Introduction:
Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Venus Williams, and Kim Clijsters are some of the most incredible tennis players in history, captivating fans throughout their careers. Over the past 25 years, women’s tennis has showcased many phenomenal players who have graced the court, particularly in the late 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s.
In this article, we will discuss four accomplished women – Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Maria Sharapova, and Kim Clijsters – who have achieved impressive records. We will highlight one record from each player that may never be broken.
#4. Kim Clijsters – Most Matches Played in a Calendar Year:
Clijsters was a dominant female hard-court player during her era, winning four Grand Slam titles in her career. However, in 2003, she accomplished a remarkable feat, finishing the year with a 90-12 win-loss record in singles. In doing so, she became the second female player, after Martina Navratilova, to register 90 wins in a single year. Additionally, she also played numerous doubles matches that year, totaling 170 appearances, the most by any female player in a single year. Clijsters’ record remains unbeaten and may stay that way for a long time.
#3. Maria Sharapova – Fewest Games Dropped en Route to a Grand Slam Semifinal:
Sharapova was an accomplished Russian player, earning five Grand Slam singles titles, including winning Wimbledon as a teenager. However, in the 2013 Australian Open, she achieved a rare accomplishment by dropping only nine games in her first five matches, defeating players like Venus Williams along the way. Although she lost to Li Na in the semifinals, her record of dropping the fewest games leading to a Grand Slam semifinal remains unbeaten. Considering the increasing competitiveness in women’s tennis, this record may not be broken in the foreseeable future, even with dominant players like Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka.
#2. Venus Williams – Most Olympic Medals Won:
Venus Williams, the older of the Williams sisters, has seven Grand Slam titles to her name. Besides a successful singles career, she also formed a dominant doubles pair with sister Serena. Throughout her career, Venus participated in four Olympics, winning five medals total—the most by any tennis player. She won gold in singles and doubles at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and then claimed doubles gold in Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012. She also earned a silver medal in Rio de Janeiro, making it her fifth. Breaking this record will be a considerable challenge, as the Olympic Games are held every four years, and few players win medals in both singles and doubles.
#1. Serena Williams – Career Golden Slam in Singles and Doubles:
Serena Williams is arguably the greatest female tennis player of all time, with an astonishing 23 Grand Slam singles titles. Additionally, she was a top doubles player, partnering with her older sister Venus. Serena achieved the career Golden Slam in singles and doubles by winning Olympic gold in both categories at the 2012 London Olympics. She had already won each of the four Grand Slam titles previously. Steffi Graf famously won the Golden Slam in a single year (1988); however, she only did so in singles, making Serena Williams’ impressive record likely to withstand the test of time.
Venus Williams and Father Richard recall one match that the 7-time Grand Slam champion “should have won.”
