The 6 oldest Grand Slam women’s singles quarter-finalists of the Open Era
This has been a Wimbledon full of surprises, and perhaps no surprise in the women’s singles draw has been bigger than the run of Laura Siegemund.
Down at 104th in the WTA Rankings, the 37-year-old has not dropped a single set on her way to the last eight at the All England Club, reaching just the second Grand Slam singles quarter-final of her career.
Siegemund’s Wimbledon run has seen her make history as one of the oldest Grand Slam quarter-finalists of the Open Era.
Looking at the final major quarter-final appearances of every player in the Open Era, only five women older than her have reached that stage of a Slam.
6) Laura Siegemund, Wimbledon 2025 – 37 years, 131 days
Siegemund’s only previous Grand Slam quarter-final came back at the 2020 French Open, and she had never made it past the second round of Wimbledon before this year.
But, after beating Peyton Stearns in round one, she knocked out both 29th seed Leylah Fernandez and sixth seed Madison Keys, before ending the run of lucky loser Solana Sierra.
Aged 37 years and 131 days, Siegemund has become the sixth-oldest Grand Slam women’s singles quarter-finalist of the Open Era; she faces world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka next.
5) Martina Navratilova, Wimbledon 1994 – 37 years, 258 days
One of the most successful tennis players of all time, 18-time Grand Slam singles champion Navratilova reached a staggering 53 major quarter-finals across her legendary career.
The last of those Grand Slam quarter-finals came aged 37 years and 258 days at Wimbledon in 1994, where she went on to reach her last major singles final.
After reaching the last eight, Navratilova beat Jana Novotna and then Gigi Fernandez in the semi-final, before falling to Conchita Martinez in the championship match.
4) Virginia Wade, 1983 Wimbledon – 37 years, 358 days
The greatest British female player of the modern age, three-time Grand Slam singles champion Wade reached an impressive 21 major quarter-finals in the Open Era.
The final of those came at her home Grand Slam in 1983, just days before she celebrated her 38th birthday.
Wade beat Eva Pfaff to reach the last eight of Wimbledon that summer, where she was beaten by Yvonne Vermaak in three sets.
3) Serena Williams – 2021 Australian Open, 39 years, 148 days
No woman in the Open Era has won as many major singles titles as 23-time Slam winner Williams, who is considered by many to be the greatest female player of all time.
Williams reached a joint-record 54 Grand Slam singles quarter-finals across her career, and she was approaching her 40th birthday when she reached the last eight of the 2021 Australian Open.
After beating Aryna Sabalenka in the fourth round, the American would then defeat Simona Halep in the quarter-final, before her campaign was ended by Naomi Osaka in the last four.
Wimbledon News
The 6 women with the most Wimbledon singles titles in the Open Era
The 7 women with highest grass-court win percentage: Martina Navratilova 88.72%, Serena Williams 2nd
2) Billie Jean King – 1983 Wimbledon, 39 years, 224 days
One of the most influential players in tennis history, King’s hugely successful career saw her make her major debut at the 1959 US Open, and her final singles major appearance at Wimbledon in 1983.
That SW19 campaign back in 1983 saw the American reach her final Grand Slam quarter-final, making her the oldest woman to reach both a quarter-final and semi-final at Wimbledon.
Aged 39 years and 224 days, King beat seventh seed Wendy Turnbull in round four and then defeated Kathy Jordan in the last eight, before a semi-final defeat to Andrea Jaeger.
1) Judy Dalton – 1977 Australian Open (Dec), 40 years, 19 days
To date, Australian tennis great Dalton remains the only woman in the Open Era to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final in her forties.
A career Grand Slam winner in doubles, former Wimbledon finalist Dalton came through qualifying to reach the main draw of the 1977 Australian Open (Dec), her final major appearance.
In a 32-player draw, Dalton defeated sixth seed Helena Anliot and Kaye Hallam to reach the last eight, where she fell to top seed and eventual champion Evonne Goolagong.
