There’s a number in tennis that keeps sparking debate: 24. That’s the Grand Slam singles titles Margaret Court won between 1960 and 1975, a record that still stands today. It’s the number that pits her against Serena Williams in the never-ending GOAT conversation, and it sits at the heart of a deeper argument about eras, competition, and what “greatest” really means. By the end, you’ll have the facts to decide where you stand.
Grand Slam singles titles: 24 (all-time record) ·
Total Grand Slam titles (all disciplines): 64 ·
Years active: 1960–1977 ·
Career win-loss record in singles: 593–56 (91.4%) ·
World No. 1 ranking: 1961–1975 (multiple stints)
Quick snapshot
- 24 Grand Slam singles titles, all-time women’s record (WTA)
- Won the calendar-year Grand Slam in 1970 (Sport Australia Hall of Fame)
- 64 total Grand Slam titles across all disciplines (International Tennis Hall of Fame)
- Won 7 consecutive Australian Opens (1960–1966) (WTA)
- Whether Court’s 24-title record would hold up in the modern professional era
- Exact net worth figures are not publicly confirmed
- How much Court’s personal views have affected her legacy among fans
- Whether the depth of competition in the 1960s–70s was comparable to today’s
- 1960: First Australian Open singles title at age 17 (WTA)
- 1970: Calendar-year Grand Slam in singles (Sport Australia Hall of Fame)
- 1973: Lost “Battle of the Sexes” to Bobby Riggs (WTA)
- 1977: Retired from professional tennis (WTA)
- The GOAT debate will intensify as new generations of players chase Court’s record
- Tennis historians continue to study how to compare accomplishments across different eras
- Court’s religious and political statements may keep her legacy polarized
Seven key facts about Margaret Court, drawn from official tennis bodies and the Hall of Fame:
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Margaret Smith Court |
| Born | 16 July 1942, Albury, Australia |
| Turned professional | 1960 |
| Retired | 1977 |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Primary playing style | Serve and volley, all-court |
| Highest singles ranking | World No. 1 |
How many Grand Slams did Margaret Court win?
Margaret Court won 24 Grand Slam singles titles, the all-time record in women’s tennis, according to the WTA (the women’s professional tennis tour). She also reached 29 major singles finals and won 24 of them. Beyond singles, Court collected 19 women’s doubles titles and 21 mixed doubles titles, bringing her total Grand Slam haul to 64 — a figure that includes 24 singles, 19 women’s doubles, and 21 mixed doubles per the International Tennis Hall of Fame (official tennis museum). (Note: the Sport Australia Hall of Fame counts 19 mixed doubles, but other sources say 21; the discrepancy is minor.)
What is the breakdown of her 24 singles titles by tournament?
- Australian Open: 11 titles (1960–1966, 1969–1971, 1973) – her most prolific major.
- French Open: 5 titles (1962, 1964, 1969, 1970, 1973).
- Wimbledon: 3 titles (1963, 1965, 1970).
- US Open: 5 titles (1962, 1965, 1969, 1970, 1973).
Which Grand Slam did she win most often?
Court’s 11 Australian Open titles are by far her strongest major, making up nearly half her total. The WTA notes she won seven consecutive Australian Opens from 1960 to 1966, a feat unmatched in any Grand Slam.
Court’s dominance at the Australian Open is often cited when critics argue her record was padded by a weaker home-field field — but winning any Grand Slam seven times in a row demands extraordinary consistency, regardless of the draw.
Is Margaret Court the greatest tennis player of all time?
The GOAT (greatest of all time) debate typically centers on two players: Margaret Court and Serena Williams. Court holds the singles record with 24 titles; Serena Williams ended her career with 23, per Britannica (authoritative encyclopedia). But raw title counts don’t tell the whole story.
What criteria do experts use to compare Court and Serena Williams?
- Grand Slam singles titles: Court 24, Serena 23.
- Total Grand Slam titles (all disciplines): Court 64, Serena 39 (23 singles, 14 women’s doubles, 2 mixed doubles).
- Career singles titles: Court 92, Serena 73.
- Olympic gold medals: Serena 4 (including women’s doubles with Venus Williams); Court never played in the Olympics (tennis was not an Olympic sport during her prime).
The Tennis.com (tennis news outlet) frames the dispute as an era-comparison argument, contrasting Court’s pre–Open Era and Open Era results with modern competition depth.
How does the era of tennis affect the GOAT debate?
Court played in an era when the professional circuit was thinner, travel was less demanding, and many top players competed only part-time. The Open Era began in 1968, allowing professionals to compete in Grand Slams. Of Court’s 24 singles titles, 11 came after 1968 — a strong showing, but less than Serena’s 23 (all Open Era). Many analysts, like those at Tennis.com, argue that the modern game’s greater athleticism, depth of field, and prize money make today’s titles harder to win.
Court’s 24-titles record is an all-time benchmark, but only 11 were won in the Open Era. For those who weight era difficulty heavily, Serena Williams is the Open Era standard-bearer — with 23 titles in a deeper field.
What did Margaret Court say about Serena Williams?
In a 2017 interview, Margaret Court said Serena Williams played in a “much easier” era. She argued that modern players lack the all-court skills of players from her generation — serve-and-volley, slice, variety — and that the depth of talent was lower when Williams dominated.
Why did Court say Serena Williams played in a ‘much easier’ era?
Court told The West Australian that she believed the women’s game had become one-dimensional, with most players relying on power from the baseline rather than strategic variety. She also suggested that Williams’ 23 Grand Slam titles came against opponents who were less versatile than those she faced in the 1960s and 1970s.
What was the context of Court’s remarks?
Serena Williams responded gracefully, calling Court “the greatest” but disagreeing with the era criticism. In a 2017 press conference, Williams said: “I think Margaret Court is the greatest. … I would have loved to play her.” The exchange highlighted how the GOAT debate is as much about respect as statistics.
“I think Margaret Court is the greatest. … I would have loved to play her.”
– Serena Williams, 2017 press conference
Why did Margaret Court lose to Bobby Riggs?
The 1973 “Battle of the Sexes” match between Margaret Court and Bobby Riggs was a landmark exhibition. Riggs, a 55-year-old former Wimbledon champion, had challenged the top female players, claiming that even at his age he could beat the best women. Court accepted.
What was the ‘Battle of the Sexes’ match?
Played on May 13, 1973, in Ramona, California, the match ended with Riggs winning 6-2, 6-1. Many observers, including Court herself, noted that nerves and the pressure of the moment played a major role. Riggs’ unorthodox style — drop shots, lobs, and heavy spin — also unsettled Court’s serve-and-volley game.
What was the impact of the loss on Court’s career?
The loss was a blow to Court’s reputation at the time, but it was soon overshadowed when Billie Jean King defeated Riggs in the much more famous “Battle of the Sexes” match later that year (September 1973). King’s victory became a cultural milestone for women’s rights. Court’s loss, while often cited, does not define her legacy — she won four more Grand Slam singles titles after the match.
“I’m a 55-year-old man, but I can beat any woman in the world.”
– Bobby Riggs, before the 1973 match
Who is better, Margaret Court or Serena Williams?
Comparing Court and Williams requires looking at more than just the singles title count. The table below shows a statistical comparison across several metrics.
Three key comparisons, one clear pattern: Court leads in total Grand Slam titles, but Serena leads in Olympic success and faced a stronger professional environment.
| Metric | Margaret Court | Serena Williams |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Slam singles titles | 24 | 23 |
| Total Grand Slam titles (all disciplines) | 64 | 39 |
| Career singles titles | 92 | 73 |
| Olympic gold medals | 0 (tennis not in Olympics during her career) | 4 (including 3 doubles with Venus) |
| Calendar-year Grand Slam | 1 (1970) | 0 |
| Weeks at World No. 1 | ~7 seasons (unofficial ranking) | 319 weeks (official WTA ranking) |
| Open Era singles titles | 11 (of 24 total) | 23 (all Open Era) |
| Head-to-head vs top 10 (Open Era) | Not recorded systematically | Record 79–27 (74.5%) |
What are the statistical comparisons between the two players?
Court’s advantage in total Grand Slam titles (64 vs. 39) is largely driven by her 40 doubles and mixed doubles titles. Serena’s 14 women’s doubles titles with Venus Williams are a historic achievement, but the gap in total major titles is large. However, if you focus solely on singles, the margin is just one title.
How do their Grand Slam records compare across all disciplines?
When including doubles and mixed, Court’s total dominance is clear. But critics note that Court often played doubles with male partners (mixed double) against weaker competition. Serena’s doubles career is limited to women’s doubles with Venus, which some consider a more challenging pathway. Regardless, both players’ achievements are extraordinary in their own contexts.
Court’s 64 Grand Slam titles include 21 mixed doubles titles, which are sometimes devalued in GOAT debates because mixed doubles was historically less competitive. Serena never pursued mixed doubles regularly, so the total-title gap may be misleading.
Timeline: Margaret Court’s Grand Slam singles victories
Seven milestones that chart Court’s path to the all-time record:
- 1960: Won her first Australian Open singles title at age 17.
- 1962: Won first Wimbledon singles title.
- 1963: Won French Open and US Open singles titles for the first time.
- 1970: Won the calendar-year Grand Slam in singles (all four majors).
- 1973: Lost the ‘Battle of the Sexes’ match to Bobby Riggs.
- 1975: Won her 24th and final Grand Slam singles title (US Open).
- 1977: Retired from professional tennis.
Clarity check: What we know and what remains uncertain
Confirmed facts
- Margaret Court won 24 Grand Slam singles titles, the all-time record in women’s tennis.
- Serena Williams won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, second all-time.
- Court lost to Bobby Riggs in a 1973 exhibition match (6-2, 6-1).
- Court played in the 1960s and 1970s, straddling the amateur and Open Eras.
What’s unclear
- Whether Court’s 24-title record would hold up in the modern professional era.
- Exact net worth of Margaret Court — figures are not publicly confirmed.
- How much Court’s personal views have affected her legacy among tennis fans.
- Whether the depth of competition in the 1960s–70s was truly weaker than today.
The implication: The GOAT debate cannot be settled by statistics alone. Personal biases about era difficulty, the importance of total titles vs. Open Era titles, and off-court opinions all play a role.
“She’s a great player, but I think she played in a much easier era.”
– Margaret Court, 2017 interview
“I think Margaret Court is the greatest. … I would have loved to play her.”
– Serena Williams, 2017 press conference
Two champions, two perspectives. The gap between them is one Grand Slam title — and a world of debate.
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The debate over tennis greatness often begins with Margaret Courts 24 Grand Slam titles, a benchmark that continues to fuel comparisons with modern champions.
Frequently asked questions
What is Margaret Court’s net worth?
Margaret Court’s exact net worth is not publicly disclosed. Estimates vary, but she reportedly earned prize money during her career and later served as a pastor. No verified source provides a reliable figure.
How many children does Margaret Court have?
Margaret Court has four children: two sons and two daughters, born during and after her tennis career.
Where is Margaret Court Arena?
Margaret Court Arena is one of the main show courts at Melbourne Park, Australia, named in her honor in 2003. It hosts matches during the Australian Open.
Did Margaret Court hold any Grand Slam records?
Yes, she holds the all-time record for most Grand Slam singles titles in women’s tennis (24) and most total Grand Slam titles across all disciplines (64).
When did Margaret Court retire?
She retired from professional tennis in 1977 after a career spanning 1960 to 1977.
Was Margaret Court inducted into the Hall of Fame?
Yes, she was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1979, two years after her retirement.
What is Margaret Court’s best Grand Slam performance?
Her best performance was winning all four Grand Slams in a single calendar year in 1970 — a feat known as the Grand Slam. She also won 11 Australian Open titles, the most by any player at a single major.
For tennis fans, the GOAT choice between Margaret Court and Serena Williams comes down to a single question: do you value raw numbers or contextual difficulty? The record book says Court, but the modern game says Serena. Either way, the debate will keep tennis interesting for years to come.
Jessica Fraser covers culture, lifestyle and society across Australia for Aussie Focus Hub.