The US Open is one of the most prestigious Grand Slam tournaments in tennis and throughout its history there have been many female players who have left their mark on the tournament. This article will explore the best of the best and some of their major successes.
Chris Evert
Chris Evert’s achievements at the US Open are a testament to her unparalleled skill and dedication to the sport. Throughout her career, she won an impressive 18 Grand Slam singles titles, including six victories at the US Open. In fact, Evert’s dominance at the tournament was so impressive that she won at least one major singles title for 13 years in a row, a remarkable feat that has yet to be matched by any other female player.
Evert’s total of 157 career singles titles prove consistency and longevity, and her impact on the sport of tennis has been significant. Her skill and success on the court, combined with her graciousness and sportsmanship off the court, have made her a beloved and enduring figure in the world of tennis.
Serena Williams
Serena Williams is widely considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time, and her accomplishments at the US Open have cemented her status as one of the best female athletes in history. She has won an astounding 23 Grand Slam titles in singles competition, with six of those victories coming at the US Open. Williams has also been successful in doubles, winning 14 Grand Slam titles with her sister Venus, as well as three Olympic gold medals in doubles.
As well as her accomplishments on the court, Williams has also been a trailblazer for female athletes off the court. In 2004, she signed a groundbreaking sponsorship contract with Nike worth $40 million, giving her one of the most notable deals of all time in US sport and making her the highest-paid female athlete at the time.
Martina Navratilova
Martina Navratilova is one of the greatest tennis players of all time, with an astounding 59 Grand Slam titles to her name. Her nine singles titles at Wimbledon are a record for the Open Era, and she also won four US Open singles titles over the course of her illustrious career. Navratilova was known for her powerful serve and volley style of play, as well as her incredible athleticism and court coverage. Her 167 career singles titles and 177 doubles championship titles are a testament to her longevity and versatility as a player, as she excelled in both singles and doubles competitions.
Navratilova was also known for being an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and a pioneer in the fight for equal pay for female athletes. Her impact on the sport of tennis, both as a player and as a trailblazer for social justice, is immeasurable, and she remains an inspiration to generations of athletes to this day.
Billie Jean King
King was a trailblazer for gender equality in sports. She was the first woman to win $100,000 in a single year, and she famously defeated Bobby Riggs in the ‘Battle of the Sexes’ tennis match in 1973, which helped to cement her status as a feminist icon. King was also a founder of the Women’s Tennis Association, and she served as its president for several years.
Billie Jean King is one of the most influential and pioneering figures in the history of women’s tennis. Over the course of her career, she won an impressive 20 championships at Wimbledon, as well as four US Open singles titles. King was known for her powerful serve and net play, as well as her fierce competitiveness and fighting spirit.
Monica Seles
Monica Seles is a former professional tennis player who is considered to be one of the greatest female athletes of all time. Seles made history in 1991 when she became the first female player to win her first six Grand Slam singles finals, which included victories at the French Open, Australian Open, and US Open. She went on to win a total of nine Grand Slam singles titles over the course of her career, and she held the world No. 1 ranking for a total of 178 weeks.
Unfortunately, her career was cut short in 1993 when she was in an accident, but she made a comeback in 1995 and continued to compete at the highest level for several more years. Despite the abrupt end to her prime years, Seles’ impact on the sport of tennis has been significant, and she remains a legend and a role model to aspiring female athletes around the world.