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Poll: Who is the greatest WTA legend of the Open Era?

50 years of the Open Era on the WTA tour. And we asked around at a large panel to find out who has shaped this half century the most. Playful and also through their personality.

by tennisnet.com
last edit: Dec 17, 2020, 09:28 pm

Who is the greatest legend on the WTA tour?
© Getty Images
Who is the greatest legend on the WTA tour?

Of course, it is a purely subjective consideration that is made here. Especially since the focus should not only be on the sporting successes, but also on the influence and effect outside the court.

And this is what the panel looks like that thought about the tennisnet survey. First of all, the experts who have stood on the court themselves and have shown great achievements there. Or still show: Barbara Rittner (Head of Women's Tennis at DTB), Michael Kohlmann (Head of Men's Tennis at DTB), Barbara Schett-Eagle (former top ten player, now Eurosport presenter), Jürgen Melzer (two-time major champion in doubles, soon to be ÖTV sports director), Lars Uebel (head of competitive sports at the TennisBase in Oberhaching), Alexander Peya (double ace on the way back), Christopher Kas (ex-professional, currently coach of Peter Gojowczyk), Tobias Summerer (ex-coach of Florian Maier, currently coach at BTV) and Jan de Witt (Break Point Base, currently coach of Nikoloz Basilashvili)

The following specialists from the circle of journalists took part: Andrej Antic (editor-in-chief tennisMAGAZIN), Christian Barschel (tennisMAGAZIN), Doris Henkel (FAZ), Gerald Kleffmann (SZ), Jörg Allmeroth (Allmeroth Media), Marcel Meinert (Sky), Paul Häuser (Sky), Markus Theil (Eurosport), Stefan Hempel (Sky), Moritz Lang (Sky), Christian Schwell ( Clay Court Gods ), Sebastian Kayser (BILD) , Alexander Tagger (Kleine Zeitung), Harald Ottawa (Courier), Florian Regelmann ( spox.com), Florian Goosmann (tennisnet), Nikolaus Fink (tennisnet), Michael Rothschädl (tennisnet) and Jens Huiber (sportradio360).

A total of 17 players were mentioned. And that's what came out ...

17th place, 1 point: Jennifer Capriati, who has had two careers on the tennis court
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17th place, 1 point: Jennifer Capriati, who has had two careers on the tennis court

15th place, 2 points: Evonne Goolagong, Wimbledon champion and activist
© Getty Images

15th place, 2 points: Evonne Goolagong, Wimbledon champion and activist

15th place, 2 points: Lindsay Davenport, also successful in Wimbledon
© Getty Images

15th place, 2 points: Lindsay Davenport, also successful in Wimbledon

14th place, 5 points: Anna Kournikova, who shone far beyond the tennis court
© Getty Images

14th place, 5 points: Anna Kournikova, who shone far beyond the tennis court

Rank 13, 8 points: Kim Clijsters, who also won majors as a mother
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Rank 13, 8 points: Kim Clijsters, who also won majors as a mother

Rank 12, 9 points: Gabriela Sabatini, who made the one-handed topspin backhand socially acceptable
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Rank 12, 9 points: Gabriela Sabatini, who made the one-handed topspin backhand socially acceptable

Rank 11, 11 points: Justine Henin, who demonstrated the ease of tennis
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Rank 11, 11 points: Justine Henin, who demonstrated the ease of tennis

Rank 10, 19 points: Margaret Court, who still holds the major record
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Rank 10, 19 points: Margaret Court, who still holds the major record

Rank 9, 20 points: Maria Sharapova, who stormed the tennis world in 2004
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Rank 9, 20 points: Maria Sharapova, who stormed the tennis world in 2004

8th place, 38 points: Venus Williams, who won seven majors in singles
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8th place, 38 points: Venus Williams, who won seven majors in singles

Rank 7, 43 points: Martina Hingis, the first space interpreter in world sport
© Getty Images

Rank 7, 43 points: Martina Hingis, the first space interpreter in world sport

Rank 6, 82 points: Monica Seles, whose even bigger career was destroyed by a madman
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Rank 6, 82 points: Monica Seles, whose even bigger career was destroyed by a madman

5th place, 85 points: Billie-Jean King, probably the most important person in the history of the WTA
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5th place, 85 points: Billie-Jean King, probably the most important person in the history of the WTA

4th place, 104 points: Chris Evert, the first darling of tennis
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4th place, 104 points: Chris Evert, the first darling of tennis

3rd place, 162 points: Martina Navratilova, who was and is a pioneer off the field too
© Getty Images

3rd place, 162 points: Martina Navratilova, who was and is a pioneer off the field too

Rank 2, 187 points: Serena Williams, who hasn't had enough
© Getty Images

Rank 2, 187 points: Serena Williams, who hasn't had enough

Rank 1, 203 points: Stefanie Graf, who marched to the Golden Slam in 1988
© Getty Images

Rank 1, 203 points: Stefanie Graf, who marched to the Golden Slam in 1988

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Dec 18, 2020, 05:50 pm
last edit: Dec 17, 2020, 09:28 pm