GOATladies+

Wow, that is a complex subject. Yet for me, Chris Evert upon looking at her first to last professional matches. The overall longevity of her greatness is unmatched. Consistently being #1 or in the top 4 of all the players in the world for her entire playing career. Evert had no bad years or even bad months. I put Monica Seles up there for a few years; she was on the same path won more slams way SOONER than the other greats. Seles was at her best, the pre, we all know what. So perhaps Seles for coming back, even if not at the same fitness level, conquering fear and the awful situation is GOAT. Note coming on that soon. 

Thus, Seles is the only great to incur the AWFUL sporting assault by an individual during a live competition. Nothing else comes close. Broadcasted everywhere, the person just slapped on wrists. WHO could come back to the venue after such an AWFUL crime. Very few, yet Seles won another slam and some tourneys. Amazing.

Sure Evert's health battle confirms how appreciative we must be of these tennis games and producing all-time greats.

Martina and Graf could have BAD days from the start to the end of their careers. They had some of the greatest ever days, but they also could flounder. They both admitted so in interviews. Martina, who was so great in tennis, could let her emotions cloud her in competition. Although on her peak days, she was unbeatable. Graf could have days where her shots were FLYING all over the place. Both are greats too.

Yet, the GOAT of all time is from start to end of the career—longevity, consistency, titles, slams; surface results is Evert. Evert passes Seles on grass. On the other surfaces at their peaks, they were equal. Yet Seles said she did not like grass. Evert seems to love grass and Wimbledon even though the grass didn't help her as much as other surfaces. 

Evert won Wimbledon three times when the GOAT grass-court players ruled Wimbledon: Martina, Graf, King, Court. To win three slams during this period was remarkable. Yvonne Goolagong Cawley, too played in half of Evert's career. Seles had to face Martina after Martina's career and Graf on grass. The other top players of the Seles era were not greats on grass. So, do the math, EVERT faced more challenges to win Wimbledon and did. Seles had a great shot at winning during the years she was out: notably when Conchita Martinez won. The bounce was high, grass almost dirt. Seles had much better passing shots than Martinez. Martina was winding down her singles career and mid to late 30s, in the final against Martinez, proving she is the greatest grass-court EVER.

I don't look just at individual slam results in singles. Evert missed quite a few in the 1970s during the decade she DOMINATED. French wouldn't let WTT players play for a few years, and Evert skipped Aussie. If allowed to do French and played Aussie in the 1970s, Evert would have picked up another 3-7. Add that to Evert's 18, and she would have been past Court at 24. Court won half of 24 in Australia when it was a national tourney for Aussies. The top players often did not go down until the 1980s, when it emerged as more of a true slam. Margaret Court is a champion, regardless of off-court issues. Yet pointing out the environment Court won most of her Aussie hits is important: far less competition than the 1980s through the present.

Evert has the most singles wins at French at 7, and she missed a few in the 1970s; she could have been at ten plus. True, Nadal is at 13. Yet I avoid comparing boys and girls; there are DIFFERENCES in genders. 

Back to GOAT on women. Suppose one looks at all slams and results in singles. Evert is close to the top at all four slams in overall results. Getting to the semifinals of 52 of 56, she played. THOSE slams were on all the surfaces. Thus her record of performing is excellent at all the slams: INCREDIBLE. She won a slam every year for 13 straight years. That means that for many, just winning one slam is impossible for pros, but for 13 consecutive years, she won at least one (a few years multiple slams). Here are her records, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Evert

GOAT's head-to-head records. Evert also didn't have a player that OWNED her, meaning she either came out ahead in head to head or was about even with all players. Even great champions would have players who OWNED them or had a significant advantage in head to head. Not, Evert, Evert figured out how to beat EVERYONE.

Evert won the most 6-0 sets in the history of tennis. When she played another tennis professional, she prevented them from even winning one game in a set. INCREDIBLE. Club players struggle to win sets 6-0. EVERT's 6-0 bagel sets were against ALL professionals. The PROS, those whose income is to win matches, train, and it is their full-time job. EVERT beat upon them with 6-0 sets. One of the greatest FEAR for many PRO players is "Don't let me lose a set 6-0" pride of champions! KILLER INSTINCT of EVERT is the best!

Regarding Evert's game, the groundies were perfect; she added different spins with changing of play and equipment. Her movement and anticipation are impeccable. Her volleys were pretty darn good (she never got the credit on volleys since she played some of the GREATEST volleyers of all time). She seldom missed and came to net far more in her later years than Graf, Seles, Serena. 

Evert had the greatest EVER lob and drop shot: two tennis shots requiring incredible timing and hands (Feel) and knowing when to use it. Not easy to do.

Evert's mental and emotional components were significant; no other athletes in any sport came close. Evert knew how to: pace herself, play big points, not have lulls, how to analyze during a match, how to prepare and practice, understand her body, recognize tennis is best of 3 sets, figure out surfaces, elements (outside, wind, sun, temperatures), speed of characters, travel and ALL the things tennis as the pro-level requires. 

Evert didn't have tantrums on Court. Instead, Evert shook hands and congratulated in losses and wins (she took Wimbledon fame motto to heart "If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster, and treat those two imposters just the same…." Evert promoted her game, the game of tennis (Even though it took time from training, it was tiring), knowing the game must have champions who did so.

Evert's overhead was more than sufficient, seldom missed. Evert's serve did not have the power on some others, which annoyed some pros who wanted pace, so they made remarks. On the other hand, Evert seldom double-faulted, got a high percentage of serves, and moved it around. 

Evert's return of serve was one of the best, against some of the most excellent servers and served and volleyers. 

Evert's passing shots were perfection (ask Martina and BJK), Evert was much quicker than people realized, her endurance was great, she recovered quickly, and she seldom had injuries that took her out of the game. Nor did Evert use injuries as excuses.

After wins, Evert went into all press interviews, and LOSSES took some tough questions throughout her career; she was not liked in England in her early days. I DON'T BELIEVE she married Lloyd to get in with the British. But, EVERT was in love, which cost her a couple of Wimbledon finals too! Love is intoxicating for people with BIG HEARTS! Yet the British, some, including the press declared Evert "The Ice Queen with no emotions, no heart". Evert had emotions, plenty. Evert just recognized and learned from her dad that tennis was going to be a job, having tantrums, crying, throwing racquets is not going to be tolerated anymore than throwing office equipment, breaking it. 

Evert was put on the spot when young. The other female PROS were jealous and did not want her on tour due to her attention in some places. You try and win matches, tournaments when you have to go into locker room where many are raging with jealousy, and many won't practice with you. In those days having hitting partners and all that was not like today. Back then pros mostly hit with each other. Whereas today pros get outside hitting partners, including have paid ones travel with them. Evert sustained this rocky entry into the tour. Much of this early jealousy was due to a very young Evert capturing world wide attention, the love of fans and press.

Evert learned to understand the press dynamics, make jokes, engage, promote the game, and give honest, intelligent analysis of matches regardless of the score. Evert is a master of a tennis game and understands it. In addition, Evert is a verbal communicator, which is great for interviews athletes do. Who wants a lump of coal in the seat! :) Some personalities and humor are fun for the fans.

NOTE

Serena will be analyzed ONCE retired. Appears to be retired yet Serena has hinted not done yet.

Note

Evert, Seles, Williams, Martina, Graf are my picks for GOAT in singles. Followed by BJK, Court. These are seven(7) greatest ladies to ever play tennis in the Open Era :) you didn't think my analysis would be that limited did you. Open Era 1968 to present.

Note

Evert pushed Graf to 3 sets the year Evert retired and Graf at her youth and a peak period.