Ninety-eight weeks at world number one marked the professional tennis career of Lindsay Davenport, a prolific American competitor who secured fifty-five singles titles and thirty-eight doubles titles. Born in 1976 in the Palos Verdes Peninsula, she became a dominant force on the WTA Tour, accumulating significant earnings and three major singles victories throughout her active years.
Early Development
Raised in an athletic environment, Davenport was the daughter of Wink Davenport, an Olympian volleyball player, and Ann L. Davenport, who presided over the Southern California Volleyball Association. She began playing tennis at six. Her training progressed under Robert Lansdorp before she moved to Murrieta, California, at sixteen. While attending Murrieta Valley High School, she joined the United States Tennis Association junior national team. A substantial growth spurt during her teens briefly impacted her physical coordination, yet she rapidly excelled, winning the Junior U.S. Open in 1992.
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Turning professional, Davenport reached the top 100 in doubles by 1993 and debuted at the Australian Open that same year. Her breakthrough in the mid-1990s included a 1994 victory in Brisbane and a quarterfinal run at the Australian Open. After briefly working with coach Craig Kardon, she rejoined Robert Van't Hof as her full-time mentor. By 1996, her consistency earned her a runner-up finish in Sydney and a quarterfinal spot at the Australian Open, setting the stage for her peak performance.
Major Achievements and Recognition
Davenport's record includes three major singles titles: the 1998 US Open, the 1999 Wimbledon Championships, and the 2000 Australian Open. Her doubles prowess was equally significant, yielding three majors at the 1996 French Open, the 1997 US Open, and the 1999 Wimbledon Championships. At the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, she secured the gold medal in singles by defeating Arantxa Sánchez Vicario. Her career earnings reached over US$22 million, and she earned the Best Female Tennis Player ESPY Award in 1999 and 2000.
Legacy and Hall of Fame
In 2005, TENNIS Magazine ranked her as the 29th-greatest player of the preceding 40 years. Her cumulative time at the top of the singles rankings remained a benchmark for her generation. In recognition of these achievements, she was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2014, solidifying her status within the history of the sport.
Fast facts
- Born: 1976, Palos Verdes Peninsula
- Singles major titles: 3
- Doubles major titles: 3
- Olympic gold medal: 1996
- International Tennis Hall of Fame: 2014
- Career earnings: US$22,166,338
- WTA singles titles: 55
- WTA doubles titles: 38
Questions readers ask
How many weeks did Lindsay Davenport hold the world number one ranking?
She was ranked world number one in singles for 98 weeks and in doubles for 32 weeks.
When was she inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame?
She was inducted in 2014.
Achievements
- International Tennis Hall of Fame
- Competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics
- Competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics
- Competed at the 2000 Summer Olympics
