Women in Sports is a special series by SportzPoint to honour all of those women who showed the world that you can achieve anything. This is the third episode of the series. Check the first and second episodes also.

All of these women have sacrificed many things to conquer the world. They have fought against gender barriers, inequalities and discrimination. Moreover, the man-minded world was very sacred to recognize and salute the spirits of those women.

Women just can not play after being a mother- this myth has always been there in the industry. However, when you are passionate about the game, motherhood just makes them stronger and stronger. In this episode, we will talk about those women who just became better after being a mother.

Female Athletes and Motherhood

If you ask any woman, they would say that being a mother is the most beautiful moment in their life. But, that does not mean that they can not juggle between being a mother and a professional athlete. However, it is their body that goes under enormous pressure while being pregnant and post-pregnancy as well. Studies show now that female athletes have longer sporting careers than men.

So, if the world supports more moms to be back in their sporting arena, it will become more revolutionary in the sports world. Here are the top 8 female athletes who just rocked the sports world being a mom-

#1 Serena Williams (USA, Tennis)

Serena Williams is the greatest tennis player of the Open era if we talk about achievements. She has won everything that could be won on the tennis court. The 23 Singles Grand Slam Winner, was eight weeks pregnant when she won the Australian Open in 2017.

She revealed her pregnancy with a baby bump post on Snapchat. Serena also confirmed that she got to know about her pregnancy only a few days before the matches. This incident challenged the thoughts of women not being strong enough for sports.

Serena never thought of ending her illustrated career by just being a mother. However, she challenged herself and proved everyone wrong. She proved that being a mother only gives you more strength.

However, Serena had some serious complications during childbirth but managed to get back on the court to get to the magical 24th Grand Slam Title. The magic is that Serena played 4 Grand Slam Finals within 10 months of her postpartum.

Read Also: Women In Sports: 15 Iconic Images In Women Sport

#2 Skylar Diggins-Smith (USA, Basketball)

WNBA All-Star Skylar Diggins-Smith is a four-time WNBA All-Star. Skylar is one of the most illustrated players in the history of Women's Basketball.

Skylar missed the 2019 season due to pregnancy. But, she pulled off something great before resting the season out. During the 2018 season, she was already pregnant. Although she managed to be the third player in WNBA history to average at least 17 points and six assists per game.

She did not tell her pregnancy news to anybody as she wanted to continue with the season. After resting for six months following her postpartum, she came back with a bang. Skylar scored a team-high 19 points for the U.S. women's national team. Not only that she also grabbed the award for the WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week Award also.

So, her fights prove how women in sports should dedicate themselves just to make it more equal and even for the next generation.

#3 Mary Kom (Boxing, India)

India is a very hard place to be a mother and professional athlete. Its social imbalance and inequality in pay structure make it even harder financially to sustain a career being a mother.

However, the mother of three children and a record sixth-time World Champion boxer proved everyone wrong with her dedication and fighting spirit. Kom has won medals in one of the first seven World Championships. She is also the only boxer to win eight World Championship medals.

Mary Kom became a mother to twin boys in 2007. In 2013, she became a mother for the third time. But she kept on going through every tough situation to keep her boxing career going.

Mary Kom went on to win her Olympic medal in 2012 after becoming a mother. She won a bronze in the 51kg freestyle category. Kom is regarded as the "Magnificent Mary" due to her passion, fight and dedication.

The Indian boxer bowed out to Ingrit Valencia in the pre-quarterfinals of the Tokyo Olympics 2020.

Read Also: Women In Sports: Female Firsts In Every Sport

#4 Allyson Felix (USA, Track & Field)

The only female track and field athlete to win six Olympic Gold Medals did not have it easy in her life. Allyson Felix is the 2012 Olympic gold medal winner and a three-time world champion.

The star athlete from America had a tough time during her pregnancy. Felix went through preeclampsia and an emergency C-section to deliver her daughter. In November 2018 she was blessed with her baby girl.

In her tough times, Felix accused Nike that they wanted her back on track as soon as possible post-pregnancy. The rumour was also that Nike asked for a guarantee from Felix that her performance would not go down. However, Nike declined those rumours.

Felix is currently aiming for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as it would be her fifth consecutive Olympics.

"Everyone sees the glory moments, but they don't see what happens behind the scenes."

#5 Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (Jamaica, Track & Field)

Shelly is another mom-athlete who became a mother in #DreamMaternity year in 2019. The mom-athlete from Jamaica has 6 Olympic medals including 2 Gold medals in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.

She has always been fast. But, she is been inspirational to millions of women out there as well. After having her appendix removed in April 2009, Fraser became World 100m champion.

The "pocket rocket" from Jamaica kept running fast even after childbirth. She became the world 100m champion only after two years of postpartum.

Shelly now calls herself the #mommyrocket.

#6 Nia Ali (USA, Track & Field)

Nia Ali is another mom-athlete who did great after becoming a mother. In 2015 to Nia gave birth to her son Titus. Post that she came back and won the gold medal in the World Championship within a year.

Nia continued her success after becoming a mother. She went on to win the silver medal at the 2016 Olympics for the 100-meter hurdles.

The victory lap with her son after winning the Gold medal at the 2016 world championship is a moment to saviour for everyone who supports women in sports.

#7 Kara Goucher (USA, Track & Field)

Kara Goucher, an American long-distance runner is always been vocal about raising financial security for mom-athletes.

While she was pregnant with her son, in 2010, Goucher worked to be a public figure for Nike. However, as he had given birth to her child, Nike refused to pay her anymore leading to her financial crisis.

Nike said, 'We don't pay you to tell your story. We pay you to run, and you're not running. You have to get back into racing.' According to Goucher, she ran in the Boston Marathon while her son was getting operated on his neck in the hospital. Also, as she was hurried back into running, she suffered hip pain that will stay with her forever.

The women in sports are still fighting for their existence. Gender barriers, financial crises and many other issues wrapped them around. We hope our series reaches the ones who want to make their dream true as a woman or female athlete.

#8 Bismah Maroof (Pakistan, Cricket)

Bismah Maroof broke all the barriers in cricket when the former Pakistan captain joined the National team in 2021 with her daughter in her lap. In April 2021, she took a break from cricket due to pregnancy. But, she rejoined the team in December of 2021 right after the birth of her child. Not only that, she went to the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2022 as the captain of the Pakistan captain with her daughter in her arms. That picture won the hearts of many while disqualified many as well. 

But, Maroof kept battling her fight on and off the field and went on to say, "Kill me if you want, but, I want to play cricket".

Note: The article was first written in 2022 and then was updated.

Women’s cricket is constantly growing, and matches are continuously being played on a bigger stage with larger crowds. 

There are female cricketers who paved the way for others and continuously tried to grow the game even when only the smallest spotlight was on the sport, and such players need commending for their efforts. 

So, let's dig into the incredible careers and achievements of some of the best female cricketers who are making history.

Top Female Cricketers

10. Chamari Athapaththu | Sri Lanka 

Chamari Athapaththu is the greatest cricketer from Sri Lanka to have played women’s cricket. 

Debuting as a 19-year-old, she was soon noted for her aggressive batting. 

She became captain of the Sri Lanka national team and has helped a not-so-strong team challenge much more formidable opponents on the global stage.

In 2024 she led Sri Lanka to an underdog win in the Asia Cup women’s T20I series and finished as Player of the Tournament. 

Chamari has also led Sri Lanka to its first-ever series wins over South Africa and England in T20Is and over New Zealand in ODIs. 

She holds the record for most runs for Sri Lanka in women’s ODIs and T20Is, and her nine women’s ODI hundreds are a Sri Lankan record as well. 

In April 2024, her unbeaten 195 helped Sri Lanka complete the first-ever successful chase of more than 300 runs in a women’s ODI.

In 2023, a seating zone at the Sydney Cricket Ground was named “Chamari Bay” in her honor.

9. Laura Wolvaardt | South Africa 

Laura Wolvaardt made her debut for South Africa as an opening batter at age 16, and by age 25 she became her country’s record holder for most ODI runs, most ODI hundreds, and most T20I runs in women’s cricket. 

Along the way, she became the youngest centurion, male or female, for South Africa in international cricket. 

In 2024 Wolvaardt became only the third woman to score a hundred in all three formats of international cricket, achieving the feat in a Test vs. India. 

After that, she was also named captain of the South Africa T20I team for the World Cup and captained her side to the final where it lost to New Zealand.

8. Heather Knight | England 

Heather Knight took over as captain of the England women’s team in 2016 when Charlotte Edwards retired and led it to victory in the 2017 women’s ODI World Cup at home. 

She was named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year that year and was also awarded an OBE. 

As of 2024 Knight has more than 5,000 runs in international cricket.

7. Amelia Kerr | New Zealand 

Amelia Kerr is a third-generation New Zealand cricketer who emerged on the international scene with a bang. 

At age 16, she was the youngest to earn a New Zealand Cricket contract and to debut for the national team in 2017. 

The next year, at 17, she became the youngest cricketer, man or woman, to score an international double century. During that innings, she beat the women’s ODI record held by Belinda Clark on her way to an unbeaten 232.

Not content with scoring a double, she also took 5 wickets while bowling in one of the all-time great all-round displays. 

Kerr has since been a consistent performer for New Zealand and in 2024 was named both the Player of the Final and the Player of the Tournament as New Zealand won the women’s T20I World Cup.

6. Hayley Matthews | West Indies 

Hayley Matthews is a cricketer from Barbados who plays for the West Indies women’s cricket team and became the team’s captain in 2022. 

Matthews is an all-rounder who has more than 4,000 runs in women’s ODIs and T20Is, as well as more than 100 wickets in each format. 

A natural athlete, she played both track and field and cricket in her youth, before focusing on cricket and making her debut for the West Indies. 

Her crowning glory was a Player of the Match performance in the women’s T20I World Cup final in 2016, as the West Indies beat favorites Australia to win its first title.

Matthews is a highly sought after player in franchise leagues across the world and was Player of the Tournament in the first edition of the WPL in 2023, when she helped her team, Mumbai Indians, win the title.

5. Nat Sciver-Brunt | England 

Nat Sciver-Brunt plays international cricket for England. She has scored more than 6,000 international runs with 10 centuries and taken more than 150 wickets as of 2024. 

She is credited with inventing the “Natmeg” shot, in which she hits the ball between her legs for runs. 

In 2013 she became the first England bowler to take a women’s T20I hat trick.

Nat Sciver was named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 2018 and won the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year award in both 2022 and 2023. 

She is married to fellow England cricketer Katherine Sciver-Brunt.

4. Ellyse Perry | Australia 

Ellyse Perry is one of the greatest all-rounders in the history of cricket based on sheer numbers: a Test batting average of over 60, a Test bowling average below 22, and women’s ODI batting and bowling averages of 50 and 25, respectively. 

In 2007, at age 16, Perry became the youngest Australian to play international cricket. 

She is also the first Australian to have appeared in cricket as well as football (soccer) World Cups, playing the latter in 2011 in Germany. 

She has won the ICC Women’s Player of the Year award twice, in 2017 and 2019. 

In 2020 she was named the ICC Female Player of the Decade. Perry is one of the most famous female cricketers in the world.

3. Harmanpreet Kaur | India

Harmanpreet Kaur debuted for India in 2009 but is best remembered for an unbeaten innings of 171, which helped underdogs India beat Australia to reach the final of the 2017 women’s ODI World Cup.

The knock made her a household name in India and helped take the popularity of the women’s game to the next level. 

She has also scored India’s fastest T20I hundred off only 49 balls. Harmanpreet has more than 7,000 international runs and more than 70 wickets. 

In 2016 she became the first Indian cricketer to sign a contract with the Australian Big Bash League, playing for Sydney Thunder. In 2017 she was awarded the Arjuna Award. 

Picked as captain by the Mumbai Indians in the WPL, she led them to victory in the inaugural season of the WPL in 2023. She was named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year the same year.

Harmanpreet has also captained the Indian women’s national team across formats since 2016.

2. Alyssa Healy | Australia 

Alyssa Healy is a wicketkeeper batsman who captains the Australian women’s national team.

She had a middling batting record until 2017 but has since remodeled herself into a formidable opening batter. 

In 2018 she was Player of the Tournament in Australia’s women’s T20I World Cup win; she was named Women’s T20I Player of the Year that year. 

Healy was also Player of the Match when Australia successfully defended its T20I title in the 2020 final. 

She continued her big-match streak with a Player of the Match performance in the 2022 women’s ODI World Cup final, scoring a mammoth 170 runs and earning the Player of the Series award. 

In 2020 Healy surpassed MS Dhoni’s record for the most wicketkeeping dismissals in T20Is by any keeper, male or female. 

1. Smriti Mandhana | India

Currently regarded as one of the best batters in women’s cricket, Smriti Mandhana holds several coveted records to her name.

She has scored more than 7,000 international runs with more than 10 hundreds across formats. 

Her nine ODI hundreds are an Indian women’s record. 

She captained her state team Maharashtra in 2013 at just age 16 and debuted for India the same year. 

Mandhana was the costliest buy in the inaugural WPL auction and was picked by the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) as captain for 3.4 crore rupees. 

She led RCB to victory in the second edition of the WPL in 2024. 

Mandhana won the ICC Women’s ODI Player of the Year award in 2018. She has also won the Rachael Hayhoe Flint Award for Best Women’s Cricketer of the Year twice, in 2018 and 2021.

The Australian Open is one of the four Grand Slam tournaments in tennis and is held annually in Melbourne, Australia.

The women's tournament has seen a number of talented players win the title in recent years.

Also Read: Australian Open Winners list (Men)

The Australian Open winners list (Women) are given below.

Players who won the tournament multiple times

Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka, and Naomi Osaka are some of the players who have won the Australian Open multiple times. 

Serena Williams, meanwhile, cemented her position as the most successful women’s player of all-time at the event, with seven titles.

In 2021, Naomi Osaka became the first player from Japan to win the Australian Open. She defeated American Jennifer Brady in the final. 

Naomi Osaka also won the tournament in 2019, becoming the first Asian player to win a Grand Slam singles title. 

Sofia Kenin, who hails from the United States, won the 2020 tournament, beating Spain's Garbiñe Muguruza in the final. 

Kenin, who was just 21 years old at the time, became the youngest player to win the Australian Open since Maria Sharapova in 2008.

In 2018, Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki won her first Grand Slam title, defeating Romania's Simona Halep in the final. 

Wozniacki had previously been the runner-up at the tournament in 2011 and 2014. 

Serena Williams, who is widely considered one of the greatest female players of all time, won the Australian Open in 2017 and 2015. 

She defeated her sister Venus Williams in 2017 final and defeated Maria Sharapova in the 2015 final.

Also Read: Top 10 most-talked about Tennis dresses worn by female players

Madison Keys won Australian Open 2025 title

Meanwhile, Madison Keys of America won her first-ever Grand Slam title by becoming the champion in the women's singles event of the Australian Open 2025. 

In the title match, Keys defeated two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 2-6, 7-5. 

Keys is the second-oldest woman to claim her first Australian Open singles title in the Open era after China’s Li Na, who was 31 when she triumphed at Melbourne Park in 2014.

Here is the full list.

Australian Open Winners list (Women)

A distinguished wardrobe has always had its place on the tennis court. Long considered a pastime of the elite, the refined sport has been encouraging smart dress since the turn of the 20th century.

But while tradition mandates all-white ensembles, the game’s gutsiest players have since experimented with a rainbow of uniforms, accessories, and even hairstyles.

Naturally, their taste for forward-thinking fashion extends beyond the confines of the court as well and also their sartorial choices regularly make headlines.

So, let's take a look at the top 10 most-talked-about Tennis dresses worn by female players.

Fashion in Tennis dress 

From the sport’s earliest days to its top moments of controversy, tennis has long been influenced by fashion and has influenced it in turn.

As the sport evolved, a more uniform but still formal style of dress started to form for women. 

The tennis look drew from lawn dresses, which were often worn to garden parties, racecourses and other outdoor leisure events. These all-white, cotton and linen garments featured lace inserts and elaborate embroidery patterns. 

They eventually transitioned from being worn by spectators to being worn by players on the court. The prominence of these dresses shows that the focus of tennis attire was still on fashion, not performance.

Tennis Dress | Historical Overview

One of the earliest moments that this form-over-function mindset was challenged was at the 1887 Wimbledon Championship. 

Tennis star Charlotte Dod, known as Lottie, was only 15 the first time she won a Wimbledon title; because of her youth, she was able to wear clothing that was not as restricting.

Ditching the tight corset, full-length dress and multi-layered gown, she wore calf-length garb more similar to a school uniform than a tennis uniform at the time.

Many older opponents argued that her attire gave her an unfair advantage by allowing her to move in ways and at speeds that the traditional tennis gear could not, bringing to the sport, for one of the first times, the question of designing garments for mobility and agility.

Suzanne Lenglen, center of Wimbledon 1919 fashion scandal

This concept was furthered by the iconoclastic Suzanne Lenglen, who was the center of another Wimbledon fashion scandal in 1919 when she wore a calf-length skirt, short sleeves and a floppy hat. 

Despite the backlash from the press, which called her indecent, Lenglen went on to win the tournament. 

She often wore a tulle wrap around her head while playing, called the “Lenglen bandeau,” which caught on to become a defining look of the Roaring Twenties.

Most-talked About Female Tennis dress | Top 10 List

1. Naomi Osaka’s girlhood, brat-inspired look (US Open 2024)

Naomi Osaka made a grand return to the US Open 2024 after a two-year break, leaving the internet obsessed with her.

Osaka entered the court to play her match against Jelena Ostapenko in a neon green ruffled dress.

The dress was styled with a detachable matching tulle-adorned mini skirt, a white cropped jacket adorned with a large green bow, and bow-decked accessories - including sneakers and headphones. 

Designed by Yoon in collaboration with Nike, the dress was a nod to Naomi and the designer's love for Japan and Japanese subcultures.

Read Also | 20 Highest-paid female athletes in the world: PV Sindhu only Indian on the list

2. Serena Williams’ diamond-encrusted Nike outfit (US Open 2022)

Tennis star Serena Williams, who took retirement from the sport in 2022, made a remarkable appearance for her match with Danka Kovinic in the first round of the women's singles event at the US Open 2022. 

The star not only won the game but also left her fans impressed with her sartorial choice of attire.

Known to make heads turn with her on-court outfit choices, Serena once again proved her fashion prowess.

Serena turned up wearing a pair of diamond-encrusted Nike shoes, featuring solid gold lace deubre that read mama and queen with a black ensemble.

The black outfit that she wore featured an embellished bodice and sheer sleeves, and flowed into a voluminous skirt. 

The tennis star herself worked with the Nike team and took to Instagram to share the details.

Also Read: Top 10 fastest serves in tennis history (Women's tennis)

3. Emma Raducanu’s Tiffany & Co. Jewellery (Wimbledon 2022)

British tennis star Emma Raducanu made her Wimbledon debut in 2022 wearing approximately $37,000 worth of diamond and pearl jewelry. 

The diamond teardrop earrings from the Tiffany Victoria collection, which are priced at $9,300, feature a 11-12 mm pearl suspended from a diamond flower.

The matching diamond and pearl pendant from the same collection is worth $4,800.

Raducanu paired the two pieces with an 18k gold bangle, half set with round diamonds and hinged with a "T" motif at the center. 

The gold bracelet worn by Raducanu is priced at $23,000, however Tiffany & Co offers both a rose gold and silver bracelet with a slimmer band for $11,500.

4. Serena Williams’ Wakanda-inspired catsuit (French Open 2018)

Serena Williams stunned fans at the 2018 French Open when she stepped onto the court in a black Nike catsuit, a nod, at least in part, to Black Panther.

Black with a red waistband, the full-length bodysuit looked striking on Williams, a new mom; she was likened to a superhero in the ensemble.

But the catsuit won’t be welcome at Roland Garros. 

While fans and the media praised the look, French Tennis Federation banned catsuits and changed the tournament’s dress code in direct response to the look.

Serena's suit was more than a fashion moment, though. It had potentially live-saving functionality. 

As a full-body compression garment, it was made to help with blood clots, a health issue she’s dealt with frequently in the past. 

Read Also | Mother's Day 2024 | Women In Sports: Female Athletes and Motherhood

5. Anne White’s spandex catsuit (Wimbledon 1985)

The former American tennis star Anne White caused uproar at Wimbledon in 1985 with her choice of clothing, leaving her opponent and officials furious.

Anne was warming up in a tracksuit for her match against fifth seed Pam Shriver in the first round when she removed her suit and revealed an all-white lycra unitard. 

Being 1985, it created quite a stir among the crowd and photographers. Play was stopped for the day due to bad lighting with the match tied at one set all. 

The umpire Alan Mills instructed Anne to wear a more appropriate outfit the next day; she did, and lost the third set.

She was the first tennis star to be criticised for wearing a catsuit on-court.

Also Read: 20 Highest-paid female athletes in the world: PV Sindhu only Indian on the list

6. Venus Williams’ Moulin Rouge-inspired look (French Open 2010)

Every time Venus Williams steps onto a court, spectators are eager to see what outfit she's wearing. 

At Roland Garros 2010, Venus once again surprised the crowd when she unzipped her jacket to reveal an anything but ordinary on-court get up.

When the jacket came off, Venus wasn’t just a tennis player, she had the look of a 19th-century can-can dancer. 

As she slid into forehands and loaded her legs, flying up to smash serves, Venus also had the movement of an iconic Parisian dancer.

The black and red outfit mostly consisted of lace, with the upper half a tight corset and the bottom flaring out into a flowy tutu. 

Coffee-colored spandex, perfectly matching her skin-tone, rounded out the number.

This was no mistake, as Venus designed the Eleven by Venus dress herself, and every inch of this stunning dress was intentional.

7. Bethanie Mattek-Sands’ Lady Gaga look (Wimbledon 2011)

Bethanie Mattek-Sands, who is famous for her unusual fashion taste, decked out in a Lady Gaga-inspired jacket festooned with real tennis balls before her first round defeat in the Wimbledon 2011.

Although the All England Club usually demands a conservative, predominantly white outfit, Mattek-Sands lived up to her flamboyant reputation. 

She wore a white jacket covered in tassel and cut-in-half tennis balls, knee-high socks and a top which had one sleeve missing to show off her tattoos.

The American's lengthy list of fashion crimes also includes being fined for wearing a striped cowboy hat during a match at the 2005 US Open and donning a leopard-print outfit at the same event.

8. Serena Williams' silver stud black dress (US Open 2004)

For her third round of women's singles at US Open 2004, Serena Williams opted for an all-black ensemble (also by Nike), wearing a dress featuring silver studs all around the neck, down the midline and at the hips. 

The GOAT paired the look with a heart-chain bracelet on one wrist and a matching black studded wristband on the other.

She rounded out her accessories with diamond-encrusted hoop earrings and a black headband that debuted the official Serena logo.

Instead of a typical athletic sneaker, Williams sported what can only be described as knee-high sneaker boots.

9. Maria Sharapova' s Riccardo Tisci little black dress (US Open 2017)

Maria Sharapova created sensation to the US Open 2017 courts with her little black dress designed by Riccardo Tisci for Nike. 

Lace, Swarovski crystals, dots and leather details, the Russian carried them all for an ultra daring and glamorous look perfect for night matches in New York. 

The tennis fashion queen decided to balance the femininity of the dress with masculine energy of a slightly oversized bomber jacket that is billowy in the back.

The best thing is that the elegant outfit, far from a typical sports look, is by no means compromising performance and Sharapova proved that by ousting world number two Simona Halep in the first-round thriller.

10. Caroline Wozniacki's beige Adidas dress (Toray Pan Pacific Open 2014)

Danish former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki sported a beige Adidas dress at the 2014 Toray Pan Pacific Open.

The Adidas number featured contrasting panels of brown and beige, as well as a side ruffle that added some flair to an otherwise classic look.

Despite being bogged down by a useless ruffle, Wozniacki finds herself back in a Slam final.

Big-serving players have benefited throughout tennis history. One of the most advanced weaponry a tennis player may have is a powerful, well-placed first serve.

While most professionals can put the ball anywhere they want, only a few are capable of reaching speeds in the upper 140s and also the 150s.

However, We'll not limit ourselves to WTA-recognized fastest serves in tennis history for the applications of this top ten.

Therefore, without any further ado, let us dive right into the topic.

Read more: Top 10 fastest serves in Tennis history (ATP recognised)

Fastest Serves in Tennis History | Women's tennis

10. Caroline Garcia and Liudmila Samsonova (126.1 mph)

French tennis sensation Caroline Garcia and Russian player Liudmila Samsonova share the ninth spot on this list, chalking up a serve speed of 203 km/h (126.1 mph).

Caroline Garcia achieved her personal best at the 2016 Federations Cup in Strasbourg, where France hosted the Czech Republic in the final.

The host nation failed to outclass the Czech brigade in the summit clash and settled for a second-place finish.

Kicking off the top 10 list is the 6 ft” Russian, Liudmila Samsonova hit a 126.1 mph serve at French Open in 2024.

She has won five singles and two doubles titles on the WTA Tour, her first title being a WTA 500 title at the 2021 German Open. 

9. Elena Rybakina (126.8 mph)

9th on the list is Elena Rybakina, who left a lasting impression during the 2024 Abu Dhabi Open with her serve clocking in at a remarkable speed of 204 km/h (126.8 mph). 

Rybakina is the first player from Kazakhstan to win a title at a major tournament, claiming the 2022 Wimbledon.

She has won eight titles on the WTA Tour, including two WTA 1000 titles at the 2023 Indian Wells Open and the 2023 Italian Open.

8. Naomi Osaka (127.4 mph)

Four-time grand slam champion Naomi Osaka is one of the WTA’s brightest talents whose well-rounded game includes a powerful serve that’s a crucial element in her success.

At the 2016 US Open, she hit her fastest serve at 125 mph (201 km/h).

After that, she broke her own record by serving at 205 km/h (127.4 mph) at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Open.

7. Coco Gauff (128.0 mph)

Since turning pro in 2018, Coco Gauff has had one of the more powerful games on tour, and her career fastest serve is proof.

At the young age of 18, Coco hit her fastest serve, which reached 128 mph (206 km/h) while playing at the 2022 US Open. Born in 2004, she’ll have plenty of opportunities to break her record.

Gauff has already won a Grand Slam title at the 2023 US Open and reached a final at the 2022 French Open.

6. Serena Williams (128.6 mph)

A list of the fastest serves in tennis history in the women's game would be incomplete without the name of the legendary Serena Williams.

Serena's strong serve has saved her numerous times, and it has been her go-to weapon under duress for more than two decades.

At the 2013 Australian Open, Serena didn't just hit one 203.0 km/h (128.6 mph) serve; she blasted two in her match against Garbine Muguruza.

Asked about her achievement in the post-match interview, Serena said - "It's my fastest that went in. I've hit some 150s, but of course, they're, like, to the sky."

4. Venus Williams and Alycia Parks (129.0 mph)

Venus Williams, and Alycia Parks share the fourth spot on this list, recording a serve speed of 207.6 km/h (129.0 mph).

Venus Williams, like her younger sister Serena, has a tremendously powerful serve in her arsenal.

She is one of the tallest female tennis players in the world, and her first serve is one of her most powerful weapons.

Venus, however, relies heavily on her first serve because her second serve is problematic, with a number of double faults occurring at inopportune periods.

Venus has hit 207.6 km/h (129.0 mph) twice in her career, once in the first round of the 2007 US Open against Kira Nagy and again in the 2008 Wimbledon final against sister Serena.

Another big-hitting female tennis player on this list, Alycia Parks, has an explosive game, which includes one of the WTA’s biggest serves.

In 2021 she hit her fastest serve ever at 129 mph (207.6 km/h), which she clocked during her first-round match against Olga Danilovic.

Alycia won her maiden WTA title at the Lyon Open, outclassing French No. 1 Caroline Garcia in straight sets in the final.

3. Sabine Lisicki (131.0 mph)

2013 Wimbledon runner-up Sabine Lisicki was one of the finest servers on the WTA Tour between 2011-2015, before injuries and bad form took a toll.

Despite being sensitive to "grass," the German regards the surface as her favourite.

In fact, she has had more success on grass than on any other surface, including four consecutive quarterfinal appearances in the Wimbledon Championships from 2011 to 2014.

Sabine Lisicki rewrote the record books by serving the fastest-ever serve on the WTA circuit in her match against Ana Ivanovic at the 2014 Stanford Classic.

The German breached the elusive 130 mph mark for the first time as she clocked a thunderous serve measuring 210.8 km/h (131.0 mph).

2. Aryna Sabalenka (133.0 mph)

With a powerful baseline game and serve, Aryna Sabalenka has proved herself as one of the WTA’s elite players.

Her serve speed has topped out at 133.0 mph (214 km/h), number two on the list of fastest serves in tennis history.

She achieved the feat in 2018 at the WTA Elite Trophy, a year-end tournament.

Known for her aggressive playing style, Sabalenka's powerful serve has become one of her signature weapons on the court.

She's one of the most in-form players on the women's tour at the moment.

1. Georgina García Pérez (136.7 mph)

Topping the fastest serves in the tennis history list is Spanish player Georgina García Pérez, who unleashed a monstrous serve with a speed of 220 km/h (136.7 mph) during the 2018 Hungarian Ladies Open.

However, Garcia Perez couldn't find her best potential in terms of her all-round game.

She struggled to make the top 100 of the WTA rankings and has never won a main tour title in her career.

The player auction for the WPL 2025 is scheduled to take place on December 15, 2024, in Bengaluru. In this auction, bidding is about to take place on 120 players.

Also Read: BCCI announce the player List for WPL 2025 Auction: Only two players from Bengal

Shortlist of players

The WPL 2025 auction list includes 91 Indian players and 29 international players, including three emerging talents from associate nations. Of the players available, 30 players are capped (9 Indians, 21 foreigners), while the remaining 90 are uncapped (82 Indians, 8 foreigners).

Most of the franchises have retained their core players this season, leaving only 19 slots (5 for overseas players) vacant in this year's auction.

List of marquee players

Marquee players available for auction include Tejal Hasabnis, Sneh Rana, Deandra Dottin (West Indies), Heather Knight (England), Orla Prendergast (Ireland), Lauren Bell (England), Kim Garth (Australia) and Danielle Gibson (England) among many others. 

Available Purses:

• Delhi Capitals - Purse left: INR 2.5 crores, Slots left: 4 (1 Overseas)
• Gujarat Giants - Purse left: INR 4.4 crores, Slots left: 4 (2 Overseas)
• Mumbai Indians - Purse left: INR 2.65 crores, Slots left: 4 (1 Overseas)
• Royal Challengers Bengaluru - Purse left: INR 3.25 crores, Slots left: 4 (0 Overseas)
• UP Warriorz - Purse left: INR 3.9 crore, Slots left: 3 (1 Overseas)

WPL 2025 Auction: Live Streaming Details

When will the WPL 2025 auction take place?

The auction is scheduled to take place on December 15.

Where is the Women's Premier League auction going to take place?

The auction is going to be held in Bengaluru.

What time will the auction start?

The auction will start at 2:30 pm.

Where will the auction be live on TV?

The auction will air live on the Sports 18 channel (SD and HD).

Where will the live streaming of the Women's Premier League 2025 auction take place?

The live streaming will be absolutely free on the Jio Cinema app and their website.