In the 1990s, the British women’s tennis team was one of the strongest in the world. They were led by some of the world’s best and most successful female tennis players, including Jo Durie, Steffi Graf, and Monica Seles. This article will look at the best British female tennis players of the 1990s. We will discuss their achievements and what made them so successful.
These players were not only great tennis players but also great role models for young women. They inspired a generation of young women to pursue their dreams and showed that anything is possible if you work hard enough.
1. Jo Durie
| Full Name | Joanna Mary Durie |
| Nick Name | Jo Durie, Durie, Jo |
| Date of Birth | 27 July 1960 |
| Birth’s Place | Bristol, England, UK |
| Nationality | British (Britain) |
| Current Age | 62 Years |
| Occupation | Tennis Player, Sports Commentator, and Analyst |
| Residence | London, United Kingdom |
| Net Worth | $16 Million |
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) |
| Weight | 68 KG (150 lbs) |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Hair Color | Brown – Dark |
| Eye Color | Brown – Dark |
| Gender | Female |
Jo Durie is one of the best and most former professional female tennis players from the United Kingdom. Currently, he is a commentator and analyst for the BBC and Eurosport.
She had a successful career, reaching No. 9 in doubles and winning two Grand Slam titles in mixed doubles with Jeremy Bates.
All the achievements she acquired in his tennis career greatly inspire all who watch her play. Let’s dig deep into Durie’s fascinating achievements.
Durie was a very successful British player, being ranked No. 1 for a large part. She holds the record for winning the British National Singles title seven times. An incredible feat; her seven wins are unmatched by any other player.
Moreover, Durie’s record-breaking nine British National Doubles titles are a testament to her skill and dedication. She is a true champion and an inspiration to all who watch her play.
Durie was a key player on the British team that won the European Championship in Prague in 1992. His leadership and skill on the court were instrumental in the team’s success.
Durie retired from professional tennis in 1997.
2. Ann Haydon Jones
| Full Name | Ann Haydon Jones |
| Nick Name | Ann |
| Date of Birth | 7 October 1938 |
| Birth’s Place | Birmingham, United Kingdom |
| Nationality | British (Britain) |
| Current Age | 84 years (2022) |
| Occupation | Tennis Player |
| Residence | Birmingham |
| Net Worth | $1.5 Million |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.7m) |
| Weight | 61 KG (135 lbs) |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Hair Color | Brown |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Gender | Female |
Ann Haydon Jones had a successful tennis career before she retired in 1970. After retiring, she joined the British Broadcast Company as a guest analyst.
She provided expert commentary on matches and shared her insights on the game with the audience. Her experience as a professional tennis player helped her connect with the viewers and made her a popular figure on the BBC.
Ann Jones deserves an incredible space among the best British female tennis players of the 1990s. All the achievements of her tennis career are highly praiseworthy. Besides, she was a very hard-working woman and greatly inspired all her fans.
She had been playing at Wimbledon for 14 consecutive years. At the age of 30, she finally managed to beat the top seed Margaret Court.
She won the semifinal match with scores of 10-12, 6-3, and 6-2. In the 1969 championship, she was the No. 4 seed. Also, she returned from a set down to defeat the No. 2 seed, King. The final score was 3-6, 6-3, 6-2; this was her third major singles title.
However, Jones was an incredible athlete and an amazing tennis player. She was ranked in the top ten for thirteen years and won one hundred and thirteen singles titles. This all started in 1956 and ended in 1969, though she did play a few doubles events until 1977.
Although Jones was a mainstay at most major events, she only played twice at the Australian Nationals. These are in 1965 and 1969.
In 1969, she reached the semifinals in both singles and doubles. And also shared the mixed doubles title.
3. Annabel Nicola
| Full Name | Annabel Nicola Croft |
| Nick Name | Nicola, Croft |
| Date of Birth | July 12, 1966 |
| Birth’s Place | Farnborough, Kent, England |
| Nationality | British (Britain) |
| Current Age | 56 years (2022) |
| Occupation | Tennis Player |
| Residence | Kingston upon Thames |
| Net Worth | $9 Million |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.7 m) |
| Weight | 57 KG (126 lbs) |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Hair Color | Brown |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Gender | Female |
Annabel Nicola Croft is a well-known TV presenter and Tennis Pundit. Amongst the best 10 British female tennis players of the 1990s, she is one of the tops. The nice thing about her is that she was once a British Number 1 Tennis player. She is mostly known for her work in Tennis Broadcasting with BBC, SKY TV, Eurosport, and Amazon Prime.
She is no longer an active tennis player. But she remains an important part of the tennis community. Moreover, she is greatly inspiring the next generation of tennis players.
She quickly became a professional player at sixteen and won her first WTA Tour event in 1983.
Croft retired from professional tennis in 1996. But she has continued to stay involved in the sport through her broadcasting work.
In addition to her work in the media, Croft is also an active philanthropist. She is a patron of the British Tennis Foundation and the Lawn Tennis Association. She also helps to raise awareness for breast cancer research.
Croft is a true tennis legend, both on and off the court. She has had an incredible impact on the sport and continues to inspire people worldwide.
4. Wendy Turnbull
| Full Name | Wendy Turnbull |
| Nick Name | Wendy Turnbull, Turnbull, Wendy |
| Date of Birth | 26 November 1952 |
| Birth’s Place | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Current Age | 70 |
| Occupation | Tennis Player |
| Residence | Sandgate, Queensland, Australia |
| Net Worth | $17 Million |
| Height | 5 ft 5 Inches |
| Weight | 55 KG |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Gender | Female |
Wendy Turnbull was an Australian professional tennis player. She competed on the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) tour from 1975 to 1993. Turnbull won 11 singles titles and 55 doubles titles during her career.
Turnbull turned professional in 1975 and won her first WTA singles title that year at the Virginia Slims of Houston. She went on to win a total of 13 WTA singles titles during her career.
Her best Grand Slam singles results came at the French Open, where she reached the semifinals in 1978 and the quarterfinals in 1979 and 1980. Turnbull retired from professional tennis in 1985.
Turnbull was a member of the Australian Fed Cup team that won the title in 1977 and 1983. She was also a member of the Australian Olympic team that competed at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
Turnbull retired from professional tennis in 1993.
5. Katrina Adams
| Full Name | Katrina M. Adams |
| Nick Name | Katrina, Adams |
| Date of Birth | 5 August 1968 |
| Birth’s Place | Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Current Age | 54 Years (2022) |
| Occupation | Tennis Player |
| Residence | Yonkers, New York United States |
| Net Worth | $10 Million |
| Height | 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) |
| Weight | 65 KG |
| Ethnicity | – |
| Hair Color | Brown |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Gender | Female |
Katrina Adams had a very successful tennis career, winning numerous titles and becoming one of the top-ranked players in the world. She was especially successful in doubles, winning multiple Grand Slams titles. She was also a United States Fed Cup team member and helped them win the title in 1985.
After her playing career, Adams became a coach and commentator.
She turned professional in 1988 and won her first top-level singles title in 1990 at Itaparica. Adams reached her career-high singles ranking of world No. 24 in September 1991 and this achievement is enough to grant her among the 10 best British female tennis players of the 1990s.
Adams’s best performance at a Grand Slam tournament came at the 1991 US Open. Adams also reached the quarterfinals of the 1991 French Open and the 1992 Wimbledon Championships.
In doubles, Adams’s best results came at the 1991 US Open and the 1992 Wimbledon Championships, where she reached the semifinals with partner Larisa Neiland.
Adams retired from professional tennis in 1996.
6. Lindsay Davenport
| Full Name | Lindsay Ann Davenport Leach |
| Nick Name | Double-Bagel |
| Date of Birth | June 8, 1976 |
| Birth’s Place | Palos Verdes Peninsula, California, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Current Age | 46 Years |
| Occupation | Tennis Player |
| Residence | Shady Canyon district of Irvine, California |
| Net Worth | $20 Million Dollars |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.89 m) |
| Weight | 80 KG (172 lbs) |
| Ethnicity | Mixed |
| Hair Color | Light Brown |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Gender | Female |
Davenport is one of those women who have been the year-end No.1 at least four times since 1975 and has won three Grand Slam singles titles. She has also won the WTA Tour Championships doubles title four times.
Davenport retired in 2010, but she remains active in the tennis community. She currently serves as the captain of the US Fed Cup team.
Davenport was a versatile player. She could play well on all surfaces and was known for her powerful serve.
Davenport was a fierce competitor and always looked for ways to improve her game. She was constantly working on her fitness and her mental game. This helped her become one of her generation’s most successful players.
She retired in 2007 after a series of injuries.
7. Steffi Graf
| Full Name | Stephanie Maria Graf |
| Nick Name | ‘Fraulein Forehand |
| Date of Birth | June 14, 1969 |
| Birth’s Place | Mannheim, Germany |
| Nationality | West Germany |
| Current Age | 53 Years |
| Occupation | Tennis Player |
| Residence | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. |
| Net Worth | $30 Million |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75m) |
| Weight | 64 kg(141 lb) |
| Ethnicity | German |
| Hair Color | Blonde |
| Eye Color | Blue |
| Gender | Female |
Steffi Graf’s name always comes up when it comes to the greatest and most fascinating tennis players of all time. There’s no doubt about it. Her record of 22 Grand Slams is proof of that. She was an incredible player in her own right, and every tennis player will always remember her legacy.
However, Graf is an inspiration to many worldwide because of her astonishing records and ability to win the Calendar Golden Slam in a single year.
Graf had an incredible year in 1988, winning the Wimbledon, Australian Open, French Open, and US Open singles titles. She then capped it with a gold medal at the Olympic Games in Seoul. Graf was at the top of her game that year, and her Golden Slam is a testament to her greatness.
In her prime, Steffi Graf was ranked No. 1 throughout the world by the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association). She went on to win 22 Grand Slam singles titles, the most of any player in the Open Era. Her opponents knew that when they stepped onto the court against her, they were in for a battle.
Graf was known for her powerful forehand and her speed around the court. Her opponents could never keep up with her, and she always seemed to find a way to win. Even when she was down, she never gave up. Her mental toughness was unmatched. When she retired, Graf left a lasting legacy.
8. Monica Seles
| Full Name | Monica Seles |
| Nick Name | Seles |
| Date of Birth | December 2, 1973 |
| Birth’s Place | Novi Sad, Serbia |
| Nationality | Yugoslavian, Hungarian, and American |
| Current Age | 48 Years |
| Occupation | Retired Professional Tennis Player |
| Residence | Sarasota, Florida, United States |
| Net Worth | $50 Million |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
| Weight | 61 KG (134 lbs) |
| Ethnicity | – |
| Hair Color | Blonde |
| Eye Color | Green |
| Gender | Female |
Seles began playing tennis when she was just a little girl. She was five years old when she first picked up a racket, and she’s been playing ever since. Seles is one of the best British female tennis players of the 1990s.
Along with her father, the Sales coach was Jelena Genčić. He is a world-renowned tennis coach who has had a tremendous impact on the careers of many professional players. Among her most notable pupils is Seles, who she coached to success in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Since turning professional at 14, Seles has been a major force in the world of tennis. She quickly made a name for herself and has remained one of the top players for many years.
She won the French Open in 1990. At that time, she ranked number two in the world, defeating the top-ranked Steffi Graf. It was a huge upset and cemented her place as one of the best players in the world.
In the next few years, Seles continued to dominate the tennis world. She won 8 more Grand Slam titles and reached 33 finals from January 1991 to February 1993.
9. Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
| Full Name | Aránzazu Isabel María Sánchez Vicario |
| Nick Name | Barcelona Bumblebee |
| Date of Birth | December 18, 1971 |
| Birth’s Place | Barcelona, Spanish |
| Nationality | Spanish |
| Current Age | 51 Year |
| Occupation | Tennis Player |
| Residence | Andorra, Spain |
| Net Worth | $12 Million |
| Height | (5 ft 6+1⁄2 in (1.69 m) |
| Weight | 56 KG (123.6 lbs) |
| Ethnicity | – |
| Hair Color | Light Brown |
| Eye Color | Hazel |
| Gender | Female |
The Spanish tennis player Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario always admired her two older brothers and wanted to follow in their footsteps. So, at the age of four, she started playing tennis. Now, she’s a professional player herself.
Sánchez-Vicario’s passion and dedication led her to a successful tennis career. She played her first tennis match at the age of four.
She won her first tennis tournament at the age of six. In 1986, at just 15, she played in her first Grand Slam tournament. It was an impressive feat and one that would be a sign of things to come from this young athlete.
She dominated the tennis world, winning the French Open Singles in 1989. This was her first time winning this particular tournament, but it would certainly not be her last.
In 1988, tennis was reinstated as an Olympic sport after a long hiatus. Spanish tennis player Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario was part of the tournament that year, but she was knocked out in the first round.
Arantxa returned to Atlanta in 1996 with hopes of winning a gold medal. However, she could only win silver in the singles final after losing to Lindsey Davenport.
She was able to win a bronze medal in women’s doubles. Although disappointed with her results, she was still proud of her accomplishments.
10. Gabriela Sabatini
| Full Name | Gabriela Beatriz Sabatini |
| Nick Name | Gaby |
| Date of Birth | May 16, 1970 |
| Birth’s Place | Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Nationality | Argentine |
| Current Age | 52 Years |
| Occupation | Tennis Player |
| Residence | Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Net Worth | $8 Million |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
| Weight | 59 KG (130 lbs) |
| Ethnicity | Argentine-Italian |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Gender | Female |
Like many of her contemporaries, Sabatini began playing tennis at a young age in the late 1980s and early 1990s. She was a natural athlete and quickly rose to the top of the junior ranks.
Sabatini turned pro at 16 and quickly made a name for herself on the WTA Tour, winning her first title in 1986. She would have a successful career, winning 22 WTA singles titles and reaching the US Open final in 1990.
Gabriela Sabatini won her first tournament, and in 1983, at 13, she became the youngest player to win the prestigious Orange Bowl.
From then on, there was no looking back for the Argentine star. In 1984, she was ranked as the world’s No. 1 junior player, and she would enjoy a hugely successful career on the professional circuit.
Conclusion
This article teaches about only the 10 best British Female Tennis Players of the 1990s. But, during that time, many British female tennis players emerged as some of the best in the world. These players succeeded internationally, winning titles and reaching high rankings. They paved the way for future British female tennis players and helped put the country on the map as a tennis powerhouse.
- Read More Also: The 8 Best French Female Tennis Players Of All Time
