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Who Is California’s Greatest Ever Women’s Tennis Player?

California has a rich history when it comes to producing some of the world’s greatest ever tennis players in the women’s era. Indeed, with Venus Williams seemingly near the end of her career after a first-round loss in the Australian Open, the time may have come to ask who has been the Golden State’s greatest ever export?

Younger tennis fans may be tempted to say either of the Williams sisters but in fact, it was only Venus who was born in California. The 40-year-old was born in Lynwood before growing up in Compton where she faced unimaginable adversity on the way to the top.


Serena was actually born in Michigan and probably isn’t quite as close to retirement as her sister despite being only a year younger. In fact, the tennis odds from Betfair have Serena at 7/1 favorite to win Wimbledon during the English summer which suggests that we could still be seeing a lot more of the 23-time Grand Slam champion.

Now, Venus may not have won as many Grand Slams as her sister but her tally of seven is certainly not to be scoffed at. It undoubtedly makes her a Californian legend even if her last Grand Slam win came back in 2008 at Wimbledon during an all Williams final. Few will forget Venus bursting onto the scene in 2000 and stealing the hearts of not only all those in attendance at the All England Club but the millions around the world as she won her first-ever Grand Slam title.

Interestingly, the way had been paved for her by her younger sister Serena who had astonishingly managed to win the US Open in 1999, by beating the talented Slovakian Martina Hingis.

But perhaps it was another Californian who paved the way for both of these superstars to enjoy the stardom that they do. When it comes to the greatest ever women’s player from California, there can be no doubt that title belongs to Billie Jean King who went on to win 12 Grand Slam titles as well as 16 women’s doubles titles and 11 mixed doubles titles.

It was in 1972 that King went on to win all four Grand Slam titles after she won the 1972 French Open and by doing so, she became only the fifth woman in tennis history to complete the remarkable feat. King’s success on the court is unmatched but her work off it following her retirement has ensured that a generation of new tennis players have taken up the game thanks to her inspiring story.


Indeed, it was Billie Jean King’s ability to transcend the sport that makes her California’s greatest ever tennis export to the world. King may have relocated to New York these days but she’s as active as ever in her bid to make the tennis world a more inclusive place. The passion for the game that was so evident on the practice courts of Long Beach seven decades ago burns as strong as ever for the 39-time Grand Slam champion and pioneer of women’s professional tennis.


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Who Is California’s Greatest Ever Women’s Tennis Player?

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