Top 5 World No. 1 female players who have not completed a Career Slam
Being World No.1 in any sport is a dream come true for any sportsperson. In tennis, there have been a number of eminent players who have been ranked World No.1 since the introduction of the ATP and WTA rankings. Many of these successful players have achieved the rare feat of a Career Slam by winning all four Grand Slam tournaments.
However, there have been a number of players who, despite being one of the best of their generation, have not been able to achieve this coveted feat. Here’s a list of five Women’s players who haven’t been able to achieve the Career Grand Slam.
#5. Lindsay Davenport
One of the most noted players of her generation, Lindsay Davenport was renowned for her powerful groundstrokes. In a highly successful Career, Davenport was World No.1 for a total of 98 weeks and is one of only five women who have been year-end World No.1 at least four times (1998, 2001, 2004 and 2005) in the last four decades; the others being Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf and Serena Williams.
During her Career, Davenport won a total of 55 WTA titles including three Grand Slams; the Australian Open in 2000, Wimbledon in 1999 and the US Open in 1998. The only Grand Slam missing from Davenport’s trophy cabinet is the French Open with her best performance being reaching the semi-finals in 1998.
After a couple of brilliant performances in 1997, 1998 was expected to be a good year for Davenport. After a semi-final showing at the Australian Open followed by some good performances prior to Roland Garros, Davenport was one of the favorites heading into the French Open and was expected to win her maiden Grand Slam title. Davenport reached her first French Open semi-final after defeating defending champion Iva Majoli in the quarter-finals.
In the semi-finals, she was up against the 1989 and 1994 champion Arantxa Sanchez Vicario who beat her 6-3, 7-6. Vicario went on to win her third French Open title which remains to be the only Grand Slam she ever won. Davenport, however wasn’t able to reach another French Open singles semi-final (having won the Women’s doubles title in 1996).