Mary Joe Fernández Godsick is an American former professional tennis player, who reached a career-high ranking of world No. 4 in both singles and doubles. In singles, Fernández was the runner-up at the 1990 and 1992 Australian Open, and the 1993 French Open. She also won a bronze medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics. In doubles, she won the 1991 Australian Open with Patty Fendick and the 1996 French Open with Lindsay Davenport, plus two Olympic gold medals.
The United States' Jennifer Capriati defeated the defending gold medalist, Germany's Steffi Graf, in the final, 3–6, 6–3, 6–4 to win the gold medal in Women's Singles tennis at the 1992 Summer Olympics. It was the first victory for the United States in the event since 1924, and the first medal in the event for united Germany since 1912. The United States' Mary Joe Fernández and Spain's Arantxa Sánchez Vicario won the bronze medals. It was Spain's first medal in the women's singles.
The United States' Lindsay Davenport defeated Spain's Arantxa Sánchez Vicario in the final, 7–6(10–8), 6–2 to win the gold medal in Women's Singles tennis at the 1996 Summer Olympics. In the bronze-medal match, the Czech Republic's Jana Novotná defeated the United States' Mary Joe Fernández, 7–6(10–8), 6–4. Sánchez Vicario became the second woman to win multiple Olympic tennis medals in singles ; Fernández would have done so as well, but the rules had been changed since the last Games to add a bronze medal playoff match.
Two-time defending champion Martina Hingis defeated Amélie Mauresmo in the final, 6–2, 6–3 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 1999 Australian Open. With the win, she joined Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong, Steffi Graf, and Monica Seles as the only women to win three consecutive Australian Open titles. Hingis also became the only woman to win three consecutive Australian Open titles in singles and doubles simultaneously.
Serena Williams defeated Martina Hingis in the final, 6–3, 7–6(7–4) to win the women's singles tennis title at the 1999 US Open. It was her first major singles title, the first of an eventual Open Era joint-record six US Open titles, and the first of an eventual Open Era record 23 major singles titles. Williams became the first African American woman in the Open Era to win a singles major.
Venus Williams defeated the defending champion Lindsay Davenport in the final, 6–3, 7–6(7–3) to win the ladies' singles tennis title at the 2000 Wimbledon Championships. It was her first major singles title. Williams lost only one set during the entire tournament, to Martina Hingis in the quarterfinals.
Mary Pierce defeated Conchita Martínez in the final, 6–2, 7–5 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 2000 French Open. It was her second and last major singles title. Pierce became the first Frenchwoman to win the title since Françoise Dürr in 1967 and is the most recent Frenchwoman to win the tournament.
Defending champion Venus Williams defeated her sister Serena Williams in the final, 6–2, 6–4 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 2001 US Open. It was her fourth major singles title, and she did not lose a set during the tournament. The championship match was the first of nine major finals contested by the sisters, and the first US Open women's singles final to take place during American television prime time.
Serena Williams defeated the two-time defending champion, her sister Venus Williams, in a rematch of the previous year's final, 6–4, 6–3 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 2002 US Open. It was her second US Open singles title, her fourth major singles title overall, the third component of her first "Serena Slam", and her second consecutive major title won without losing a set.
Defending champion Serena Williams defeated her sister Venus Williams in a rematch of the previous year's final, 4–6, 6–4, 6–2 to win the ladies' singles tennis title at the 2003 Wimbledon Championships. It was her second Wimbledon singles title and her sixth major singles title overall.
Iva Majoli defeated Martina Hingis in the final, 6–4, 6–2 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 1997 French Open. Majoli became the first Croat to win a major title. This was the only major match Hingis lost in the 1997 season, preventing her from achieving the Grand Slam. Hingis was on a 35-match winning streak, dating to the start of the season in Sydney.
Arantxa Sánchez Vicario defeated Monica Seles in the final, 7–6(7–5), 0–6, 6–2 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 1998 French Open. It was Sánchez Vicario's third French Open title, and the last major final for both her and Seles.
Martina Hingis defeated Venus Williams in the final, 6–0, 6–4 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 1997 US Open. She did not drop a set during the tournament. By reaching the final, Hingis became the seventh woman, to reach all four major singles finals in a calendar year. She also became the youngest woman to reach each major final, and the youngest woman to win three majors in a calendar year. Williams was the first unseeded player in the Open Era to reach the final.
Lindsay Davenport defeated the defending champion Martina Hingis in the final, 6–3, 7–5 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 1998 US Open. The final was a rematch of the previous year's semifinal. Davenport did not drop a set during the tournament.
Russia's Elena Dementieva defeated compatriot Dinara Safina in the final, 3–6, 7–5, 6–3 to win the gold medal in Women's Singles tennis at the 2008 Summer Olympics. In the bronze medal match, Russia's Vera Zvonareva defeated China's Li Na 6–0, 7–5. This was the first Olympic medal sweep in tennis since 1908, when three British women won medals in the outdoor women's singles tournament. It was the fifth podium sweep in tennis in Olympic history, all previous sweeps were by British athletes. It was Russia's first victory in the women's singles. Dementieva became the third woman to win multiple Olympic singles medals, following Steffi Graf and Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, and the first to do so in non-consecutive Games.
Serena Williams defeated Kim Clijsters in the final, 4–6, 6–4, 6–2 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 2001 Indian Wells Masters. This would be the final time Williams would attend the Indian Wells Masters until 2015, due to a boycott of the tournament by both Williams sisters in protest of racist remarks by crowd members; Venus Williams would return to the tournament until 2016.
Martina Hingis defeated Monica Seles in the final, 6–7(5–7), 6–4, 6–4 to win the singles tennis title at the 2000 WTA Tour Championships. It was her second Tour Finals singles title.
Serena and Venus Williams defeated Martina Hingis and Anna Kournikova in the final, 6–3, 6–7(2–7), 8–6 to win the women's doubles tennis title at the 1999 French Open. It was the first major title for the Williams sisters, and would be their first step towards completing the career Golden Slam in doubles.
Serena and Venus Williams defeated Chanda Rubin and Sandrine Testud in the final, 4–6, 6–1, 6–4 to win the women's doubles tennis title at the 1999 US Open. It was the second doubles major title for the Williams sisters, and their second step towards completing the career Golden Slam in doubles.
The tennis career of Serena Williams began in 1995, but she did not compete in 1996. She continued through the 1997 season and ended in the top 20 in 1998.
Venus Williams (USA)
Elena Dementieva (RUS)
