Female Tennis Players
While the world of sports is no longer just an arena for men, some sports still tend to challenge women in a different way. In tennis, women are not only confronted with the great physical demands of the game, but are also faced with the constant pressure of expectations. Unlike men, women tennis players are expected to prove their worth on the court, while preserving their femininity.
Nevertheless, many female tennis players throughout tennis history have showed their sheer power in accurate strokes and blazing serves. Many female tennis stars have won the hearts of millions, leaving an impeccable mark for every diverse and exceptional game they have played. Be it Steffi Graf’s famous forehand, or Martina Navratilova’s excellent volleying skills, female tennis players have surely made their place in the tennis world and in the hearts and minds of millions of fans worldwide.
Here are some of the world’s best female tennis players:
Martina Navratilova
A former “World’s No.1” female tennis player, is said to be one of the greatest players for “singles, doubles, and mixed doubles” player. Navratilova was also considered as second-best female tennis player of the 20th century, and magazines have given her the title of “the greatest player” for 1965-2005, winning eighteen Grand Slam for singles, thirty-one Grand Slam for women’s doubles, and ten Grand Slam for mixed doubles title.
Navratilova started her career with her stepfather as her first coach. She is famous for the superb volleying skills she exudes during her games, and is left-handed. Navratilova won her very first Grand Slam for singles during the 1978 Wimbledon, wherein she competed and defeated Evert.
Steffi Graf
Born in Germany, Stephanie Maria Graf is a former “World’s No.1” female tennis player. Her records of winning twenty-two Grand Slam for singles and other tournaments, were more than any other tennis player in both the men’s and women’s division. In December of 1999, Graf was named as the “greatest female tennis player of the 20th century” by the Slims Championships panel. Graf also won the 1988 Olympic Gold Medal, and ranked as the number one player in “Women’s Tennis Association” for record of “377 weeks”.
Graf learned the basics of tennis from her father when she was three years old. Soon after, she learned the real game and experienced her first tournament at age 5. Her success in tennis continued despite an injury problem from 1991 to 1992. Monica Seles beat Graf, but she continued to maintain her tennis position. In 1999, Steffi Graf retired from tennis.
Monica Seles
A professional female tennis player with nine Grand Slam titles for singles, Monica Seles is a Hungarian-American who played for the US and Yugoslavia. At age six, Seles learned tennis from her father, and by age nine, she won her very first tennis tournament. She played as a professional at age fourteen in 1988, and was ranked as the world’s number sixth player on the first year of her tour.
Referred to as a “power player”, Seles won her first Australian Open in 1996, and ranked third in the world’s top players. Seles also at the 2000 Olympic games, garnering the bronze medal. Five months after, she captured the French Open, defeating Kim Clijester.
Female tennis players have graced the sport of tennis not only with their powerful strokes and skills, but with their lithe beauty as well. In today’s tennis, female tennis players are in every bit as huge and talented as the male counterpart, drawing more and more fans into their games and tournaments. With the list of remarkable female tennis players increasing, it’ll be no surprise if women soon dominated the tennis world.