Enlarge ImageWomen Tennis has usually been the story of rivalry among sheer power and delicacy in accurate strokes. Within the history of Tennis, there has been a lot of well-known female Tennis stars who’ve left their mark over the years. Be it the well-known forehand of Steffi Graf or superb volleying skill of ever-young, agile Martina Navratilova; all these girls Tennis players have won the hearts of tennis fans globe wide. Here are couple of of them?
1. Maria Bueno
Maria Ester Audion Bueno, won the title of becoming 1st girls player (14 years) for her country, Brazil, began playing tennis at early age and with out any formal training won her very first tournament in the age of 12. She was also the very first non-American females to capture Wimbledon and U.S Championships. In her career, she won the singles titles at Wimbledon 3 times and U.S. Championships for the 4 times She also won twelve Grand Slam championships as a double player with six distinct partners. Once more in 1960, she became the very first ladies to win the girls?s doubles title at all 4 Grand Slam tournament in a year.
2. Billie Jean King
Billie Jean Moffit, born in California, was an exceptional softball player in her early years, yet her parents introduced her to tennis, the game that would change her life as well as the lives of other ladies players. In 1967 she was selected as “Outstanding Female Athlete with the World”. In 1972 she was named Sports Illustrated “Sportsperson with the Year”, the very first woman to be so honored; and in 1973, she was dubbed “Female Athlete with the Year”. She was the very first female athlete to win over $100,000 prize funds in a single season. Billie Jean King spoke out for ladies and their right to earn comparable funds in tennis and other sports. Her constant lobbying and commitments have broken several barriers. For her contributions to tennis as President of Tennis-America, Billie Jean King was awarded the National Service Bowl.
3. Tracy Austin
The Worlds No. 1 tennis player from United States, Tracy Ann Austin Holt, began her career at extremely early age and as a Junior player won 21 age-group titles, such as the U.S. national 12 and under title in the age of 10 (1972). She became popular as the youngest player to win a specialist tournament in the age of 14 (1977). She was the 1 to grow to be the youngest-ever U.S. Open Champion in the age of 16 (1979). In 1980 she broke the records of Chris Evert and Navratilova?s of becoming six year monopolization with the leading spot. She continued using the very same success and defeated once again Evert at Toyota Series Championships (1981). In 1992, she became the youngest person to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Right after her retirement from the game she worked as a commentator for NBC along with the USA Network and now usually participates within the BBC?s Wimbledon coverage.
4. Dorothea Douglass Chambers
One with the early starters in females?s tennis players, Dorathea Katherine Douglass Lambert Chambers from England won her initial seven ladies single tiles in 1903. She was the 1 to play the longest Wimbledon final as much as that time. She took retirement from singles in 1921 but continued as doubles player till 1927. From 1924 to 1926 she was captained Britain?s Wightman Cup team and turned to specialist coaching in 1928.
5. Charlotte Cooper
Charlotte Reinagle Cooper, England, a extremely young lady was a member with the Ealing Lawn Tennis Club. In 1895, she won her very first of 5 Wimbledon championships singles and continued to success. Also referred to as “Chattie” was a tall, slender and elegant woman but a powerful athlete who became the very first ladies to win the Olympic Gold Medal. At her time when she was 30 she was known as as “spinster” got married, in the course of exactly the same year when she could win her fourth Wimbledon championship. Soon after living a family life she returned to active tennis and won her fifth Wimbledon championship (1908) in the age of 37, an age record that nonetheless stands. Till the age of 41, 1912, she was nonetheless tone with the finest players. She died in the age of 96.
6. Lottie Dod
Lottie Dod starting her career in the age of 11 won her 1st Wimbledon title in the age of 15. An English athlete very best called tennis player won 5 times the Wimbledon Championships. She remains the youngest players to win the girls?s singles tournament and press dubbed her as “Little Wonder”. She was not only a tennis player but she also played golf, field hockey and archery. She is also named inside the Guinness Book of Records as essentially the most versatile female athlete of all time. She died in the age of 88, unmarried, listening towards the Wimbledon radio broadcasts in bed.
7. Althea Gibson
The very first African-American woman, Althea Gibson, turn into a competitor on the planet tennis tour. She was the 1 to break “color barrier” and so sometimes she is referred as “the Jackie Robinson” of tennis. Under the assistance of a sponsor she moved in her tennis career from 1946. She was also the very first black person to win a title at Wimbledon. She was also honored in the Associated Press Female Athlete with the year and that year she took retirement from tennis.
8. Chris Evert
Christine Marie Evert from United States is actually a former Planet No.1 woman tennis player. A daughter of Jimmy Evert, who himself can be a expert tennis coach, began her tennis lessons in the age of five and grow to be the No.1 ranked at 14-the 1 under girl, in United States (1970). Her tennis career gave her 18 Grand Slam singles, such as a record 7 at French Open. Among the greatest writer Steve Flink in his book “The Greatest Tennis Matches with the Twentieth Century”, named Chris Evert as the third very best female player of 20th century right after Steffi Graf and Martina Navratilova.
9. Martina Navratilova
Martina Navratilova, a former Planet No. 1 females tennis player was quoted by Billie Jean King as “She could be the greatest singles, doubles and mixed doubles player who?s ever lived”. She was named second very best female player of 20th century in “The greatest Tennis Matches with the Twentieth Century”, a book by Steve Flink. Tennis magazines have declared her as the greatest player for the years 1965 till 2005. She won 18 Grand Slam singles titles, 31 Grand Slam females?s doubles titles and 10 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. Starting her career with her initial coach and her stepfather Miroslav Navratil, is popular for her superb volleying skills. She is left- handed. She won her very first Grand Slam singles at Wimbledon defeating Evert in 1978. In 1985, she also released an autobiography entitled “Martina”.
10. Steffi Graf
Stefanie Maria Graf, popularly called Steffi, a former Globe No.1 ranked female tennis player is from Germany. She could be the 1 who won 22 Grand Slam singles titles given that the start off with the open era and that too much more than any other player (male or female). In 1999, December, the panel of Slims Championships at Madison Square Garden named Graf as the greatest female tennis player of 20th century. She also won Olympic Gold Medal inside the year 1988 and was ranked No.1 player within the Females?s Tennis Association for a record of 377 weeks. Her father Peter Graf taught her basics of tennis at her age of three. Soon she learnt the game and played her initial tournament in the age of five. She continued using the success in spite of her injury year 1991-1992, when she was defeated by Monica Seles, she continued to stay on her position. She got retired in 1999.
11. Monica Seles
Monica Seles, a Hungarian-American, can be a specialist tennis player who won 9 Grand Slam singles titles playing for Yugoslavia and United States. She learnt from her father Karoly Seles in the age of 6 and won her 1st tournament in the age of 9. She played her expert in the age of 14, 1988. She was ranked Globe No.6 when completed her very first year on her tour. She was also remarked as “power player”. Soon after her come back in 1996 she won her fourth Australian Open and was ranked Planet No.three player. She has also won a bronze medal at Olympic Games, Sydney, 2000. Tennis magazines have listed her as the 13th greatest player of all time. Monica Seles is unmarried and now lives in Florida.
12. Jennifer Capriati
The former planet quantity 1 ladies?s tennis player from United States, Jennifer Capriati, won 3 Grand Slam single titles as well as a gold medal in the Olympic Games in 1992. She became the youngest player to twin the French Open Junior singles title in the age of 13 and continued on exactly the same position till 1993 where her record was broken by Martina Hingis. She was entitled using the youngest ?ever semifinalist in the French Open at 14 yrs two moths. She was also the youngest-ever semifinalist in 1991 following defeating Martina Navratilova. Right after a break, she turned up back in 1996 as the Worlds No.1 ranking but right after wining her initial tournament in six years, 1999. Lastly capturing the Australian Open title in 2001 she followed up capturing the French Open title 5 months later defeating Kim Clijester.
13. Martina Hingis
The former Globe No. 1 Swiss tennis player, Martina Hingis is also referred to as “Swiss Miss” won five Grand Slam singles titles, 9 Grand Slam ladies?s doubles titles and 1 Grand Slam mixed doubles title. Setting the set of series of “youngest ever” At 12, she was the youngest palyer to win a Grand Slam junior title in the French Open. She withdrew from skilled tennis because of ligament injuries in each of her ankles at extremely early age of 22. Taking a break for her ankle surgery she came back in 2002 and won Astralion Open doubles. Once more she created a successful return to competition in 2005 where she lost and claimed that she has no plans to return back. But she produced and all of the wining we all saw her winning 5th singles title record at Tokyo finals tournaments, 2007 defeating Ana Ivanovic.
14. Kim Clijsters
Deep, powerful, well-placed groundstroker, Kim Clijster from Belgium can be a former Globe No. 1 ranker in singles and doubles. Also referred to as Kim Kong, Killing Kim or Kim Possible, she won most of her career matches by her speed, power, and strength. Starting her career as runner-up in 1998 at Wimbledon Junior event she has been a successful player. Couple of critics quoted “too nice” for her and she replied “You don?t need to hate your opponents to beat them”. Kim won 34 WTA singles titles and 11 WTA doubles title, U.S. Open single title (2005), French Open and Wimbledon Females?s doubles title (2003). She announced her retirement from game on Could 6, 2007 to live a married life with American Basketball player Brain Lynch.
15. Lindsay Davenport
Daughter of Wink Davenport, member of U.S. Volleyball team in the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, Lindsay Davenport is actually a former Planet No.1 American skilled female tennis champion. In 1988 she won U.S Open, 1999 Wimbledon and 2000 Australian Open, the 3 Grand Slam singles tournaments. In 1996 she also won Olympic gold medal in singles. Lindsay Davenport has earned about US $21 million in prize cash and recently in March 2007.
The list of Ladies Tennis stars is never ending. There is certainly Maria Sharapova, Amelie Mauresmo, Justine Henin-Hardenne, Mary Pierce, Anna Kournikova, and not to forget Venus and Serena Williams Sisters.