Lindsay Davenport

American who won 3 Grand Slam singles titles and an Olympic gold medal, known for her dominant serve and groundstrokes.

Lindsay Ann Davenport was born in Palos Verdes, California in 1976 and turned professional in 1993, winning 3 Grand Slam singles titles — the US Open (1998), Wimbledon (1999) and Australian Open (2000) — Olympic gold at Atlanta in 1996 and 55 WTA titles. She held the world number one ranking for 98 weeks. Her career win percentage of 79% across 750+ matches reflects consistency across a 17-year career. Her combination of flat groundstrokes — particularly a forehand of exceptional pace and penetration for a baseline player — and a serve that touched 120 mph made her one of the most powerful players of her era. At 6ft 2in she was among the tallest women's champions in history. She was year-end number one in 1998 and 2001. She won the WTA Finals in 1999. She reached Grand Slam semi-finals or better at every major in her career. She returned to competition in 2009–2010 after the birth of her children, reaching the 2010 Australian Open semi-final at 33 years old. She was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2014.

Davenport was known for her aggressive baseline power game, featuring a devastating forehand and strong serve. Standing 6'2", she used her height and reach effectively to control points from the back of the court. Her clean ball-striking and ability to hit winners from defensive positions made her one of the most feared competitors on the WTA tour.

Davenport helped define the power baseline era of women's tennis in the late 1990s and early 2000s alongside players like Venus and Serena Williams. Her consistent excellence and sportsmanship made her one of the most respected players of her generation.

• 3 Grand Slam singles titles
• Olympic gold medallist (1996 Atlanta)
• world No. 1 for 98 weeks
• International Tennis Hall of Fame (2014)