For nearly 40 years, tennis has been a major international sport, and the women’s tennis rankings have become one of the most competitive rankings among professional athletes. Since the inception of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings system in 1975, many female tennis players have held the number one ranking for extended periods of time. But who has been number one the longest? Let’s take a look at some of the greatest female tennis players who have held this prestigious title throughout their careers.
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Serena Williams
Perhaps the most famous female tennis player of all time, Serena Williams has been the number one ranked female tennis player in the world for a total of 319 weeks, making her the longest-tenured number one in the history of women’s tennis. Williams, who was born in 1981, began her professional career in 1995 and has since won an incredible 73 singles titles and 23 Grand Slam titles. Her dominance in the sport has earned her numerous accolades, including the Laureus World Sports Award for Sportswoman of the Year in 2003 and 2010.
Steffi Graf
Former German tennis star Steffi Graf is widely considered one of the greatest female tennis players of all time. Graf held the number one ranking for a total of 377 weeks, second only to Serena Williams. Graf began her professional career in 1982 and quickly rose to the top of the sport, winning an incredible 107 singles titles and 22 Grand Slam titles throughout her career. In 1988, Graf became the first and only tennis player, male or female, to win the “Golden Slam”, which is winning all four Grand Slam titles and the Olympic gold medal in the same year.
Martina Navratilova is another tennis great who held the number one ranking for a total of 332 weeks throughout her career. Navratilova began her professional career in 1975 and was one of the most successful female tennis players in history, winning an incredible 167 singles titles and 18 Grand Slam titles. Navratilova is also credited with popularizing the two-handed backhand shot, which is now a common technique used by many professional tennis players.
Chris Evert
American tennis star Chris Evert held the number one ranking for a total of 260 weeks throughout her career. Evert, who was born in 1954, began her professional career in 1972 and quickly rose to the top of the sport, winning an impressive 157 singles titles and 18 Grand Slam titles. Evert was renowned for her consistent, aggressive playing style, which earned her the nickname “The Ice Maiden”.
Monica Seles
Former Yugoslavian tennis star Monica Seles held the number one ranking for a total of 178 weeks throughout her career. Seles began her professional career in 1989 and was one of the most successful female tennis players of the 1990s, winning an impressive 53 singles titles and 9 Grand Slam titles. Unfortunately, her career was tragically cut short in 1993 when she was stabbed by a crazed fan during a match in Germany.
Justine Henin
Belgian tennis star Justine Henin held the number one ranking for a total of 117 weeks throughout her career. Henin began her professional career in 1999 and quickly rose to the top of the sport, winning an impressive 43 singles titles and 7 Grand Slam titles. Henin is also noted for her signature one-handed backhand shot, which she used to great effect throughout her career.
Kim Clijsters
Belgian tennis great Kim Clijsters held the number one ranking for a total of 20 weeks throughout her career. Clijsters began her professional career in 1997 and was one of the most successful female tennis players of the early 2000s, winning an impressive 41 singles titles and 4 Grand Slam titles. Clijsters is also noted for her incredible ability to hit powerful shots from the baseline, which earned her the nickname “Ace Kim”.
Victoria Azarenka
Belarusian tennis star Victoria Azarenka held the number one ranking for a total of 51 weeks throughout her career. Azarenka began her professional career in 2003 and quickly rose to the top of the sport, winning an impressive 36 singles titles and 2 Grand Slam titles. Azarenka is also noted for her powerful serve and forehand shots, which earned her the nickname “Vika the Powerful”.
Caroline Wozniacki
Danish tennis great Caroline Wozniacki held the number one ranking for a total of 67 weeks throughout her career. Wozniacki began her professional career in 2005 and has since won an impressive 30 singles titles and 1 Grand Slam title. She is also noted for her defensive playing style, which earned her the nickname “The Great Wall of Denmark”.
Conclusion
Throughout the history of women’s tennis, many female tennis players have held the number one ranking for extended periods of time. But who has held the number one ranking the longest? Serena Williams has been the longest-tenured number one in the history of women’s tennis, with a total of 319 weeks at the top of the rankings. She is followed closely by Steffi Graf, Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert, Monica Seles, Justine Henin, Kim Clijsters, Victoria Azarenka, and Caroline Wozniacki, who have all held the number one ranking for extended periods of time throughout their careers.