The GOAT (Greatest of All Time) debate is an endlessly fascinating topic for sports enthusiasts. In men’s tennis, the GOAT discussion has centered around the ‘Big 3,’ while in women’s tennis, the conversation involves a wider range of players. Throughout the years, several female tennis stars have captivated fans with their skill and talent, but three women have achieved unparalleled success: Margaret Court, Steffi Graf, and Serena Williams, who have essentially created their own ‘Big 3’ across three generations.
Margaret Court undoubtedly reigned as the top player of her generation. The Australian legend won an incredible 24 singles Grand Slam titles, starting her winning streak at the age of 17. By the end of her career, she had claimed her home Grand Slam eight times, but her performance overseas truly set her apart. Court won her first French Open and US Open titles in 1962, followed by a Wimbledon win in 1963, completing her career slam at just 21 years old. However, German sensation Steffi Graf soon surpassed her achievements.
Steffi Graf emerged as the next leading women’s tennis star, claiming her first Grand Slam title at 18. Graf quickly established herself as the world’s best player, achieving a calendar slam at age 19. Throughout her career, she won 107 singles titles, including 22 Grand Slams, and held the world number one ranking for a record-breaking 377 weeks. Graf reached her peak between 1987 and 1990, appearing in 13 consecutive Grand Slam finals and winning nine of them. At the age of 30, she retired while ranked world number three, making way for the next wave of tennis superstars, led by Serena Williams.
Serena Williams is an iconic figure in tennis, dominating the Open Era with an impressive 23 Grand Slam singles titles to her name. In addition to her singles success, Williams has also excelled in doubles, partnering with her sister, Venus, to win multiple Grand Slam doubles titles. Notably, she is the only player in tennis history to have achieved a ‘Career Golden Slam’ in both singles and doubles.
While all three of these exceptional female tennis players can make a strong case for being the GOAT, Williams might have a slight edge. Despite Court’s higher number of Grand Slam titles and Graf’s more dominant peak, Williams’s multiple accomplishments have elevated her legacy in women’s tennis history.
The impact of Serena Williams’s career extends far beyond numbers and titles. She has been a beacon of hope for people of color worldwide, overcoming racism, sexism, and financial barriers to reach the pinnacle of the women’s game. Her immense social media following—over 35 million people across her various platforms—has allowed Williams to reach audiences that Court and Graf couldn’t. Moreover, her influence on younger players, such as Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka, has been profound, cementing her role as a role model for the next generation.
While Serena Williams does not yet have a stadium named after her, she has undoubtedly proven herself to be the GOAT. Williams, Court, and Graf have each enjoyed incredible success in their tennis careers and, if there were ever a Mount Rushmore of women’s tennis, these three icons would undoubtedly hold their place as the greatest players of all time.
