Congratulation; STEFFI GRAF backs another historic world record despite retirement

Congratulation; STEFFI GRAF backs another historic world record despite retirement..

Martina Navratilova has won the most WTA singles titles in the Open Era, Serena Williams has won the most Grand Slams, Steffi Graf holds the record for most weeks spent at No 1 in WTA Rankings.

But who holds the record for the highest career-winning percentage in women’s tennis?

Of the seven women with the best winning percentage over their careers (minimum 200 matches played), only one has a record of over 90% while four have a winning percentage above 85%.

Without further ado, here are the 7 women with the highest career-winning percentage:

7. Iga Swiatek – 82.11%

Reigning world No 1 Iga Swiatek is flying the flag for the current generation of women’s players with the Pole’s record as of September 16, 2024 sitting at 335–73.

Aged just 23, Swiatek has already won 22 WTA Tour singles titles – including five Grand Slams – and although she is some way off Martina Navratilova’s record of 1,442 match wins in women’s tennis, she could get close to the top 10 if she continues her current form. Evonne Goolagong is currently 10th with 704 match wins.

6. Monica Seles – 82.98%

There is always a touch of sadness when you read that Monica Seles played only 717 matches as she was robbed of playing more by the stabbing incident in 1993.

Yet the Yugoslav-born American sits comfortably in the top 10 for best winning percentage as she won 595 of her 717 matches.

Seles finished her career with 53 titles.

Facts & Stats Features

5. Serena Williams – 84.61%

Of the modern greats, Serena Williams just missed out on the 85% winning percentage as she won 858 of her 1,014 professional matches. The American had an 87% winning record at Grand Slams and of the 240 tournaments she entered, she won 73.

Her best season statistically was in 2013 when she had a record of 73–4 as she won 11 titles that year.

4. Martina Navratilova – 86.81%

The great Martina Navratilova tops several WTA metrics as she has played the most matches (1,661), won the most matches (1,442) and won the most titles (167), although she is down the list for best winning percentage.

She finished her career with a 1,442–219 win-loss record while she was 306–49 at Grand Slams.

3. Steffi Graf – 88.66%

Steffi Graf still tops the list for most weeks spent at No 1 (377) while she remains the only player to have achieved a calendar Golden Slam (winning all four Grand Slams and an Olympic singles gold in the same year).

Graf played 1,015 matches during her career (900-115 win-loss record) and won 107 singles titles. She also has a 90% record at Grand Slams having won 22 majors.

2. Chris Evert – 89.96%

The great Chris Evert won 18 Grand Slams and she was 299–37 in terms of majors

As for her career – which spanned from 1972 until 1989 – the American had a 1,309–146 win-loss record as she just missed out on that 90% mark. Evert, though, does hold the record for most wins on hard courts (91.57%) and clay (94.55%) while she is third on grass (87.36%) and third on carpet (88.51%).

1. Margaret Court – 91.37%

A lot of Margaret Court’s astonishing records predate the Open Era, but since the sport turned professional in 1968, the Australian had a 593–56 record.

Eleven of Court’s 24 Grand Slam titles were won in the Open Era while she won 192 titles with 92 coming during the Open Era.