- Publish date:
Individual Sports/Women
Chris Evert
She won 157 singles titles, including 18 Grand Slam events, and
at least one major championship for a record 13 consecutive
years (1974-86).
"Chris was comfortably located on the Baseline of Life from an
early age, tutored by her father, dressed in frilly jumpers by
her mother, constitutionally disciplined by an unwavering will.
Even now she estimates that more than three fourths of her wins
can be attributed to her concentration."
--FRANK DEFORD SI, May 26, 1986
Nancy Lopez
The LPGA Hall of Famer and four-time LPGA player of the year has
48 career tournament victories--and still counting.
"She has been to the women's professional golf tour what Billie
Jean King was to women's tennis--the individual who, because of
her energy and skill, almost single-handedly brought widespread
acceptance to a game previously regarded with indifference or
contempt."
--JONATHAN YARDLEY SI, Nov. 19, 1979
Mickey Wright
Winning 82 tournaments, including 13 majors, she popularized
women's golf by drawing large galleries and television audiences.
"This tall and graceful blonde from San Diego proved last week
at Churchill Valley Country Club that when she is right, and she
is right a good deal of the time, there is no golf course short
enough for the rest of the girls to play that is long enough to
offer any serious problem to Mickey Wright."
--GWILYM BROWN SI, July 6, 1959
Steffi Graf
The only player to win all four Grand Slam events at least four
times; her 186 consecutive weeks at No. 1 (1987-91) are more
than any other player, male or female.
"Steffi Graf cannot be stopped.... She has reached a point
defying all athletic logic. Players now fear taking a lead over
her because that just means, as Lindsay Davenport says, 'Oh, no,
you've made her mad.'"
--S.L. PRICE SI, April 8, 1996
Babe Didrikson Zaharias
One of the greatest all-around athletes in history, male or
female, she won three Olympic medals and 31 LPGA titles,
including 10 majors.
"If you knew somebody who entered eight of 10 events in the
national AAU track meet and won five; who won two gold medals in
the 1932 Olympics; who took up golf and won 82 tournaments as an
amateur and a pro; who was a three-time All-America in
basketball; who won championships in billiards, cycling,
shooting, speed skating, squash, swimming and tennis; and who
pitched in several major league exhibition games, wouldn't you
say that's the greatest athlete you've ever heard of?"
--RICK REILLY SI, Oct. 11, 1999
Martina Navratilova
Her 167 titles (singles and doubles) are more than any other
tennis player; 56 of those came in Grand Slam events, including
a record nine in Wimbledon singles.
"This year Martina Navratilova seems to have arrived at some
numinous place where the longitude of majesty and the latitude
of grace meet."
--Frank Deford, SI, July 16, 1984
COLOR PHOTO: WALTER IOOSS JR.
COLOR PHOTO: HARRY BENSON
B/W PHOTO: JAMES DRAKE
COLOR PHOTO: CARYN LEVY
B/W PHOTO: AP
COLOR PHOTO: MANNY MILLAN
