Aryna Sabalenka sets record for fifth longest streak as WTA World No. 1 this century
(Courtesy : @arynasabalenka/Instagram)
The four-time Grand Slam winner has finished two straight seasons ranked year-end No. 1 in the world.
Aryna Sabalenka is on an uninterrupted 62-week run as the WTA World No. 1, marking her 70th consecutive week at the top spot.
Her current stint as No. 1 began on October 21, 2024, making her the third woman to finish the entire year at the top of the WTA Rankings. Serena Williams (2024,2015) and Ashleigh Barty (2020, 2021) accomplished the feat twice each.
The Belarusian’s 62-week streak is the fifth-longest stint at No. 1 this century after Williams, Barty, Iga Swiatek, and Marina Hingis. Sabalenka will be close to matching Swiatek’s 75-week stint during the 2026 Australian Open. Sabalenka leads the field with a 2500-point advantage over second-place Swiatek heading into the new season.
Sabalenka is slated to play at the WTA 500 Brisbane International kickstart her 2026 campaign. Despite the absence of Swiatek and Coco Gauff from the entry line-up for Brisbane, the competition will be stiff for the top seed. She will be targeting her third title at the venue, having lifted the trophy in 2023 as well.
Also Read: Lookback: Aryna Sabalenka sets record for highest prize money earned in single WTA season
The 27-year-old is the defending champion at Brisbane, where she will be joined by 2024 winner Elena Rybakina. Sabalenka and Rybakina contested the 2025 WTA Finals, with the Kazakh coming out on top in straight sets to win her maiden WTA Finals trophy.
They will be joined by fellow WTA Top 10 players, including Amanda Anisimova and the Australian Open defending champion Madison Keys.
Sabalenka rubbed shoulders with illustrious company after becoming just the 13th woman in WTA rankings history to finish at the top spot in back-to-back years since 1975. The Belarusian is the second active player to achieve the feat this decade after Iga Swiatek.
Not long ago, the four-time Grand Slam champion was in New York City, counting down to the new season and her title defense in Brisbane. Sabalenka offered a glimpse of her time in the Big Apple in an Instagram post captioned, ‘48 hours in NYC.’
How long has Aryna Sabalenka been World No. 1?
Aryna Sabalenka has held the World No. 1 ranking for 70 consecutive weeks, including an uninterrupted 62-week run at the top.
When did Aryna Sabalenka’s current No. 1 stint begin?
Her current reign as World No. 1 began on October 21, 2024.
Which players have finished back-to-back years as World No. 1?
Only 13 women in WTA history have finished consecutive years at No. 1, including Serena Williams, Ashleigh Barty, and Iga Swiatek. Sabalenka is the second active player this decade to achieve the feat.
Where will Aryna Sabalenka start her 2026 season?
Sabalenka will begin her 2026 campaign at the WTA 500 Brisbane International.
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Meet Fazeel—a bibliophile and sci-fi aficionado who devours books and movies alike. His favorite form of exercise? Watching tennis from a perfectly positioned couch. Whether he's lost in a gripping novel or absorbed in a five-hour Grand Slam final, he's all in. Favorite quote: “You cannot be serious” – John McEnroe.
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