Women’s Tennis and US Open Greats: Graf, King, Navratilova, Williams

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at Internationaled.org

Published: August 25, 2010

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For women in tennis spanning the Open Period, none surpass and most do not come close to Steffi Graf, Billy Jean King, Martina Navratilova and Serena Williams. All have done so much to advance tennis and have given back to society in so many ways.

We can quibble about court decorum—which might make us take Williams out—or about the need and propriety of some of the activities. But whether conservative or liberal, for or against rights, and concerned domestically or internationally, every one of these players has done more for tennis than any others.

Including Graf in the list might be seen by some to be inappropriate because she has not done as much for or outside of tennis. Yet she is married to Andre Agassi and their income is combined. One must see her accomplishments in this light and see her as perhaps the best women's tennis player in history.

Steffi Graf

For sheer accomplishments, Graf is perhaps the greatest tennis player—male or female—of all time. True, Margaret Court won two more Grand Slams and a "boxed set"—winning all four Grand Slam events (singles, mixed doubles, and doubles), a feat accomplished only by Martina Navratilova and one other player. Yet, for those who saw her play, Graf will be the epitome of the new female tennis player, with range, power and net play combining to make her game transcend those whose games were changing.

Chris Evert could have never come close to winning in this coming age. Perhaps only Williams and Navratilova could. Also, Court is not included because of her strong views against gays, which perhaps diminished, unfortunately, her off-court activities to many in and outside the sport.

Graf won the Golden Grand Slam, the four Grand Slam events, and the Olympics in 1988. She remains the only player male or female to accomplish this feat.  

Graf has also been active off of the court. The Steffi Graf Youth T...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Tennis

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