Tennis Legend Chris Evert Names Top Five Women’s Tennis Players of All Time, Excludes Herself from List
In a recent video shared by TNT Sports in partnership with the WTA, tennis legend Chris Evert revealed her picks for the top five greatest women’s tennis players of all time, with Serena Williams taking the top spot. The 18-time Grand Slam singles champion’s ranking has garnered significant attention, not only for who made the list but also for who was notably absent – Evert herself.
According to the video, Evert crowned Serena Williams as her number one all-time women’s tennis player, calling her not just the best player but the best athlete she’s ever seen on a tennis court. Williams is widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time, with a record 23 Grand Slam singles titles and 14 doubles titles. As reported by ProFootballNetwork, Evert praised Williams, saying, “The number one greatest player of all time to me would be Serena Williams. Because I think she is the best tennis player and the best athlete that I have seen in the game of tennis.”
Evert’s list also included Billie Jean King at number five, praising her all-court game, versatility, and championship pedigree. Margaret Court was ranked number four, highlighted for her grass-court dominance and 64 total Major titles. Steffi Graf came in at number three, with Evert pointing to the German star’s Calendar Year Golden Slam in 1988 as an unmatched feat in tennis history. “Five would be Billie Jean King. Versatility, serving and volleying, could hit ground strokes. She had an all-court game as well and had a lot of titles. Number four would be Margaret Court. She’s won more Majors than anyone and she just had, especially on grass, she had a very dynamically strong game. Number three, Steffi Graf. She won the Olympics and she won all the Majors in one year,” Evert said, as quoted by ProFootballNetwork.
Evert’s longtime rival and friend Martina Navratilova landed at number two, with Evert citing Navratilova’s dominance in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, and her unmatched 167 career singles titles. “Number two would be Martina Navratilova because, again, she’s won more tournaments than any woman player, and she also was winning singles, doubles and mixed doubles, so she had all the shots in the book,” Evert noted.
The decision to exclude herself from the list is notable, given Evert’s impressive career achievements. With 18 Grand Slam singles titles and a reputation as one of the sport’s most consistent champions, Evert’s choice to spotlight five other icons who, in her view, redefined women’s tennis across different eras, has raised eyebrows. As reported by ProFootballNetwork, Evert has previously spoken about the challenges of competing in the modern era, suggesting that she would need to completely overhaul her game to compete with players like Williams.
In a 2015 USA Today interview, Evert said, “If I were to come up with a graphite racket, a different grip, different training regimen – I mean, everything has improved. The physicality, the athleticism, it’s all gotten better. I think I would be more of a thoughtful player and would invest more of my talent in strategy and being mentally solid out on court.” Evert also acknowledged that she would struggle to compete with Williams, saying, “I don’t know. It’s hard. I think I could do okay on the mental side, but somebody like Serena would just wipe me off the court for sure. You know what though? She’s the only one who’s not human. Everyone else is human.”
Evert’s comments on Williams’ abilities have been widely reported, with the tennis legend praising Williams’ athleticism and power. As quoted by ProFootballNetwork, Evert said, “I think if you put Steffi or Martina or Billie Jean or myself or anyone with a champion’s mind in the game today, I think with everything the way it is, we could still do well. But I still see Serena overpowering everybody. She’s that good.”
The article from ProFootballNetwork has sparked a lively debate among tennis fans, with many taking to social media to share their thoughts on Evert’s rankings and her decision to exclude herself from the list. As the tennis world continues to discuss and dissect Evert’s choices, one thing is clear – Serena Williams is widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time, and Chris Evert’s endorsement of her as the number one women’s tennis player of all time is a testament to her enduring legacy.
According to ProFootballNetwork, Evert’s list is a reflection of her deep understanding and appreciation of the sport, and her comments on Williams’ abilities are a testament to her respect for her fellow tennis player. As the tennis world continues to evolve and new players emerge, it is clear that Evert’s rankings will remain a topic of discussion for years to come.
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