Oldest players to play Grand Slam singles

Williams has received a wildcard entry to participate in the first Grand Slam tournament of the year, which commences on January 18 in Melbourne. A seven-time Grand Slam winner, Williams’ last appearance in the tournament was in 2021, where she was defeated by Italy’s Sara Errani in the second round. She is set to break the record held by Kimiko Date, who participated in the 2015 edition of the event at 44 years old. However, Williams does not hold the record for the oldest player to compete in Grand Slam singles. Let’s review the oldest players to participate in major events.

Frank Parker ( 52 years – 1968 US Open)

Frank Parker, the late American tennis star, is notable for holding the record as the oldest male or female player to have participated in a Grand Slam singles match. This achievement was realized during the 1968 US Open, where he was defeated by the eventual champion, Arthur Ashe, in the first round, thus bringing an end to his professional career. Parker, a native of Milwaukee, enjoyed a successful career, particularly during the late 1940s, with four Grand Slam titles, comprising two French and US Open titles each. He also secured three Grand Slam doubles titles, showcasing his proficiency as a team player. Additionally, Parker holds the record for the longest span in Grand Slam singles history, having competed in 36 consecutive years. In 1997, he  sadly passed away at the age of 81

Raymonde Veber Jones ( 50 years – 1968 US Open)

At 50 years old, Raymonde Veber Jones competed in the 1968 US Open, making her the second-oldest player to participate in a Grand Slam singles match. She boasts the remarkable achievement of being the oldest woman to participate in and win a major singles match. In the 1968 US Championship, held at Forest Hills, Jones emerged victorious in her first-round match against Carol Hunter, advancing to the next round, where she was eventually defeated by Wendy Overton in a three-set match. Jones experienced a notable level of success during her playing days, including winning the 1944 French Open in Paris, which took place during World War II. She passed away at the age of 98 in 2016.

Gussie Moran ( 47 years – 1971 US Open)

Gussie Moran was 47 years old when she participated in the 1971 US Open, where she was eliminated in the first round in both singles and mixed doubles, partnering with Chuck Diaz. Moran enjoyed a lengthy tennis career spanning over two decades, during which she reached two Grand Slam finals in doubles and mixed doubles. Her best performance at the US Open was reaching the semi-finals in 1948. Moran achieved a career-high ranking of 4th in the American standings.

Renee Richards ( 47 years – 1981 US Open)

Renee Richards is renowned for championing male-to-female medical affirmation and persevering to compete as a woman. Her professional career spanned only four years, yet her name remains notable. At 47, she participated in the 1981 US Open, becoming one of the oldest competitors in the major event. She later coached Martina Navratilova, and together they secured two Wimbledon titles.

Martina Navratilova ( 47 years – 2004 Wimbledon)

Martina Navratilova is widely regarded as the greatest tennis player of all time, boasting an impressive array of achievements in the tennis circuit that remain unparalleled. The 69-year-old Czech holds a remarkable record of 18 Grand Slam singles titles and a total of 59 Open Era titles. Notably, Navratilova competed in the 2004 Wimbledon Open at the age of 47, setting a record as the oldest player to participate in a singles match, which remains unbroken to this day. Furthermore, she continued to participate in doubles matches at the Grand Slam level well into her 50s.