Women’s tennis has seen true legends shape entire eras. Margaret Court and Billie Jean King were pioneers of their time, followed by Martina Navratilova, who competed for more than three decades and became one of the most dominant players in both singles and doubles.
By the late 1980s and early 1990s, Navratilova was still a force on tour but faced fierce competition from Gabriela Sabatini, Monica Seles, and Steffi Graf—arguably one of the most influential players in tennis history.
According to the official WTA website, Steffi Graf collected $21,895,277 in career prize money, while Martina Navratilova earned a nearly identical amount at $21,626,089. Those figures only account for tournament winnings and do not include sponsorships or endorsements.
While those totals are impressive, they may seem modest by today’s standards. The reality is that during the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, prize money in tennis was far lower than it is today. Graf and Navratilova faced each other 18 times, finishing their head-to-head record tied at nine wins apiece.
Martina and Navratilova and Steffi Graf during the 1988 Wimbledon. (Bob Martin/AllSport/Getty Images)
Martina Navratilova: A tennis legend
Navratilova enjoyed a professional career that spanned more than 30 years, cementing her status as one of the sport’s all-time greats. She began competing in 1975 and retired in 2006, reaching No. 1 in both singles and doubles. Her résumé includes 18 Grand Slam singles titles, 31 in women’s doubles, and 15 in mixed doubles.
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He’s a former top 10, played a Roland Garros final against Nadal, and was involved in two doping cases
Steffi Graf’s extraordinary career
Steffi Graf turned pro in 1982 and retired a decade later in 1999, compiling an incredible 107 singles titles, including 22 Grand Slam championships. She held the No. 1 world ranking for years and remains widely regarded as one of the greatest to ever play the game.
Although her doubles career was not as decorated, Graf did win Wimbledon in 1988. Since retiring, she has remained connected to the sport, often appearing at major events and continuing to be celebrated by fans and the WTA alike.
