In the modern era, many players peak late into their career. But still few of them have tasted success very early in their career.
Let's look at the top 5 youngest Grand Slam champions.
5. Michal Chang (17 years,110 days)
The great defensive baseliner's career saw him only win one Grand Slam title, coming in the 1989 French Open final. Chang beat the reigning Wimbledon champion Stefan Edberg in five sets, making him the youngest male winner of a Grand Slam title.
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4. Maria Sharapova (17 years,75 days)
The Russian rose to fame after claiming the 2004 Wimbledon title. After seeing off AI Sugiyama in three sets in the quarter final, she then overcame the challenge of former SW19 champion Lindsay Davenport in the semi final before upsetting two time defending champion Serena Williams in the final.
3. Tracy Austin (16 years,270 days)
Austin won two Grand Slams in her career,both at the US Open. Her win at Flushing Meadows in 1979 made her the youngest ever winner of the competition as she claimed wins over Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert en route to the title. Evert was looking for a fifth consecutive US Open title but the young Austin stopped her in straight sets.
2. Monica Seles (16 years,189 days)
The Yougoslav born American claimed the huge scalp of the great Steffi Graf in the 1990 French Open final to win the first of her nine Grand Slam titles. At the time she was the youngest Grand Slam winner while she remains the youngest ever French Open winner.
1. Martina Hingis (16 years,177 days)
Hingis broke Seles' record in 1997 after beating Mary Pierce in the Australian Open final. The Swiss teenager also became the youngest world number 1 in the same year and went on to win every single Grand Slam apart from the French Open. She won five Grand Slams but it was a case of what might have been as her career would be foiled by injury as she failed to win a major after the age of 18.
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