American tennis ace Lindsay Davenport was the World Number 1 on eight occasions for a total of 98 weeks. In a career that spanned 17 years from 1993-2010 she won 55 singles and 38 doubles titles. Her singles victories have her tied with Virginia Wade as the seventh best in the open era. Lindsay’s Grand Slam singles success came in a tight three-year span, winning the US Open in 1998, Wimbledon the following year and then the Australian Open in 2000. Her doubles success was similar, the French Open in 1996, the US in 1997 and then Wimbledon in 1999. While not winning the Australian title, she was a finalist on six occasions. At the 1996 Atlanta Olympics she won the singles Gold Medal.

Lindsay was known as a powerful baseliner. She built her game on a crushing forehand and superb court placement. Her two-handle backhand was also a handy weapon.

I caught up with the genial American at this year’s Wimbledon, where she was working on commentary for the BBC and signed my sketch outside the media centre after completing a stint on centre court.