Top five players with most consecutive year-end WTA World No. 1 finishes

The great Martina Navratilova holds the record for finishing at WTA No. 1 for five consecutive years.

The WTA rankings are the Women’s Tennis Association’s (WTA) merit-based system for determining the rankings in women’s tennis. The top-ranked singles player is the player who, over the previous 52 weeks, has garnered the most ranking points on the WTA Tour.

Points are awarded based on how far a player advances in tournaments and the category of those tournaments. The WTA has used a computerized system to determine the rankings since November 3, 1975. Since 1975, 29 women have been ranked No. 1 in singles by the WTA, of which 16 have been year-end No. 1.

Also Read: Top five players with most titles won in 2024 WTA Tour

The feat of achieving the No. 1 ranking for consecutive years is an impressive feat that requires a high level of dominance of the game throughout the calendar year. Iga Swiatek ran a stunning 2-year streak of finishing as the number one seed however her inspiring run came to a halt as her arch-rival Aryna Sabalenka edged her to attain the apex position.

On that note, let’s have a look at the top five players with the most consecutive year-end WTA World No. 1 finishes.

5. Chris Evert

Another American tennis GOAT, Chris Evert enjoyed a dominating run during a period of tremendous competition as she played alongside Margaret Court and Martina Navratilova. This didn’t stop her from cementing herself in the record books though, as she finished as the world number one in 1975,1976 and 1977 before Martina took over.

With 18 Grand Slam singles titles and 157 career singles wins, she cemented her legacy as one of the greatest tennis players of all time. The characteristic topspin groundstrokes she possessed along with smooth court coverage was a nightmare for the opponents.

4. Ash Barty

Ash Barty will always be remembered as a player who retired at the absolute peak of her game, a rare decision in the world of sports. She can take pride in achieving some of the finest milestones in tennis, including winning all Grand Slam titles barring the US Open.

Ash Barty held the World No. 1 ranking for three consecutive years, from 2019 to 2021. During this dominant run, she claimed 15 singles titles and 12 doubles titles, the highest tally among active players in that period. Beyond her tennis achievements, Barty also showcased her versatility by playing professional cricket for the Brisbane Heat in the Women’s Big Bash League.

Also Read: Top five WTA players who can bag their maiden title in 2025

3. Serena Williams

The woman who redefined tennis for women and inspired thousands of youngsters including the 2022 US Open champion Coco Gauff, Serena Williams is a tennis giant who has a stellar career to her name finishing with 23 Grand Slam titles.

Known for her ruthlessness and sheer display of strength on the court, the American completed the three-year streak of consecutive No. 1 finishes in 2013, the same year when she won nine titles including two more Grand Slams to her illustrious cabinet. She held the pole position for 83 weeks before being replaced by Davenport.

2. Steffi Graf

Arguably Germany’s greatest tennis player, Steffi Graf enjoyed a four-year streak as the number one player. While Monica Seles seemed to dominate this period, Graf won one Slam title each year from 1990-92.

One of sporting history’s most controversial and scary moments, the German’s biggest breakthrough occurred when Seles was out of action as she regained her No. 1 ranking in 1993 when she won three majors.

She retained the top spot for most of four years and flaunted an incredible win-loss record of 76-6 in 1993, 58-6 the following year and 47-2 in 1995. Graf ended her career with 22 Grand Slam titles including seven Wimbledon and six French Open titles.

1. Martina Navratilova 

A legend of the same and the current most successful tennis player having won the highest number of Grand Slams, Martina Navratilova dominated tennis like none other. She captured the now-defunct Virginia Slims of Chicago a record 12 times and lost only one set in the process. At the Eastbourne International tournament held in the United Kingdom, Navratilova won 11 times, dropping only three sets.

The American was ranked in the World Top 10 in singles for 19 years (1976-1994), including five consecutive years at No.1 (1982-1986). Navratilova won 13 Grand Slam titles over only 5 years. She spent a massive total of 332 weeks at the No. 1 spot and was ranked No. 1 in doubles for 237 weeks (191 consecutive). The incredible records boasted by the Czech-American are a tribute to her impact on the game.

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