Top five women's singles players with most wins over tennis World No. 1

Martina Navratilova holds the record for most wins over the tennis World No. 1.

In the history of tennis, what separates the great players from the merely good ones is their ability to triumph over higher-ranked opponents. While maintaining consistency against lower-ranked players is commendable, the ultimate measure of greatness lies in how a player performs against the top contenders of their era.

In this article, we spotlight those elite competitors who didn’t just rack up routine wins but consistently defeated the sport’s biggest names when it mattered most.

5. Steffi Graf – 11

Steffi Graf, who spent a record 377 weeks as world No. 1, still managed 11 wins over top-ranked players during her illustrious career. Five of those victories were against Monica Seles, including landmark wins in the 1992 Wimbledon, 1995 US Open, and 1996 US Open finals, each time denying Seles a major title while she was at the top.

The German also defeated Navratilova three times as No. 1, and recorded one win each over Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, Lindsay Davenport, and Martina Hingis—the latter coming in the memorable 1999 French Open final.

4. Lindsay Davenport – 15

Lindsay Davenport won eleven of those 15 against Martina Hingis, including two of her most significant victories: the 1998 US Open and 2000 Australian Open finals. Davenport’s maiden win over a No. 1 was against Steffi Graf in 1996, and she later added wins over Jennifer Capriati and two match victories over Amélie Mauresmo.

Davenport’s powerful baseline game and calm demeanor made her a consistent threat to the sport’s top players, and her repeated success against Hingis in major finals underscored her ability to deliver on the biggest stages.

3. Venus Williams – 15

Venus Williams also boasts 15 wins over world No. 1s, alongside spending just 11 weeks herself atop the WTA Rankings. Eight of Venus’s victories came against Martina Hingis, including pivotal wins in the 2000 Wimbledon quarterfinals and the 2000 US Open semifinals—both tournaments Venus went on to win.

The American twice beat her sister while Serena was No. 1 and also recorded two triumphs over Lindsay Davenport. Additional victories came against Jelena Jankovic, Dinara Safina, and Angelique Kerber.

2. Serena Williams – 17

Serena Williams ranks just behind Navratilova with 17 wins over world No. 1s. She notched five such victories over Martina Hingis, including the 1999 US Open final that marked Serena’s first Grand Slam title. Serena also scored five consecutive wins against Victoria Azarenka while Azarenka was ranked No. 1, including a memorable triumph in the 2012 US Open final.

The American also twice downed both her sister Venus and Justine Henin at the top spot, and also overcame Lindsay Davenport, Caroline Wozniacki, and Simona Halep in marquee encounters, thereby cementing her spot as one of the greatest Americans to have graced the sport.

1. Martina Navratilova – 18

Martina Navratilova holds the all-time WTA record with 18 wins over World No. 1s. Thirteen of those victories came against her chief rival, Chris Evert, in one of the most storied rivalries in tennis history. Among these, her win in the 1978 Wimbledon final was particularly significant, as it earned Navratilova her first singles major and propelled her to the No. 1 ranking for the first time.

The American also collected three wins over Monica Seles, two against Steffi Graf, and one against Tracy Austin, showcasing her ability to overcome every major champion of her era.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram