World number 1 ranked female tennis players is a year-by-year listing of the female tennis players who were ranked as world No. 1 by various contemporary and modern sources.

Notes:

List of No. 1 ranked players

Pre-1920: National rankings; few sources available

More information Year, Sources and notes ...
Year Sources and notes
1883 Maud Watson:
1884 Maud Watson:
1885 Maud Watson:
1886 Maud Watson:
1887 Lottie Dod:
1888 Lottie Dod:
1889 Lottie Dod:
1890 Louisa Martin:
1891 Lottie Dod:
1892 Lottie Dod:
1893 Lottie Dod:
1894 Blanche Bingley:
1895 Louisa Martin:
1896 Blanche Bingley Hillyard, Louisa Martin:
1897 Charlotte Cooper, Blanche Bingley Hillyard:
1898 Charlotte Cooper:
1899 Blanche Bingley Hillyard:
  • Lambert Chambers.[15]

Louisa Martin:

1900 Blanche Bingley Hillyard:
1901 Charlotte Cooper Sterry:
1902 Muriel Robb:
  • Lambert Chambers.[15]
  • The Lawn Tennis and Croquet classification of British players.[18][page needed]

Charlotte Cooper Sterry:

  • Lambert Chambers.[15]
1903 Dorothea Douglass:
  • Lambert Chambers.[15]

Louisa Martin:

1904 Dorothea Douglass:
1905 May Sutton:
  • The Lawn Tennis and Badminton classification of British players and the American and Australian visitor.[20][page needed]
1906 Dorothea Douglass:
  • The Lawn Tennis and Badminton classification of British players and the American and Australian visitors.[citation needed]
  • German international rankings.[citation needed]
1909 May Sutton:
  • The Lawn Tennis and Badminton classification of British players and the American and Australian visitor.[citation needed]
Close

1921–1967: The Amateur Era

More information Year, No. 1 player ...
Year No. 1 player Sources and notes
1921  Suzanne Lenglen (FRA) Lenglen:
1922  Suzanne Lenglen (FRA) Lenglen:
  • A. Wallis Myers, The Daily Telegraph (London).[23]
1923  Suzanne Lenglen (FRA) Lenglen:
  • A. Wallis Myers, The Daily Telegraph (London).[23]
  • B. H. Liddell Hart.[24]
1924  Suzanne Lenglen (FRA) Lenglen:
  • A. Wallis Myers, The Daily Telegraph (London).[23]
1925  Suzanne Lenglen (FRA) Lenglen:
1926  Suzanne Lenglen (FRA) Lenglen:
  • A. Wallis Myers, Daily Mail (London).[26]
1927  Helen Wills (USA) Wills:
  • A. Wallis Myers, Daily Mail (London).[23]
  • Bill Tilden.[27]
  • American Lawn Tennis.[28]
1928  Helen Wills (USA) Wills:
  • A. Wallis Myers, Daily Mail (London).[29]
1929  Helen Wills (USA) Wills:
1930  Helen Wills Moody (USA) Wills Moody:
1931  Helen Wills Moody (USA) Wills Moody:
1932  Helen Wills Moody (USA) Wills Moody:
  • A. Wallis Myers, Daily Mail (London).[38]
  • Pierre Gillou.[39]
  • Bill Tilden.[40]
1933  Helen Wills Moody (USA) Wills Moody:
  • A. Wallis Myers, Daily Mail (London).[41]
  • Pierre Gillou.[42]

Jacobs:

1934  Helen Jacobs (USA)

 Dorothy Round (UK)

Jacobs:
  • Ned Potter, American Lawn Tennis.[44]

Round:

  • A. Wallis Myers, Daily Mail (London).[45]
  • Pierre Gillou.[46]
1935  Helen Wills Moody (USA) Moody:
1936  Helen Jacobs (USA)

 Hilde Krahwinkel Sperling (DEN)

Jacobs:

Krahwinkel Sperling:

  • Ned Potter, American Lawn Tennis.[56]
1937  Anita Lizana (CHI)
 Dorothy Round (UK)
Lizana:
  • A. Wallis Myers, Daily Mail (London).[57]
  • Ned Potter, American Lawn Tennis.[58]

Round:

1938  Helen Wills Moody (USA) Wills Moody
  • A. Wallis Myers, Daily Mail (London).[65]
  • Ned Potter, American Lawn Tennis.[66]
  • Pierre Goldschmidt, L'Auto.[67]
  • Pierre Gillou.[68]
  • Mervyn Weston, The Argus (Melbourne).[69]
  • "International", The Referee.[70]
  • F. Gordon Lowe.[71]
  • The Times.[71]
  • G. H. McElhone.[71]
  • Alfred Chave, The Telegraph (Brisbane).[72]
1939  Alice Marble (USA) Marble:
1940–

1945

none (World War II) The United States Lawn Tennis Association continued to rank U.S. players during the war years:[80]
1946  Pauline Betz (USA) Betz:
  • Ned Potter, American Lawn Tennis.[44]
  • Pierre Gillou.[82]
  • Harry Hopman.[83]
1947  Louise Brough (USA)

 Margaret Osborne duPont (USA)

Brough:
  • Ned Potter, American Lawn Tennis.[84][44]

Osborne duPont:

  • John Olliff, Lawn Tennis Almanack.[23]
  • Pierre Gillou.[85]
1948  Louise Brough (USA)

 Margaret Osborne duPont (USA)

Brough:

Osborne duPont:

  • Ned Potter, American Lawn Tennis.[87]
  • John Olliff, Lawn Tennis Almanack.[23]
1949  Margaret Osborne duPont (USA) Osborne duPont:
  • Ned Potter, American Lawn Tennis.[44]
  • Pierre Gillou.[88]
  • John Olliff.[89]
  • Harry Hopman.[90]
1950  Margaret Osborne duPont (USA) Osborne duPont:
  • Ned Potter, American Lawn Tennis.[91][44]
  • John Olliff, Lawn Tennis Almanack.[92]
1951  Doris Hart (USA) Hart:
  • Ned Potter, American Lawn Tennis.[93][44]
  • Pierre Gillou, Lawn Tennis Almanack.[94]
1952  Maureen Connolly (USA) Connolly:
1953  Maureen Connolly (USA) Connolly:
  • Ned Potter, World Tennis.[96]
  • Lance Tingay[23]
1954  Maureen Connolly (USA) Connolly:
1955  Louise Brough (USA)

 Doris Hart (USA)

Brough:

Hart:

1956  Shirley Fry (USA) Fry:
  • Ned Potter, World Tennis.[102]
  • Lance Tingay[23]
1957  Althea Gibson (USA) Gibson:
  • Lance Tingay, The Daily Telegraph (London).[23]
  • Ned Potter, World Tennis.[103]
  • British Lawn Tennis reader's poll.[citation needed]
1958  Althea Gibson (USA) Gibson:
1959  Maria Bueno (BRA) Bueno:
1960  Maria Bueno (BRA) Bueno:
  • Lance Tingay, The Daily Telegraph (London).[23]
  • Ned Potter, World Tennis.[106]
1961  Darlene Hard (USA)
 Angela Mortimer (UK)
Hard:

Mortimer:

1962  Margaret Smith (AUS) Smith:
  • Lance Tingay, The Daily Telegraph (London).[23]
  • Ned Potter, World Tennis.[109]
  • British Lawn Tennis reader's poll.[citation needed]
  • Ulrich Kaiser, from a panel of 13 experts (unanimous).[110]
1963  Margaret Smith (AUS) Smith:
  • Lance Tingay, The Daily Telegraph (London).[23]
  • Ned Potter, World Tennis.[111]
  • British Lawn Tennis reader's poll.[citation needed]
  • Ulrich Kaiser, from a panel of 13 experts (unanimous).[112]
1964  Maria Bueno (BRA)

 Margaret Smith (AUS)

Bueno:
  • Ned Potter, World Tennis.[113]
  • British Lawn Tennis reader's poll.[114]
  • Ulrich Kaiser, from a panel of 14 experts.[115]

Smith:

  • Lance Tingay, The Daily Telegraph (London).[23]
1965  Margaret Court (AUS) Court:
  • Lance Tingay, The Daily Telegraph (London).[23]
  • Ned Potter, World Tennis.[116]
  • British Lawn Tennis reader's poll.[citation needed]
  • Sport za Rubezhom (Russia).[117]
  • Ulrich Kaiser, from a panel of 16 experts (unanimous).[118]
1966  Maria Bueno (BRA)

 Billie Jean King (USA)

Bueno:

King:

  • Lance Tingay, The Daily Telegraph (London).[119]
  • Joseph McCcauley, World Tennis.[120]
  • Pierre de Thier, Belgium.[121]
  • Sport In The USSR.[122]
1967  Billie Jean King (USA) King:
  • Lance Tingay, The Daily Telegraph (London).[23]
  • Joseph McCauley, World Tennis.[123]
  • British Lawn Tennis reader's poll.[citation needed]
  • Ulrich Kaiser, from a panel of 13 experts (unanimous).[124]
Close

1968–present: The Open Era

More information Year, No. 1 player ...
Year No. 1 player Sources and notes
1968  Billie Jean King (USA) King:
1969  Margaret Court (AUS) Court:
1970  Margaret Court (AUS) Court:
1971  Evonne Goolagong (AUS)

 Billie Jean King (USA)

Goolagong:

King:

1972  Billie Jean King (USA) King:
1973  Margaret Court (AUS) Court:
  • Bud Collins.[125]
  • John Barrett.[citation needed]
  • Lance Tingay, The Daily Telegraph (London).[126]
  • Rino Tommasi.[127]
  • Tennis magazine (U.S.).[144]
  • International poll of 17 tennis writers (unanimous).[145]
  • Rex Bellamy, The Times (London) and World Tennis.[146][147]
1974  Chris Evert (USA)

 Billie Jean King (USA)

Evert:

King:

1975  Chris Evert (USA) Evert:
1976  Chris Evert (USA) Evert:
  • WTA year-end No. 1.[155]
  • Bud Collins.[125]
  • World Tennis.[156]
  • Lance Tingay, The Daily Telegraph (London).[126]
  • Tennis magazine (U.S.).[157]
  • John Barrett.
  • Rino Tommasi.[127]
1977  Chris Evert (USA)

 Virginia Wade (UK)

Evert:

Wade:

1978  Chris Evert (USA)

 Martina Navratilova (USA)

Evert:

Navratilova:

  • WTA year-end No. 1.[168]
  • WTA Player of the Year.[164]
  • Bud Collins.[125]
  • Lance Tingay, World of Tennis.[126]
1979  Chris Evert (USA)

 Martina Navratilova (USA)

Evert:

Navratilova:

1980  Tracy Austin (USA)

 Chris Evert (USA)

Austin:
  • WTA Player of the Year.[164]

Evert:

1981  Tracy Austin (USA)

 Chris Evert (USA)

Austin:

Evert:

1982  Martina Navratilova (USA) Navratilova:
1983  Martina Navratilova (USA) Navratilova:
1984  Martina Navratilova (USA) Navratilova:
1985  Martina Navratilova (USA) Navratilova:
1986  Martina Navratilova (USA) Navratilova:
  • WTA year-end No. 1.[189]
  • ITF World Champion.[165]
  • WTA Player of the Year.[164]
  • John Barrett, Financial Times (London).[190]
  • Lance Tingay, World of Tennis.[126]
  • World Tennis.[191]
  • Rino Tommasi.[127]
  • Bud Collins.[125]
1987  Steffi Graf (FRG)

 Martina Navratilova (USA)

Graf:
  • WTA year-end No. 1.[192]
  • ITF World Champion.[165]
  • WTA Player of the Year.[164]
  • John Barrett, Financial Times (London).[193]
  • Lance Tingay, World of Tennis.[126]
  • World Tennis.[194]
  • Rino Tommasi.[127]
  • Bud Collins.[125]

Navratilova:

1988  Steffi Graf (FRG) Graf:
  • WTA year-end No. 1.[195]
  • ITF World Champion.[165]
  • WTA Player of the Year.[164]
  • John Barrett, Financial Times (London).[196]
  • Lance Tingay, World of Tennis.[126]
  • World Tennis.[197]
  • Rino Tommasi.[127]
  • Bud Collins.[125]
1989  Steffi Graf (FRG) Graf:
  • WTA year-end No. 1.[198]
  • ITF World Champion.[165]
  • WTA Player of the Year.[164]
  • John Barrett, Financial Times (London).[199]
  • Lance Tingay, World of Tennis.[126]
  • World Tennis.[200]
  • Bud Collins.[125]
1990  Steffi Graf (GER)
 Monica Seles (YUG)
Graf:
  • WTA year-end No. 1.[201]
  • ITF World Champion.[165]
  • WTA Player of the Year.[164]
  • John Barrett, Financial Times (London).[202]

Seles:

1991  Monica Seles (YUG) Seles:
  • WTA year-end No. 1.[204]
  • ITF World Champion.[165]
  • WTA Player of the Year.[164]
  • John Barrett, Financial Times (London).[205]
  • Bud Collins.[125]
1992  Monica Seles (YUG) Seles:
  • WTA year-end No. 1.[206]
  • ITF World Champion.[165]
  • WTA Player of the Year.[164]
  • John Barrett, Financial Times (London).[207]
  • Bud Collins.[125]
1993  Steffi Graf (GER) Graf:
  • WTA year-end No. 1.[208]
  • ITF World Champion.[165]
  • WTA Player of the Year.[164]
  • John Barrett, Financial Times (London).[207]
  • Bud Collins.[125]
1994  Steffi Graf (GER)

 Arantxa Sánchez Vicario (ESP)

Graf:
  • WTA year-end No. 1.[209]
  • WTA Player of the Year.[164]

Sánchez Vicario:

  • ITF World Champion.[165]
  • John Barrett, Financial Times (London).[210]
  • Bud Collins.[125]
1995  Steffi Graf (GER)

 Monica Seles (USA)

Graf:
  • WTA year-end No. 1.[211]
  • ITF World Champion.[165]
  • WTA Player of the Year.[164]
  • John Barrett, Financial Times (London).[212]
  • Bud Collins.[125]

Seles:

1996  Steffi Graf (GER) Graf:
1997  Martina Hingis (SUI) Hingis:
1998  Lindsay Davenport (USA) Davenport:
1999  Lindsay Davenport (USA)

 Martina Hingis (SUI)

Davenport:
  • WTA Player of the Year.[164]

Hingis:

2000  Martina Hingis (SUI)

 Venus Williams (USA)

Hingis:

V. Williams:

2001  Jennifer Capriati (USA)

 Lindsay Davenport (USA)

Capriati:
  • ITF World Champion.[226]
  • WTA Player of the Year.[164]

Davenport:

2002  Serena Williams (USA) S. Williams:
2003  Justine Henin (BEL) Henin:
  • WTA year-end No. 1.[231]
  • ITF World Champion.[232]
  • WTA Player of the Year.[164]
2004  Lindsay Davenport (USA)

 Anastasia Myskina (RUS)

 Maria Sharapova (RUS)

Davenport:

Myskina:

Sharapova:

  • WTA Player of the Year.[164]
2005  Kim Clijsters (BEL)

 Lindsay Davenport (USA)

Clijsters:
  • ITF World Champion.[236]
  • WTA Player of the Year.[164]

Davenport:

2006  Justine Henin (BEL)

 Amélie Mauresmo (FRA)

Henin:

Mauresmo:

2007  Justine Henin (BEL) Henin:
2008  Jelena Janković (SRB)

 Serena Williams (USA)

Janković:

S. Williams:

2009  Serena Williams (USA) S. Williams:
2010  Kim Clijsters (BEL)

 Caroline Wozniacki (DEN)

Clijsters:
  • WTA Player of the Year.[251]

Wozniacki:

2011  Petra Kvitová (CZE)

 Caroline Wozniacki (DEN)

Kvitová:
  • ITF World Champion.[254]
  • WTA Player of the Year.[255]

Wozniacki:

2012  Victoria Azarenka (BLR)

 Serena Williams (USA)

Azarenka:

S. Williams:

  • ITF World Champion.[258]
  • WTA Player of the Year.[259]
2013  Serena Williams (USA) S. Williams:
  • WTA year-end No. 1.[260]
  • ITF World Champion.[261]
  • WTA Player of the Year.[262]
2014  Serena Williams (USA) S. Williams:
2015  Serena Williams (USA) S. Williams:
  • WTA year-end No. 1.[266]
  • ITF World Champion.[267]
  • WTA Player of the Year.[268]
2016  Angelique Kerber (GER) Kerber:
  • WTA year-end No. 1.[269]
  • ITF World Champion.[270]
  • WTA Player of the Year.[271]
2017  Simona Halep (ROM)

 Garbiñe Muguruza (ESP)

Halep:

Muguruza:

  • ITF World Champion.[274]
  • WTA Player of the Year.[275]
2018  Simona Halep (ROM) Halep:
2019  Ashleigh Barty (AUS) Barty:
2020  Ashleigh Barty (AUS)

 Sofia Kenin (USA)

Barty:

Kenin:

  • WTA Player of the Year.[286]
2021  Ashleigh Barty (AUS) Barty:
2022  Iga Świątek (POL) Świątek:
  • WTA year-end No. 1
  • WTA Player of the Year
  • ITF World Champion
2023 Aryna Sabalenka

 Iga Świątek (POL)

Sabalenka:

Świątek:

  • WTA year-end No. 1
  • WTA Player of the Year[292]
Close

See also

Notes

  1. including Alan Tengrove, Australian Sun News Pictorial; Joseph McCauley, World Tennis; Steve Snider, United Press International; Gerald Williams, London Daily Mail; Judith Elian, L'Équipe; George McCann, Australian Consolidated Press; Fred Tupper, New York Times

References

Further reading

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