Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal, Steffi Graf or Novak Djokovic — tennis fans have a tendency to pick their favourite and cheer them on.
Elegance, brilliance, left-handed mastery, style, grace, universally loved, largely disliked — the game has featured talented names with massive appeal, all hugely argued as the GOAT, or tennis’s Greatest Of All Time.
But now, keen to settle the question, statistics portal Statista — a German company specialising in market and consumer data — has made a case for Serena Williams.
“Williams won more Grand Slam titles in the Open Era than any other player, the last one while pregnant with her first child in 2017 (try matching that Roger/Rafa/Novak),” Statista wrote recently with the release of their new chart ranking professional tennis players by the number of Grand Slam singles titles won in the Open Era (since 1968).
According to Statista data, Williams’ list of achievements goes far beyond her 23 Grand Slam singles titles. She racked another 14 Grand Slam doubles titles, two Grand Slam mixed titles and four Olympic gold medals — all speaking volumes of the dominance she has achieved in the sport.
Williams has also matched her male counterparts in longevity, having made her professional debut in 1995 and is still playing on tour, competing against players less than half her age almost 27 years later.
Last Tuesday, on Women’s Day, Williams announced she will be retiring after this year’s US Open.
In a personal essay published in Vogue magazine she wrote: “I’m here to tell you that I’m evolving away from tennis ... Believe me, I never wanted to have to choose between tennis and a family. I don’t think it’s fair.”
She expressed a feeling of pain at leaving but said she was ready now to continue growing her family.
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