Yevgeny Kafelnikov names who is greatest women’s tennis player of all time over Serena Williams

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Several women deserve consideration in the G.O.A.T. debate…

Serena Williams won a record 23 Grand Slam titles and held the number one ranking for 319 weeks, but she’s not the only WTA star to have enjoyed success over the years.

The likes of Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert both won 20+ Grand Slam titles in the Open Era, carving out almost untouchable legacies.

However, during a recent interview, former world number one Yevgeny Kafelnikov named someone else as the greatest women’s player of all time.

Yevgeny Kafelnikov picked Steffi Graf as the greatest women’s tennis player ever

Speaking on the Russian YouTube show, ‘Hardcourt’, Kafelnikov made his pick for the WTA G.O.A.T.

“Everyone thinks of Serena Williams, but for me, the number one of all time is Steffi Graf,” he said.

“Steffi Graf is number one with a lot to spare.

“The way she behaved on the court, she is simply the ideal tennis player, the one to look up to.

“If you’re Aryna Sabalenka or Elena Rybakina, anyone who wants to make something of themselves, to leave some kind of legacy in women’s tennis, I think you should look up to Steffi Graf.”

Steffi Graf won 22 Grand Slam titles during her career, retiring in 1999 as one of the best to ever do it.

Steffi Graf’s career achievements

• 22 Grand Slams (3rd most in Open Era)
• 377 weeks at number one (1st all-time)
• Eight-time year-end number one (1st all-time)
• 107 WTA titles (3rd most in Open Era)
• Calendar Grand Slam (1988)
• Three unbeaten seasons (1988, 1995, 1996)

When the German retired from tennis, many considered her to be the greatest of all time, but that was before Williams came along…

Surpassing her record of 22 Grand Slams, Williams jumped above Graf in the all-time list, but how do the two compare in other categories?

Comparing Serena Williams to Steffi Graf

The truth is, there’s very little to separate the pair, and it really is a subjective matter as to which player you believe is the greatest of all time.

But is there anyone playing on the WTA Tour right now who could one day surpass both Williams and Graf?

The future G.O.A.T.(s) of women’s tennis

Winning Grand Slams is a great way to fast-track yourself into the G.O.A.T. debate, but how many players in the WTA top 10 have picked up majors during their time on tour?

Of the players listed above, Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, and Coco Gauff, the world’s top three, look most likely to challenge the records set by Williams and Graf.

Sabalenka is the current world number one and has now won four Grand Slam titles, although at 27 years old, it’s hard to imagine her reaching 20 majors before she hangs up her racket for good.

Swiatek, on the other hand, is just 24, and already has two more majors than her Belarusian rival.

A dominant clay-court player in years gone by, if Swiatek can rediscover and maintain that form over the next decade or so, then she could well have Williams and Graf looking over their shoulders before too long.

Then there’s Gauff, who at 21 years old is the second-youngest player in the top 10.

With two Grand Slam titles to her name already, the sky is the limit for the young American… If she can sort out her serve!

Only time will tell if anyone will ever top Williams’ record of 23 Grand Slams, or hold the number-one ranking for longer than Graf, but it will certainly be something to look out for in the future.