How the best American women’s tennis players rose to the top of Grand Slams and the sport
It might be Coco Gauff who becomes the next American woman to win a Grand Slam title. She was the last to do so, taking the French Open in June. But after a shaky summer that saw her struggles with her serve, she even brought in a biomechanics expert to help fix it.
Or maybe the title will go to Madison Keys, the Australian Open champion earlier this year. Or Jessica Pegula, last year’s U.S. Open finalist. Or Amanda Anisimova, who reached the Wimbledon final this year.
American tennis fans don’t have to look far to find women ready to win on home soil at the U.S. Open. The top ranks of women’s tennis are currently dominated by Americans, who have consistently shone brightest under pressure. The last four Grand Slam singles finals all featured an American woman, with Gauff and Keys each lifting trophies.
Right now, two Americans are in the world’s top four women’s players, three in the top six, and the four mentioned earlier all rank in the top nine. Emma Navarro, a U.S. Open semifinalist last year, is No. 11, while McCartney Kessler, ranked 34th at 26 years old, is accelerating rapidly after climbing up from outside the top 100 just last summer. Like Navarro, Peyton Stearns, and Danielle Collins—all recent WTA title winners—Kessler’s background includes college tennis, which has become a strong development pathway in the U.S.
The depth doesn’t stop there. The 2020 Australian Open winner, Sofia Kenin is No. 28, and Ashlyn Krueger, a rising talent, sits at No. 39. Meanwhile, Taylor Townsend is the world No. 1 in doubles. Several teenage prospects like Iva Jović are also emerging. While American men often enter the U.S. Open with optimism following a lean spell, American women have carried the country's tennis pride for years, extending the legacy of Serena and Venus Williams.
“The men have to catch up,” Gauff joked recently at the Cincinnati Open.
This success isn’t by chance—it stems from a culture that has long supported girls in sports, rooted in laws ensuring equality in school sports, and a national sports culture that embraces female athletes.
Marc Lucero, a seasoned WTA and ATP coach who has worked with players like Anisimova and served as a USTA national coach, reflects on this dynamic. “In the U.S., women are encouraged to compete hard and stand out socially, which isn’t always the case elsewhere. Around the world, promising girls don't always get the same recognition or resources as boys.”
While American boys generally play sports more than girls do, about 35% of U.S. girls play sports regularly between ages 6 and 17—enough to create a critical mass that few countries match.
In soccer, this has propelled the U.S. Women’s National Team to four World Cup wins and five Olympic gold medals, despite competing against countries with deeper soccer traditions. According to Gabriel Echevarria, a USTA strength and conditioning expert from Argentina, broad sports exposure is especially helpful in tennis—many American girls grow up throwing balls with family and friends, a motion that translates well to tennis serving.
New Zealander Lulu Sun, a Wimbledon quarterfinalist last year who attended college in the U.S., was amazed by the scale of opportunities here. “Sports are a bigger part of the culture in the U.S., with sports universities and chances to combine athletics with education,” she said after a recent win.
That said, the U.S. isn’t perfect in gender equality in sports. While tennis does offer equal pay at the U.S. Open, many women’s pro events pay less than men’s. On a global scale, countries like the Czech Republic, with just three percent of the U.S. population, produce more top WTA players. The Czech success comes down to a high volume of accessible coaching and an emphasis on match play.
For the U.S., size and wealth play a big role, along with Florida’s status as a tennis hotspot and historically welcoming immigration policies. America’s current and recent tennis stars come from diverse backgrounds: Black, White, multi-racial, wealthy families, and those needing scholarships. Together, they mirror the breadth of American tennis culture.
“It’s great to see such representation of our country in the sport,” Gauff said.
Before World War II, courts spread beyond elite clubs, and tennis was largely reserved for the wealthy. Players like Pegula and Navarro come from wealthy families whose support helped offset the huge cost of training and travel—but success still required drive and hard work, with Navarro benefiting from two years of college tennis.
Gauff and Keys grew up idolizing the Williams sisters and came from more modest means. Gauff’s father coached her early on, helping her gain support from the USTA and other organizations. Keys earned a scholarship to the Evert Academy in Florida after her family relocated there.
Anisimova and Kenin followed paths carved by Maria Sharapova, who arrived at Florida’s IMG Academy as a young immigrant seeking a tennis scholarship. Like Sharapova, Anisimova’s parents emigrated for tennis opportunities; Amanda was born in the U.S. and received years of USTA support, including consistent coaching and travel assistance.
Anisimova speaks warmly of Richard Ashby, a former pro now coaching USTA juniors, who taught her both tennis skills and respect for others—a mentor she still connects with after every match. After her father's sudden death in 2019, Ashby’s support helped her return to form, culminating in recent success, including a WTA 1000 title and a Grand Slam final.
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This nurturing environment excites Kathy Rinaldi, a former pro and longtime player development lead at the USTA. When she joined in 2008, there was little cohesion among American players, with solo private coaching the norm. Now, players like Keys practice with youngsters like Jović or even men’s top players at USTA camps, fostering friendship, support, and mentorship that inspire younger generations to believe in their potential.
The results speak for themselves: American women’s names regularly dominate the late rounds of major tournaments once again.
Tracy Austin, a two-time U.S. Open champion in the early 1980s, notes that today's players are “just darn good athletes with complete games.” Each has her own strengths—whether movement, serve, or strokes—but all share one clear trait: winning.