Top 5 most talented players to ever play on the WTA Tour

My picks:

1. Seles
2. Hingis
3. Navratilova
4. Serena
5. Henin

1. Whitehead
2. Whitehead
3. Whitehead
4. Whitehead
5. Meusburger

In no order
Seles
Graf
Court
King
Navratilova

1. Seles
2. Hingis
3. Graf
4. Serena
5. Capriati

In no particular order: Seles, Hingis, Navratilova, Graf, Serena.

When I think of the word talent, I think of it as a natural ability that cannot be taught to the average tennis player. The natural ability that is able to propel them to the top of the game.

1. Steffi Graf - Her backhand remains to be the most overlooked shot in the history of the game. But with its variety - slicing it deep, slicing it low, and slicing it for a drop, it's hardly a shot that can be taught to anyone playing the game, yet it's so natural to her. Her backhand slice remains to be the best slice the game has ever stumbled upon. If only people realized how effective it was, perhaps we would be seeing more of that type of tennis being played at the very top of the modern game. Or maybe perhaps people realize it's a shot that cannot be taught. I don't mention her forehand because it's the shot she is already famous for.

2. Serena Williams - I'm listing her as one of my top 5 not because of her game or her athleticism, but her gift up in the noggin. No one else I know has the mental fortitude of Serena Williams, and it definitely cannot be taught to the average athlete. It's what propelled her up to the top, and it's what gave her the edge to win her first grand slam a year before her big sis. It's also what makes her the greatest of this generation, winning 3 grand slams while saving match points en route.

3. Hingis - Simply put, she has every shot in the repertiore, and not only that, she can bust them out at the most critical moments that make you go WTF. Let's not forget about her anticipation and court sense. She works the point like a chess match - you better not have a glaring weakness if you're playing Martina Hingis. She is the most naturally gifted tennis player perhaps ever to grace the game.

4. Venus Williams - Based on athleticism. Who else can cover the court like Venus Williams...there are people that may come close but I feel she is fastest player on tour at her peak. Again, you can train someone to run faster but some people are just natural at it.

5. Monica Seles - She will probably forever be the best player to have 2 hands on both wings. While it is a liability to have 2 on both sides, because it has less reach, at her peak it didn't really matter because she was always the one controlling her opponent. And it wasn't just of her power. Her ball placement was just...unheard of, til this day. Her returns come back at you faster than a serve, and at a more acute angle, and she does this day in and out. She also had a great mental fortitude though a bit lesser than Serena's.

When I think of the word talent, I think of it as a natural ability that cannot be taught to the average tennis player. The natural ability that is able to propel them to the top of the game.

1. Steffi Graf - Her backhand remains to be the most overlooked shot in the history of the game. But with its variety - slicing it deep, slicing it low, and slicing it for a drop, it's hardly a shot that can be taught to anyone playing the game, yet it's so natural to her. Her backhand slice remains to be the best slice the game has ever stumbled upon. If only people realized how effective it was, perhaps we would be seeing more of that type of tennis being played at the very top of the modern game. Or maybe perhaps people realize it's a shot that cannot be taught. I don't mention her forehand because it's the shot she is already famous for.

2. Serena Williams - I'm listing her as one of my top 5 not because of her game or her athleticism, but her gift up in the noggin. No one else I know has the mental fortitude of Serena Williams, and it definitely cannot be taught to the average athlete. It's what propelled her up to the top, and it's what gave her the edge to win her first grand slam a year before her big sis. It's also what makes her the greatest of this generation, winning 3 grand slams while saving match points en route.

3. Hingis - Simply put, she has every shot in the repertiore, and not only that, she can bust them out at the most critical moments that make you go WTF. Let's not forget about her anticipation and court sense. She works the point like a chess match - you better not have a glaring weakness if you're playing Martina Hingis. She is the most naturally gifted tennis player perhaps ever to grace the game.

4. Venus Williams - Based on athleticism. Who else can cover the court like Venus Williams...there are people that may come close but I feel she is fastest player on tour at her peak. Again, you can train someone to run faster but some people are just natural at it.

5. Monica Seles - She will probably forever be the best player to have 2 hands on both wings. While it is a liability to have 2 on both sides, because it has less reach, at her peak it didn't really matter because she was always the one controlling her opponent. And it wasn't just of her power. Her ball placement was just...unheard of, til this day. Her returns come back at you faster than a serve, and at a more acute angle, and she does this day in and out. She also had a great mental fortitude though a bit lesser than Serena's.

Based on your definition (which I completely agree with), I agree with your choices as well.

Presumably, we're talking about recent open era history, no?

1. Nicole Pratt
2. Camille Pin
3. Alexandra Stevenson
4. Jessica Moore
5. Francesca Schiavone

1. Navratilova
2. Graf
3. Davenport
4. Seles
5. Henin

1)Seles
2)Serena
3)Hingis
4)Graf
5)Venus

If we speak about talent I wouldnt choose Steffi as the best ever:

1 - Seles
2 - Navratilova
3 - Hingins
4 - Steffi
5 - Henin or Serena

No particular order :

1) Graf
2) Navratilova
3) S.Williams
4) Henin
5) Hingis

in terms of being a nturally gifted ballstriker: graf, hingis, capriati, seles, davenport

being a naturally gifted athlete: graf, venus, serena, navratilova, clijsters

a natural competitor: SERENA, graf, seles, capriati, sharapova

anyone agree with my breakdown?

1. Steffi Graf
2. Martina Navratilova
3. Martina Hingis
4. Patty Schnyder
5. Jo Durie

I'll talk about the last 30 years only
Graf,Navratilova,Henin,Hingis and Serena.

1. Henin
2. Capriati
3. Seles
4. Serena
5. Graf
6. Hingis

Talent's such a difficult term to define, but I think those 6 epitomize talent when it comes to the past 25 years. They each have a natural ability that is exuded when you watch them play a match. Other players rely on their physical prowess (Venus) or hard work (Safina comes to mind) to overcome a lack of pure natural talent.....but those 6 were really born with it and then added the hard work to get to the top of the game and stay there.

I can only pick those I really watched a few times, starting in the 90s..it's hard to decide...the best would be see them all competing without any training...


no order: Capriati...although she played with lots of power it was obvious that she was just gifted otwerwise you can be on the top so young

Graf: she practiced so hard, but as described above, her shots were unique in a way

Hingis: when she came to the tour, this was just amzing. I believed she could do anything

Serena: she is a physical plyaer, but without any doubt superior in so many ways

Seles or clijsters: I can't decide, both have an amzing natural ability to do everything right on the court