In continuation of my last weekend’s blog, today I am writing about the greatest women’s champions in the open era at the WIMBLEDON tennis tournament.
One of the most famous events in all of sports has delivered some of the most iconic champions of all times. Here is the list of 9 greatest women’s singles champions:
9 Jana Novotna ( Czech)
She won the title in 1998, and reached the finals in 1993, and 1997. She blew away a heavy lead in 1993 final to Steffi Graf, and four years later was beaten by Martina Hingis in the 1997 final. However she finally claimed the title in the following year, beating Nathalie Tauziat in straight sets.
8 Petra Kvitova (Czech)
She won titles in 2011 and 2014.
One of the best WTA players of the past decade and half, there were few better sights in tennis than Kvitova in full flight on a grass court. She stormed to her first Wimbledon title in 2011, beating former champion Maria Sharapova in straight sets to claim maiden Grand Slam title. She then regained her title three years later handing out one of the heaviest Grand Slam final defeats to Eugenie Bouchard in a dominant 2014 final.
7 Evonne Goolagong (Australia)
She won titles in 1971 & 1980, and reached the finals in 1972, 1975-76. She won her first title in 1971, then defeating Margaret Court in the final, while further losing three finals in 1970s. By defeating Chris Evert in 1980 finals, she became the first woman to win the title as mother-an achievement not matched since at Wimbledon.
6 Chris Evert (USA)
She won the titles in 1974, 1976 & 1981, and reached finals in 1973, 1978-80, 1982, 1985-86.A true great of the game, she was huge fan favourite at Wimbledon and ultimately pick up three titles. After beating Olga Morozova for her first title in 1974, she battled past Goolagong in classic final to regain the title in 1976. Five years later she beat Hana Mandlikova for her third and final title at Wimbledon, though she did impressive reach a further seven finals.
5 Billie Jean King (USA)
She won the titles in 1968, 1972-73, & 1975, and reached finals in 1969-70. Having won two titles in pre-open era, she would win four more after game became for professionals. She in fact won the first Wimbledon of the Open Era in 1968, beating Judy Tegard-Dalton in the final, before finishing as runner up in 1969-70. But she then beat goolagong in and Evert to win titles in 1972 and 1973, before winning her final Slam by beating Goolagong in the 1975 finals.
4 Venus Williams (USA)
She won the titles in 2000-01, 2005, 2007-08, and reached finals in 2002-03, 2009, & 2017. She won her five of her seven Grand Slam titles at Wimbledon. She won her first title by beating Lindsay Devenport in 2000, before battling past Justine Henin in 2001 to successfully defend her title. She then beat Devenport again in 2005 finals, before beating Marrion Bartoli and younger sister Serena for back-to-back titles in 2007 and 2008.
3 Steffi Graf (Germany)
She won titles in 1988-89, 1991-93, 1995-96, and reached finals in 1987 and 1999. A true great of the game, she ruled Wimbledon through the late 1980s and early 1990s, starting with back-to-back triumphs in 1988 and 1989 versus Martina Navratilova-having lost the 1987 finals. The German won three straight finals from 1991 to 1993, edging past Gabriela Sabatini in 1991 final before victories over Monica Seles and Jana Novotana. After a shock first round loss in 1994, she beat Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, also reaching the final in 1999.
2 Serena Williams (USA)
She won the titles in 2002-03, 2009-10, 2012, 2015-16, and reached the finals in 2004, 2008, 2018 and 2019. Perhaps the greatest women tennis player, Wimbledon became her favourite tournament with 7 titles to her name. She began by beating her sister Venus in 2002, and 2003 finals, before beating her again in 2009. She beat Vera Zvonareva to defend her title in 2010, before beating Agnieszka Radwanska in 2012, and Garbine Muguruza and Angelique Kerber in 2015 and 2016. Outside of those victories, she was beaten finalist a further four times.
1 Martina Navratilova ( Czech & USA)
She won titles in 1978-79, 1982-87, 1990, and reached finals in 1988-89, 1994. No woman has come close to emulating Navratilova’s staggering haul of nine Wimbledon titles, she is the greatest female grass-courter of all time. She won her first title in 1978, beating Chris Evert in final, and defended her title in 1979 by defeating Chris again. After missing out for two years, she won a historic six titles in a row from 1982-87 before capturing her ninth and final title in 1990.
Waiting for your feedback on this blog.
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
5th July 2024.
THIS IS MY 100th BLOG OF 2024