is staggering. She landed seven French Open titles, and had it not been for Navratilova, then perhaps Evert would have wound up with a few more titles. Nevertheless, Evert hit 90 for her ‘SB Market Index’ rating, so she deserves plenty of praise.
Billie Jean King
A true trailblazer on and off the court, Billie Jean King changed the face of women’s tennis in the 1970s. She championed gender equality, but her numbers were impressive. King was a dominant force at Wimbledon, winning six of her 12 singles Slam crowns between 1966 and 1975.
Apart from that, she took out Evonne Goolagong in straight sets in the 1972 French Open final to clinch the Career Slam. An aggressive and hard-hitting player, King was quick around the court, and she was a force to be reckoned with. King rounded off the rankings with an ‘SB Market Index’ score of 88, and she merited her place on our carefully curated list.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Serena Williams came out on top as the GOAT of female tennis. Her story from the rough streets of Compton, LA, was astonishing. Along with Venus Williams, she was a domineering figure in the women’s game, and her forehand was ferocious, often blowing her opponents away.
While Williams came out on top overall with an excellent ‘SB Market Index’ of 98, the other players that we drew attention to on this page contributed much to the revolution of women’s tennis. Steffi Graf, for example, was an extraordinary decade, and she inspired many when she was at the peak of her powers. Meanwhile, Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova both did a lot to propel women’s tennis into the public eye, and their stories of success were remarkable.
Women’s tennis has been marked by some extraordinary personal feats, and the athletes we have referred to endeared themselves to fans worldwide. The spectrum of talent discussed spanned decades and many different surfaces, and they will all forever be etched into tennis folklore.
Charles Perrin is a highly experienced sports betting content writer with over six years of working with some of the leading sportsbooks in the UK, including bet365 and William Hill.