The U.S. Open is around the corner, the final tennis major of the season. The game's best male and female players take the hard court in pursuit of a U.S. Open championship, won last year by Angelique Kerber in the Ladies' draw.
There's a special vibe that comes with the game of tennis, and the following female tennis players make tennis such a great sport to watch.
10. Angelique Kerber
Height: 5' 8"; Left-Handed
This former world no.1 has accomplished a feat that no woman in tennis has done, which was to acquire the world no.1 ranking after the age of 30. Talk about aging gracefully; Kerber did it on top of winning two majors in the 2016 season. 2017 has been a struggle for her, including being ousted in the first round of the French Open as the no.1 seed, but it doesn't take away the fact that she put in the work to gradually reach the top.
9. Caroline Wozniacki
Height: 6'0"; Right-Handed
This former world no.1 has overcome missed time from the game of tennis and is on her way to being a high-profile player again. She hasn't quite reached no.1 again yet, but she's still a top-10 player.
8. Agnieszka Radwanska
This 5'8" Polish-born player has been consistently ranked in the top 10 for nearly 6 years running, including a no.3 world ranking back in 2014. She's fallen short against former champions, such as Serena Williams, but she's one of the better players in the world.
7. Petra Kvitova
Height: 6'0"; Left-Handed
This two-time Wimbledon champion from the Czech Republic is one of the best-conditioned players on the women's tour. Even though she's been stricken by a home invasion, she's still one of the best players in the game.
6. Venus Williams
Height: 6'0"; Right-Handed
Williams is the oldest active player (37), and even though she has been involved in a car crash, she is one of the most well-conditioned players in the game. She's had an excellent career too, having won a grand total of 7 major titles.
5. Serena Williams
Height: 5'9"; Right-Handed
It's difficult to exclude the all-time major winner from this list, with 23 majors won. Serena has had the most accomplished career of all the people on this list, and she's the most animated. You've got to love her passion for the game. Her first child is on the way too.
4. Elina Svitolina
Height: 5'9"; Right-Handed
Svitolina, a Ukrainian tennis player, is currently ranked in the top-5 at no.4 in the Women's Tennis Association rankings, and she's still ascending as a tennis player. At the age of 22, her best years are still ahead. She's defeated notable players, such as Simona Halep and Carolina Wozniacki during the 2017 season.
3. Jelena Ostapenko
Height: 5'10"; Right-Handed
Ostapenko is the one who stole the French Open away from current world no.2 Simona Halep, vaulting her into no.12 on the current WTA rankings. This Latvian-born player became the first Latvian woman to win a major and just like Garbine Muguruza, won her first major in her early twenties. Ostapenko won the event two days after her 20th birthday.
2. Garbine Muguruza
Height: 6'0"; Right-Handed
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Muguruza is a two-time major champion and is one of the elite active young players. At 23, her best years are still ahead - she's only two and a half months older than myself and with two majors under her belt already, there are many more on the way. She's on a similar path to Serena Williams, who also won big at an early age.
1. Karolina Pliskova
Height: 6'1"; Right-Handed
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Pliskova is the current world no.1 out of the Czech Republic, and she's everything as advertised. She's another one of the elite active young players. At the age of 25, she's cemented her place among the top even though she hasn't yet broken through with a major championship. Her time is coming, and Pliskova is at the top of her game right now so she's got plenty of winning in her future.
The 10 players on this list aren't on here just because of their looks; they're ten of the most talented players in the Women's Tennis Association. They're also great interviews for the media, since they're approachable, easy to talk to, and with the U.S. Open starting this week, they're all vying for that championship trophy. They're graceful in their interviews, respectful of their opponents, and classy in defeat. Additionally, some of the people on this list are parents in addition to being tennis players, so they have their own balance to find, but they do it well.
All of these players also do charity work in addition to tennis. Noteworthy involvement includes Wozniacki running Team For Kids, and the Williams sisters have a charity called "Look To The Stars". Angelique Kerber runs a charity known as "Auction for Kids In Need", as well as Garbine Muguruza teaming up with fellow Spaniard Rafael Nadal to do charity work.
They are all winners in my book because of the way they conduct themselves and give back, as well as the way they enjoy the game of tennis.
