Suzanne Lenglen

Suzanne Rachel Flore Lenglen was a French tennis player. She was one of tennis's biggest stars in the 1920s, building her popularity on her status as the youngest major champion in tennis history as well as her elegant style of play and exuberant personality. Often playing in front of sell-out crowds and appearing on the front pages of newspapers for her biggest matches, she is recognized as the first female athlete to become a global sport celebrity. Lenglen was ranked No. 1 in the world from the start of the rankings in 1921 through 1926, winning 8 Grand Slam singles titles and 21 in total. She also won 10 World Championship titles across all disciplines. Dissatisfied by her lack of income, she forfeited her amateur status and became the first leading amateur to turn professional. Lenglen was ranked as the greatest women's tennis player from the amateur era in the 100 Greatest of All Time series.