Women’s Tennis has had its share of famous rivalries. From the 1930s’ ‘Battle of the Helens’ to the Williams sisters taking center stage in the 2000s, women’s tennis has witnessed a plethora of intriguing matches that have fascinated spectators for years on end. The following is a rundown of the three biggest rivalries in women’s tennis.
Martina Navratilova & Chris Evert
Navratilova versus Evert is widely regarded as the greatest tennis rivalry in history. There is little to choose between these two legends. Navratilova has a six-point advantage in their head-to-head due to her 10-4 record in their Grand Slam final confrontations. They met 80 times, 60 of them times in finals. They appeared in six consecutive Major finals between 1984 and 1985. Evert dominated the first half of their rivalry, winning 21 of the first 25 meetings. However, the 1980s were Navratilova’s, with the left-hander winning 30 of their previous 39 matches. The most memorable meeting between the two is perhaps the 1985 French Open final, in which Evert prevailed in a tight three-setter to recapture the No. 1 position at the age of 30.
Steffi Graf & Arantxa Sanchez Vicario
For everyone who watched tennis in the 1990s, a match between Graf and Vicario was a pleasure for the eyes. They met 36 times, and astonishingly, 25 of those matches were finals. Graf has a commanding lifetime head-to-head edge, including a 5-2 advantage in their Grand Slam final confrontations. In 1995 and 1996, the two faced off in consecutive French Open and Wimbledon championships, with Graf winning both. Vicario did, however, score several noteworthy victories against her German opponent. At the 1989 French Open, Spaniard Vicario overcame Graf as a 17-year-old to win her maiden Major. Vicario rallied to win the 1994 US Open final 1-6, 7-6, 6-4.
Justine Henin & Serena Williams
Williams and Henin first met in the round of 16 at the 2001 US Open. Williams won the match in straight sets, conceding just one game in the second set, but little did she realize at the time that the little player across the net would go on to become one of her biggest opponents in the years to come. Williams leads their head-to-head, although Henin maintains a 4-3 edge in Grand Slams. The difference in their styles added intrigue to their battle. Williams always had sheer strength, but when it was matched by Henin’s brilliant one-handed backhand, it made for compelling box office watching. Henin has the enviable distinction of beating the American in three straight Grand Slam finals. The Belgian defeated Williams at the 2007 French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open quarter-finals.
