Top 10 African Female Tennis Players and Their 2024 Progress
By Maureen Shileche
26 December, 2024
While tennis is gaining popularity in Africa, there are still very few African players among the top ranks in the global tennis scene. At present, only 10 African women are ranked within the top 800 in the world tennis standings.
Despite these challenges, a select group of African women have made remarkable strides in the sport. Here, we highlight the current top ten highest-ranked female tennis players from Africa and their 2024 stats.
1. Ons Jabeur from Tunisia – World Number 42
Ons Jabeur is currently Africa’s highest-ranked female tennis player. Known for her infectious personality and engaging with fans, she has earned the affectionate nickname “Minister of Happiness.”
Jabeur reached the finals of Wimbledon in both 2022 and 2023, and she was also a finalist at the 2022 US Open. Her career-high ranking of world number 2 was achieved in June 2022. However, the 2024 season was challenging for Jabeur.
She made early exits at the Grand Slam tournaments: the second round at the Australian Open, the quarterfinals at the French Open, and the third round at Wimbledon, where she lost to Elina Svitolina from Ukraine.
Her best performances in 2024 came at the Miami Open, where she reached the final, and at the Aegon Classic in Nottingham and the Bett1 Open in Berlin, where she made it to the semifinals.
Jabeur’s 2024 season was cut short in September due to a shoulder injury, which forced her to miss the US Open. Her journey, including both triumphs and struggles, is captured in the documentary “This is Me.”
2. Mayar Sherif from Egypt – World Number 65
Sherif’s top achievements in 2024 include winning the singles title at the WTA 125 Argentina Open, defeating Katarzyna Kawa in the final. She also claimed doubles titles at the Jasmin Open with Anna Blinkova and at WTA 125 Copa LP Chile with Nina Stojanović.
Sherif reached five finals: Catalonia Open (lost to Katerina Siniaková), Emilia-Romagna Open (lost to Anna Karolína Schmiedlová), Morocco Open (lost to Peyton Stearns), Makarska International (lost to Katie Volynets), and Grand Est Open 88 (lost to Lucia Bronzetti).
She also reached the quarterfinals at the Hamburg European Open and the third round at the Italian Open and Madrid Open.
3. Sada Nahimana from Burundi – World Number 313
Sada’s standout achievements in 2024 included winning the ITF/Tennis Europe W50 clay court tournament in Slobozia, Romania, where she defeated Dejana Radanovic 6-4, 6-1.
She also reached two finals: the ITF/Tennis Europe W35 Collonge-Bellerive in Switzerland and the ITF W35 Hammamet 5 in Tunisia, where she lost to Alison Van Uytvanck from Belgium with a 6-4, 6-2 scoreline.
Additionally, she reached the semifinals at the ITF/Tennis Europe W35 Santa Margherita di Pula 10 in Italy.
Sada also made it to the quarterfinals at the ITF W35 Mohammedia in Morocco, the ITF W35 Bujumbura 2 in Burundi, and the ITF W15 Monastir 10 in Tunisia.
4. Sandra Samir from Egypt – World Number 431
In the 2024 season, Samir performed well in her home tournaments. Her best result was winning the ITF W15 Sharm El Sheikh 5 in Egypt, defeating Laura Samson 6-0, 6-4.
She also reached the finals at several other Sharm El Sheikh events: ITF W15 Sharm El Sheikh 17, 14, 13, and $15,000 Sharm El Sheikh 4.
Samir made semifinal appearances at ITF W15 Sharm El Sheikh 18, 16, 12, 6, and 3. Additionally, she reached the quarterfinals at ITF W35 Sharm El Sheikh 23, ITF W15 Sharm El Sheikh 22, ITF/Tennis Europe W35 Bastad (Sweden), and ITF W15 Sharm El Sheikh 2.
5. Angela Okutoyi from Kenya – World Number 501
In 2024, Angela’s standout achievement was winning the singles gold medal at the African Games in Accra, Ghana, in March, defeating Egypt’s Lamis Alhussein Abdel Aziz 6-4, 6-2.
She also reached the semifinals at ITF/USTA W35 Naples, Florida, where she was beaten by Allie Kiick of the USA.
Angela made the quarterfinals at ITF/USTA W35 Boca Raton, Florida, ITF/USTA W35 Bethany Beach, Delaware, ITF W15 Casablanca, Morocco, and ITF/USTA W15 Lincoln, Nebraska.
6. Lamis Alhussein Abdel Aziz from Egypt – World Number 508
Lamis’ top results in 2024 included reaching the finals at ITF W15 Monastir 26, 28, and 35 in Tunisia, and the ITF W15 Sharm El Sheikh 13 in Egypt.
She also made the semifinals at ITF W15 Monastir 20, 27, and 32 in Tunisia, and ITF W15 Sharm El Sheikh 16, 17, and 18 in Egypt.
Additionally, Lamis reached the quarterfinals at ITF W15 Sharm El Sheikh 5 and 6 in Egypt, and ITF W15 Monastir 25 and 34 in Tunisia.
7. Zoe Kruger from South Africa – World Number 764
Zoe’s top achievements in 2024 include winning the ITF W35 Hillcrest 3 in South Africa, where she triumphed over Ksenia Laskutova.
She also reached the quarterfinals at the ITF W15 Stellenbosch 2 in South Africa, where she was defeated by Stephanie Visscher of the Netherlands.
Additionally, Zoe made it to the round of 32 at both the ITF W50 Pretoria 2 and ITF W50 Pretoria events in South Africa.
8. Ines Ibbou from Algeria – World Number 775
In 2024, Ines Ibbou’s top achievements included reaching the finals at the ITF/Tennis Europe W15 Viserba in Italy, where she was defeated by Italy’s Samira De Stefano. She also reached the semifinals in doubles at the ITF W35 Hammamet 6 in Tunisia.
Additionally, Ibbou advanced to the quarterfinals at both the ITF W15 Monastir 10 in Tunisia and the WTA 250 Jasmin Open in Tunisia, where she teamed up with Naima Karamoko from Switzerland.
9. Yasmine Kabbaj from Morocco – World Number 788
Yasmine’s standout performance in 2024 was winning the ITF/Tennis Europe W15 Heraklion 7 in Greece, where she triumphed over Klaudija Bubelyte of Lithuania with a 6-3, 7-6 scoreline.
She also reached the semifinals at the ITF/Tennis Europe W15 Fort-de-France in Martinique, France, where she was defeated by France’s Jenny Lim.
Additionally, Yasmine made it to the quarterfinals at the ITF/Tennis Europe W15 Antalya 26 in Turkey, losing to Loana Zvonaru from Romania.
10. Merna Refaat from Egypt – World Number 802
Merna’s best results include reaching the finals at the ITF W15 Monastir 20 in Tunisia, where she was defeated by Ekaterina Khayrutdinova with a 6-4, 6-3 scoreline.
She also reached the semifinals at the ITF W15 Monastir 19 in Tunisia, where she lost 6-0, 6-1 to Dayeon Back from Korea.
Additionally, Merna advanced to the semifinals at the ITF W15 Sharm El Sheikh 5 in Egypt, where she was eliminated by Laura Samson from the Czech Republic.
She also reached the quarterfinals at the ITF/USTA W15 Lincoln in Nebraska and the ITF W15 Monastir 25 in Tunisia.