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.

ATP & WTA Rankings cater to men's singles and doubles players and women's singles and doubles players, respectively. Rankings can be regarded as the ultimate expression of a player's abilities on the field and their current form. Throughout the years, many players have been successful in climbing up the ranking ladder whilst others have fallen short of expectations.

Staying consistent isn't easy, and at times it is impossible to hold the rank with new faces coming into the field. At first glance, it appears impossible. However, in this article, we shall discuss players who have lived up to the adage "Impossible means I'm Possible."

#10. Martina Hingis- 209 Weeks

When it comes to Martina Hingis, her accomplishments know no boundaries. The Swiss star has proven her mettle since winning the Australian Open at the tender age of 16 and reaching the top spot in 1997 at the same age.

Hingis held on to the number-one ranking for 80 consecutive weeks until she was overtaken by Lindsay Davenport in 1998. This was a month after losing to the Americans in the US Open final.

However, regardless of what happened, Hingis refused to give up and snatched the top spot from Davenport in 1999. As a result, she spent a total of 209 weeks as the number one player, but as fate would have it, Jennifer Capriati ascended the ladder to dethrone her.

Probably, She could have been the greatest female tennis player the world had ever seen, but she became enamoured with modelling and was never able to regain her form or ranking. "Fate is a cruel mistress, isn't it? " We ponder at times.

#9. Chris Evert- 260 Weeks

Whilst talking about her achievements, our words would fall inadequate. After all, This American legend holds the honour of being the first woman to officially be recognised as world number one. What an accomplishment! Over nine spells at the top of the women's tennis pile, Evert accumulated 260 weeks in the number one position.

From 1976 until 1985, Evert was in a constant battle for the top spot with Martina Navratilova. However, after years of jaw-dropping collisions, the 'Ice Maiden's ' reign came to an end with Martina fetching the spot. Moreover, Chris Evert's Wonderful journey also earned her a place in our list of ATP & WTA Rankings.

Read more: ATP Tour records: Most titles in tennis career (men's)

#8. Jimmy Conors- 268 Weeks

If you're a tennis enthusiast, you've probably heard this name before. Jimmy Connors has a reputation as a great coach in addition to being a successful player. He also dominated the ATP Rankings for 268 weeks.

The American became the first man in history to cross the 200-week mark. He is also the first person on this list of ATP & WTA Rankings to have won over 100 awards. In addition, Connor has won eight Grand Slams. However, he never managed to win Roland Garros in his life, only reaching the semi-finals four times on the clay court.

Connors retired at the age of 43 after a long career in the sport. His playing technique, particularly his backhands, has inspired the modern era indeed. Also, he coached Maria Sharapova, who rose to World No. 1 in the women's category under his tutelage.

#7. Ivan Lendl- 270 Weeks

Ivan Lendl is a Czech icon who is the only player from his country to ever reach the top of the world rankings. For 270 weeks, he was the top player in the ATP Rankings. He is one of only two players to achieve Rank 1 before winning a Grand Slam.

After ascending to the throne in February 1983, the Czech ruled for a total of 29 weeks before embarking on his three-year reign. He won five of his eight Slam victories over this period of almost 150 weeks, as well as reaching the Wimbledon final twice, in 1986 and 1987, the only times he did so.

Lendl became known as the "Man Who Revolutionized Tennis" after winning eight major titles and 94 titles. He pioneered aggressive baseline power tennis (which can now be observed in Rafael Nadal's game), as well as a combination of forehand and topspin.

Aside from his playing accomplishments, he went on to become a successful coach for Scottish tennis star Andy Murray, guiding him to the number one ranking.

#6. Pete Sampras- 286 Weeks

Pete Sampras is one of the most successful American tennis players on this list. He was the World No.1 for 286 weeks. From April 15, 1996, to March 30, 1998, Sampras held the top spot in the ATP rankings for the longest time.

During his long career, Sampras has won 64 titles. He even won 14 Grand Slam titles over his career, including his 14th on his final appearance at the major event; he is the only player to have done so to date.

Because of his abilities, he rose to the top of the charts and got a place in our list of ATP & WTA Rankings. Opponents dreaded his precise and powerful serves during his playing days. Sampras was even given the moniker 'Pistol Pete'.

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

#5. Roger Federer- 310 Weeks

Roger Federer has won everyone's hearts with his tremendous tennis skills. Fans even gave him the nickname 'The swiss maestro', impressed by the proficiency of his craft. Is there anything that this man hasn't gained? A simple answer would be hatred.

The Swiss maestro is adored by everyone on the planet. With his balletic movements in the court, his poised serves, and his Always-smiling face, he holds a special position in every ardent tennis fan's heart.

King Federer wore the crown of ATP Rank 1 for 310 weeks, the first male player in the history of tennis to cross 300 weeks. He also has a record of 237 straight weeks as Number One.

Accompanied by his utter dominance on grass, Federer earned the title 'King of grass'. To date, he and Martina Navratilova remain the ultimate king and queen in Wimbledon. Moreover, He is regarded as the G.O.A.T. in men's tennis due to his incredible abilities on the court.

#4. Serena Williams- 319 Weeks

Can you believe the 23-time Slam champion first topped the women's rankings on July 8, 2002, when she was only 20 years old? Well, neither can we. After achieving such a record, the young American remained in first place for nearly a year, 57 weeks to be exact, while she won Wimbledon, the US Open and the Australian Open consecutively before adding a second Wimbledon to bring her total Slam tally to five.

From August 2003 to September 2008, Williams was not ranked number one at all. Meanwhile, the top spot changed hands 19 times between seven different women. However, her poised serve, and outstanding netplay propelled her back to the top rank for a month.

In addition, the amazing lady owns the record for the longest streak, which is 186 weeks. As a result of this, she linked hands with Steffi Graf.

Her list of accomplishments is certainly impressive, but there is one more feather that she may be able to introduce to her cap. That is winning 2 more grand slams and in the process, passing Margaret Court as the highest grand slam winner in tennis history (Both men's and women's). However, only time will tell if the 'Momma Smash' is capable of accomplishing such a feat.

#3. Martina Navratilova- 332 Weeks

The situation was not easy for 'The Wimbledon queen,' as her long-time adversary Chris Evert was not willing to give her a field in the WTA rankings. However, after much hard work, Navratilova was able to achieve the top ranking in July 1978. She dethroned Evert from the top, ending her 113-week reign.

In 1978, the 18-time Grand Slam champion won her first Grand Slam and first Wimbledon victory, which propelled her to the top of the rankings.

Well, after all of her hard work, it was finally time for her to bask in the glory of her accomplishments. Therefore, she went on to enjoy nine overall spells at world number one. She was last ranked in that position in August 1987, when she had 16 Slam singles wins under her belt. Her wonderful records placed her in the 3rd position in our list of ATP & WTA Rankings.

#2. Stefi Graff- 377 Weeks

Now, this brings us to the number 1 spot holder on our list of ATP & WTA Rankings. Honestly, our list can't be completed without her. Steffi Graf is a name to reckon with in the world of tennis. Often regarded as the greatest of all time, there might not be a lot of records in the book that the champion player hasn't broken.

Winner of as many as 22 Grand Slam titles, Steffi's presence was enough to send shivers down the spine of her opponents. Steffi's versatility and dominance across different surfaces made her the fan favourite. The extent of the German tennis star's dominance can be gauged by the fact that she held the world's No. 1 ranking for 377 weeks.

Graf first rose to the top of the rankings in August 1987. After breaking the reigning of Evert and Navratilova, Graf enjoyed 186 weeks in the top position on her first spell. Also, the 'Fraulein forehand' didn't just stop there. She went on to create history by completing the Calendar Golden Slam of winning all four Majors and the Olympic gold medal in 1988.

Graf achieved such a performance that the phrase "Golden Slam" was coined. Furthermore, with these accomplishments on her side, she went on to spend 377 weeks as the World's No. 1 tennis player, an astonishing record that remains untouched to date.

#1. Novak Djokovic- 428 Weeks

The 1 member of the 'Big Three' already appeared on this list and thus it leaves the second member of the trio to feature here. Novak Djokovic has been the World Number One for a record 428 weeks while he has won 100 tour-level titles and overtook Stefi Graff's record. Djokovic climbed to No. 1 for the first time in 4 July 2011.

Aside from his rivals Nadal and Federer, Djokovic is one of the most successful players. He deserved to be at the top since he has dominated the court for the past decade. He is also considered to be the 'King of the Australian Open' due to winning the trophy 10 times. Astonishing, isn't it? The Serbian tennis player became the No.1 tennis player for the 11th time on January 11, 2023, as a result of his 4th US Open title.

Note: Stats are up to date till 23/07/2025. Written by Pritha Ghosh and states are updated by Koushik Biswas and Payal Debnath 

Tennis is a unique sport in the world of professional athletics. Unlike team sports, where athletes sign massive guaranteed contracts, tennis players earn their money one match at a time. Prize money is performance-based. For decades, men dominated the tennis earnings landscape, thanks in part to larger purses in men’s events and longer careers at the top. 

But in recent years, the women’s game has surged, producing global superstars who have earned hundreds of millions both on and off the court. The prize money gap has closed dramatically since the early 2000s, especially at Grand Slam events where men and women now compete for equal pay. Still, only a handful of players in history have managed to turn their careers into nine-figure career earnings totals.

Let's take a look at the players with most career earnings in tennis history.

Also Read: ATP Tour records: Most titles in tennis career (men's)

Most Career Earnings in Tennis History

1. Novak Djokovic | $188,934,053

It is a measure of Novak Djokovic's brilliance and longevity that the 24-time grand slam tournament champion remains by far the highest earner in tennis history. To date, as per the ATP, Djokovic has made over $188 in career earnings, making him the highest earner the sport has ever seen.

In 2022, Reuters reported that Djokovic bought an 80 per cent controlling stake in QuantBioRes, a Danish biotech firm that had been working on a cure for COVID-19 without vaccination, in 2020. Djokovic also invests in his eponymous foundation, which develops early childhood education projects in Serbia.

2. Rafael Nadal | $134,946,100

Rafael Nadal is one of the most successful tennis players in the long history of the sport. The Spaniard has entered the pantheon of tennis greats across his incredible career as a 14-time French Open champion. Nadal also has 22 major singles titles, second behind men's game outright leader Novak Djokovic on 24.

To date, Nadal has made $134,946,100 in career earnings. That makes Nadal the second-highest earner in history behind one of the only players to regularly rival him in recent times in Djokovic. The 38-year-old has raked in more than twice as much across his career as the player immediately behind Federer in the earnings table: Andy Murray. His 2022 Australian Open triumph earned Nadal more than $2m (£1.6m), and his French Open glory was worth around $707,000 (£575,000).

3. Roger Federer | $130,594,339

Roger Federer, one of the greatest tennis players of all time, has left an indelible mark on the sport. Swiss maestro dominated men’s tennis for nearly two decades, winning 20 Grand Slam singles titles and a total of 103 ATP titles. Federer retired in September 2022, bringing an end to an illustrious career that saw him compete against Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic as part of the legendary "Big Three." Despite stepping away from the professional circuit, his influence and earnings continue to grow.

Throughout his career, Federer earned $130,594,339 in prize money from ATP tournaments and Grand Slam victories. Federer’s income has been significantly bolstered by sponsorships and endorsements.

4. Serena Williams | $94,816,730

Serena Williams is considered by many to be one of the best female tennis players of all time. She is the highest-earning female player by a mile and is the only female player on this list. Her career on-court earnings top $94,816,730. Serena won more Grand Slam singles titles than any other player, male or female, in the Open Era. She is also a four-time Olympic gold medalist and has won numerous other major titles.

Williams is also one of the most popular endorsement athletes in the world. She earns $15-20 million per year outside of tennis, endorsing companies like Nike and Kraft Foods. In 2004, Williams inked a $40 million deal to produce a fashion line with Nike.

5. Andy Murray | $64,687,542

A three-time major winner and twice an Olympic gold medallist, Andy Murray boasts a career that would leave most professionals envious, even though he had the misfortune of competing at a time when three of the greatest male players in history - Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic were at the peak of their powers. Still, the Scot has earned a significant sum of money through prize funds after winning 46 titles in his storied career, while commercial endorsements have added a huge amount to those earnings. 

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Murray earned $64,687,542 throughout his career. Combining on-court and off-court activity in the past few years, Murray makes anywhere between $10m-$15 million per annum across the calendar. Roughly, around $5 million (£4.07 million) per year comes from being on the court, whilst the rest will be distributed through various sponsorship and endorsement agreements.

Also Read: Most ATP Masters Titles in tennis history

6. Alexander Zverev | $53,764,389

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Alexander Zverev has a net worth of $53,764,389. Zverev has earned over $51,800,906 via ATP's official website. Having started playing tennis at a very young age, Alexander Zverev is still considered as the next big thing, and the leader of the Next-Gen, post the big three. His main sources of earnings are his tennis career, as well as the endorsement deals he has signed.

Alexander Zverev is sponsored by numerous top brands and businesses. Adidas, Richard Mille, Head, Peugeot, Z-Zegna, and Rolex are a few of the companies that have partnered with Zverev.

7. Carlos Alcaraz | $47,362,248

Carlos Alcaraz could be on his way to becoming the king of tennis, and he is certainly paid like a superstar already. In 2024, Alcaraz was the highest-earning tennis player in the world, according to Forbes. The Spaniard's net worth was more than $42 million, won through victory on the court and lucrative endorsement deals off of it. 

Alcaraz has earned $47,362,248 in his career on the tennis court. At just 22-years old, he is already a five-time major champion, meaning he has made plenty of deep runs at the most important tournaments and earned the payouts that comes with them. This year, Alcaraz won clay court tournaments in Monte Carlo and Rome, bringing in more than $1 million at each event. His win at the French Open made him $2.9 million.

8. Daniil Medvedev | $46,779,909

A former world No.1, Medvedev is another one of those players who kept his name in the mix during the domination of the ‘Big Three’. Having won a total of 20 ATP titles, with his first being in 2018, Medvedev made his top 10 debut in 2019 and reached six consecutive finals. His biggest win however, came at the 2021 US Open where he walked away as champion. He beat Djokovic in straight sets to become the third Russian man to win a major singles title, and the first to do so since 2005.

Medvedev has earned $46,779,909 in his career earnings so far in July 2025, which puts him in the 8th spot in the all-time career earnings list.

9. Jannik Sinner | $45,682,097

Fresh off his first-ever Wimbledon trophy, Sinner has already worked his way into the top 10 highest earners, at just 23-years-old. There is no question there is a lot more money in the modern-day game, but it is hard to argue that Sinner does not deserve his place on this list due to the sheer amount of success he has already had in his young career. He is the current world No.1 and has won 20 titles, which include four majors; the 2024 and 2025 Australian Open, the 2024 US Open, and the 2025 Wimbledon Championship. 

His recent Wimbledon victory earned him a tidy $4 million - and it is almost inevitable that Sinner will win even more titles and slowly work his way up in the all-time list. Sinner has earned $45,682,097 in his career so far, which puts him in the 9th spot in the all-time career prize money earnings list.

Also Read: Players with most aces hit in tennis history

10. Pete Sampras | $43,280,489

Before retiring as one of the most successful tennis players of all time in 2002, Sampras had won 64 ATP Tour-level titles, including a then record of 14 Grand Slams. His favourite venue was Wimbledon, where he won a staggering seven Championships in just eight years.

Pete has earned $43,280,489 throughout his career. His sponsorships with Nike and Wilson contributed significantly to his wealth.

The World's biggest Tennis tournament, Wimbledon or The Championships, is the oldest Tennis tournament so far. It is considered the most prestigious tournament.

It has been organised at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London, since 1877. Grand Slam has four Tennis tournaments, and Wimbledon is one of them. The Australian Open, the French Open and the US Open are the other three tournaments.

Wimbledon is the only tournament played on Grass courts.

Read Also: Last 10 Wimbledon Champions List (Men's)

The Wimbledon Championship 2025 was the 138th year of the Championships. There were five main events, four junior events, and seven invitation events. Iga Swiatek became the new Women's Singles Champion of Wimbledon 2025 after beating Amanda Anisimova 6-0, 6-0, in the final. 

Since 2017, Wimbledon saw 8 new Women's Singles Champions. So, let's have a look at the women's Wimbledon Champion list from the last 10 years.

1. 2015 Wimbledon Championships Winner - Serena Williams

Serena Williams beat Spain's Garbine Muguruza to win Wimbledon for the sixth time and complete the 'Serena Slam' as the holder of all four major titles.

The then 33-year-old American won 6-4, 6-4 on Centre Court to claim her 21st Grand Slam title and third of 2015. It's another mark in the history books for the player who many already consider the greatest woman to have ever played the game.

Serena also became the oldest slam champion of the modern era by beating her excellent opponent, 12 years her junior. 

2. 2016 Wimbledon Championships Winner - Serena Williams

Serena Williams had finally won her 22nd Grand Slam title, besting Angelique Kerber in the finals at Wimbledon 2016. The American, 34, coped with a gusty wind on Centre Court to win 7-5, 6-3.

With this, she got her seventh singles title on the grass courts of The Championships, and she had finally tied Steffi Graf for the most major titles in the Open Era.

Also Read: Players who won the Golden Slam in their career

3. 2017 Wimbledon Championships Winner - Garbiñe Muguruza

Garbine Muguruza defeated Venus Williams 7-5, 6-0 to clinch the 2017 Wimbledon women's singles championship, the second major title of her career. It was a strange contest, the first women’s final under the roof.

The Spaniard finished as runner-up to the American's sister, Serena, in this same fixture two years ago, but claimed some redemption after sailing to this year's crown.

4. 2018 Wimbledon Championships Winner - Angelique Kerber

Angelique Kerber beat seven-time champion Serena Williams to win her first Wimbledon title and spoil the American's dream comeback as a mother.

The German 11th seed, 30, beat the 23-time Grand Slam champion 6-3, 6-3 to add this title to her 2016 Australian Open and US Open crowns.

5. 2019 Wimbledon Championships Winner - Simona Halep

Simona Halep has made Wimbledon history by becoming the first Romanian to win the Grand Slam with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over seven-time champion Serena Williams.

She won her first Grand Slam title at last year’s French Open but had gone into her first final here as the clear underdog.

Also Read: Top 10 fastest serves in tennis history (WTA Recognised)

6. 2021 Wimbledon Championships Winner - Ash Barty

Ashleigh Barty claimed her first Wimbledon title - and second singles Grand Slam crown, beating Karolina Pliskova 6-3 6-7 (7-4) 6-3 in a rollercoaster women's singles final.

Barty, who claimed her first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros two years ago, was the first Australian to lift the Venus Rosewater Dish since her idol Evonne Goolagong Cawley won the second of two Wimbledon titles in 1980.

She was only the third Australian woman to triumph in the Open era, joining Goolagong Cawley (also the 1971 winner) and 1970 champion Margaret Court.

7. 2022 Wimbledon Championships winner - Elena Rybakina

Elena Rybakina became the first player representing Kazakhstan to win a Grand Slam singles championship with a 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 victory against No.3 Ons Jabeur.  After sealing her first championship point with a service winner, Rybakina celebrated the 1-hour, 48-minute win with barely a fist pump.

In the first Wimbledon title match between first-time Grand Slam finalists of the Open Era,  Rybakina, 23, also became the youngest woman to lift the Venus Rosewater Dish since 21-year-old Petra Kvitova in 2011.

She was also the fourth-youngest active major champion on the Hologic WTA Tour, older than only Iga Swiatek, Bianca Andreescu, and Emma Raducanu.

8. 2023 Wimbledon Championships winner - Markéta Vondroušová

Markéta Vondroušová made history as the first unseeded player to win the ladies singles championship at Wimbledon in a stunning 6-4, 6-4 upset over the No. 6 seed Ons Jabeur, who was the runner-up for a second straight year.

The 24-year-old lefty joined two other Czech-born left-handers, Martina Navratilova and Petra Kvitová, to take home the Wimbledon title.

Also Read: Most Wimbledon Titles in Open Era (Men)

9. 2024 Wimbledon Championships winner - Barbora Krejčíková

Barbora Krejcikova is the Wimbledon ladies' singles champion after the 31st seed earned an impressive 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 win over Jasmine Paolini to claim the title for the first time.

Heading into the Wimbledon final, Krejcikova was a seven-time Major doubles champion, the 2021 French Open singles winner and an Olympic gold medallist. She had even completed the career Slam in doubles, winning each of the four big titles at least once.

10. 2025 Wimbledon Championships winner - Iga Swiatek

Iga Swiatek became the 8th new winner of the Wimbledon Women's Singles since 2017 as she defeated Amanda Anisimova 6-0, 6-0 in the Wimbledon 2025 final to become the first-ever Polish singles winner at Wimbledon. 

Swiatek's dominating 6-0, 6-0 win was the first such final scoreline at Wimbledon in 114 years. Moreover, the Polish star became the first woman since Monica Seles in 1992 to achieve the feat of winning all six of her first Grand Slam finals. 

With her maiden Wimbledon title, Swiatek also completed her Surface Slam with titles on Hard (US Open, Australian Open), Clay (French Open) and Grass (Wimbledon) surfaces. 

India's journey in Olympic Games began in 1900, but for many decades, success was limited. The nation's presence on the medal tally was defined by mostly one or two medals per edition, with the success of the Men's Hockey teams being the main reason for it.

However, the 21st century marked a turning point, as it saw India's rise at the Olympics. Their success at the Games picked up pace in several new ways.

Check out the full article to see how India's journey transformed:

1996-2008: Individual medals emerge

After years of triumph in Men's Hockey, 1996 Atlanta Olympics saw a change for India, as Leander Paes won a Bronze medal in Tennis. This victory brought in the first individual medal for India in Olympics after 44 years (previously: K.D. Jadhav won in 1952 in Wrestling).

Following this breakthrough, other individual athletes began to make their mark. In the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Karnam Malleswari made history with her Bronze medal win in Weightlifting, and became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal.

Moving to the next edition, the 2004 Athens Olympics saw another individual triumph, with a Silver medal this time. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore brought home India's first-ever medal in Shooting, laying the groundwork for India's extended talent pool beyond hockey.

In 2008, the momentum continued with Abhinav Bindra's Gold (Shooting), Vijender Singh's Bronze (Boxing), and Sushil Kumar's Bronze medal (Wrestling) in the same edition.

Read Also: Most medals by an Indian in a single Olympics

2012: Six Medals and India's Olympic Rise

The 2012 London Olympics was a truly historic moment for India. For the first time ever, India secured six individual medals in a single Olympic edition, that too in five different sports. This was not just a jump in numbers, but a clear rise for India in the Olympic Games.

Here, take a closer look at the medalists:

Gagan Narang: Bronze Medal in Shooting

Gagan Narang won India's first medal at London 2012, taking bronze in the men's 10m Air Rifle event with a final score of 701.1. He opened the medal books for India in this historic edition.

Sushil Kumar: Silver medal in Wrestling

Sushil Kumar became the first Indian to win two individual Olympic medals (previously in 2008), securing silver in the men's 66kg freestyle wrestling after a hard-fought tournament.

Saina Nehwal: Bronze medal in Badminton

Saina Nehwal earned India's first-ever Olympic medal in Badminton, securing a bronze in Women's singles. With this victory, she also became the second woman, after Malleswari, to win a medal at the grandest stage.

Yogeshwar Dutt: Bronze medal in Wrestling

Yogeshwar Dutt overcame injuries and fought through brilliantly in the men's 60kg freestyle wrestling to secure a bronze medal.

Mary Kom: Bronze medal in Boxing

In the debut of women's boxing at the Olympics, Mary Kom won a bronze in the flyweight (51kg) category, making her the first Indian woman boxer to achieve this milestone.

Vijay Kumar: Silver medal in Shooting

Vijay Kumar clinched silver in the men's 25m Rapid Fire Pistol, finishing behind Cuba's Leuris Pupo.

Read Also: Olympic Athletes to Watch in LA 2028 from India

2016-2024: Sustaining the momentum in India's modern Olympic era

India has consistently built upon its Olympic success since 2012, with athletes dominating in different categories of sports. The period from 2016 to 2024 has seen new talents emerge and solidify India's rise on the global stage.

In a country where sports is often dominated by men, some Olympic stars chose to challenge the ordinary and pave a path for Indian sports women. Indian sport has seen a massive rise in the number of it's female athletes shining at the world stage since the turn of the millennium.

In this article, we will take a look at those Indian female Olympians who made Olympic history.

Also Read: Most medals by an Indian in a single Olympics

Indian Women Who Made Olympic History

1. Karnam Malleswari

Weightlifter Karnam Malleswari created history and became the first Indian woman to win a medal at the Olympics. During the Sydney 2000 Games, Karnam Malleswari lifted 110kg in the snatch and 130kg in the clean and jerk categories for a total of 240kg and finished the competition with a bronze medal. She is also the first Indian weightlifter (male or female) to win an Olympic medal.

2. Saina Nehwal

Former world No.1 Saina Nehwal put Indian badminton on the global map when she finished with a bronze medal in the women’s singles at the London 2012 Olympics.

Saina Nehwal clinched the medal after her opponent Wang Xin of the People's Republic of China retired due to injury during the bronze medal playoff match. After this, Saina became the first Indian badminton player to win an Olympic medal and has represented the country in three Summer Games (Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio 2016).

3. Mary Kom

Star boxer Mary Kom etched her name in Indian sports’ history books by clinching a bronze medal at the London 2012 Olympics. The Manipuri boxer beat Poland’s Karolina Michalczuk and Tunisia’s Maroua Rahali in the first two rounds but lost her semi-final bout to Great Britain's Nicola Adams, settling for the bronze medal.

It was the first Olympic medal in boxing by an Indian woman and only the second after Vijender Singh’s bronze at Beijing 2008. Women’s boxing made its Olympic debut at London 2012.

4. PV Sindhu

PV Sindhu built on what Saina Newhal had achieved at London 2012 and took Indian badminton a step further by reaching the women’s singles final at the Rio 2016 Games.

PV Sindhu lost the final to Spain’s Carolina Marin and finished with a silver medal after a hard-fought 83-minute title battle. Despite being the runner-up, PV Sindhu created history by becoming India's youngest individual Olympic medallist, a record which has since been surpassed. She also became the first Indian woman to bag an Olympic silver medal.

5. Sakshi Malik

Indian wrestler Sakshi Malik won a bronze medal in the women’s 58kg category at Rio 2016 to become the first Indian woman to win a medal in wrestling at the Olympics.

After notching up wins in the earlier rounds, Sakshi Malik lost to Valeria Koblova of Russia in the quarter-finals. However, with Koblova making the final, Sakshi Malik entered the repechage round and came home with the bronze medal following an 8–5 victory over Aisuluu Tynybekova of Kyrgyzstan. Sakshi’s win at Rio was a memorable one as she turned the bout on its head despite trailing 5-0 at one stage.

6. Mirabai Chanu

After a disappointing outing at Rio 2016, weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, with a total lift of 202kg, won the silver medal in the 49kg category at Tokyo 2020. With the feat, Mirabai Chanu of Manipur became the first Indian weightlifter to bag a silver at the Olympics.

Mirabai Chanu also became the second Indian weightlifter, after Karnam Malleswari, to win a medal at the Summer Games as well as the second Indian woman, after PV Sindhu, to win a silver medal at the Olympics.

7. Lovlina Borgohain

Assamese boxer Lovlina Borgohain emulated the legendary Mary Kom by clinching a bronze medal at Tokyo 2020. Lovlina Borgohain defeated Germany’s Nadine Apetz in the round of 16 and outpunched Chinese Taipei’s Chen Nien-chin in the quarter-finals to secure herself a bronze medal.

However, Turkish world No. 1 Busenaz Surmeneli proved too strong for her in the semi-finals as the Indian finished with a bronze medal.

8. Sania Mirza

Inspired by stalwart Serena Williams, who returned to the tennis circuit after having a baby, Sania Mirza has begun to feel her way back into the sport as well. The Indian tennis ace gave birth to a boy late in 2018 and was on maternal duty ever since. But 2020 saw Sania Mirza return to the court.

Building form with every passing match, Sania Mirza made a fourth Olympic appearance at Tokyo 2020, where she made a first-round exit in the women’s doubles alongside Ankita Raina. Sania retired in 2023 as easily the best women's tennis player to emerge from India.

9. Dipa Karmakar

Dipa Karmakar, the shining star in Indian gymnastics, has made Olympic history by becoming the first Indian female gymnast to compete in the Olympic Games. She is among the only five women who have been able to master the Produnova vault. Her awe-inspiring performances and fearless spirit have inspired young gymnasts to aim for the stars.

10. Manu Bhaker

Manu Bhaker won India's first medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics with a bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol shooting event. She thus became India's first woman to win a medal in Olympic shooting. A day earlier, she had become the first Indian woman to qualify for an Olympic shooting final in 20 years.

Manu Bhaker scored 221.7 to finish third in the eight-woman final. Oh Ye Jin of the Republic of Korea clinched the gold medal with the new Olympic record of 243.2 and was followed by her compatriot Yeji Kim, who pipped Bhaker to enter the gold medal round and won the silver with the final score of 241.3.