The 7 women with multiple 50+ week spells as WTA world No 1: Iga Swiatek joins Serena Williams, Steffi Graf
Iga Swiatek has been sensationally knocked off the top of the WTA Rankings – but that hasn’t stopped her from making more history.
The Pole’s second period as the world No 1 – which ended at the hands of Aryna Sabalenka on Monday – lasted almost a year.
Swiatek is now one of just seven women – all legends of the sport – who have managed multiple spells of 50 weeks or longer as the WTA world No 1.
Steffi Graf – three spells
Graf’s 377 weeks atop the WTA Rankings are more than any other woman, and she is also the only woman with three spells of 50 weeks or longer at the top.
The German initially spent 186 weeks as world No 1 from August 1987 to March 1991, a joint record for the most consecutive weeks for any one player.
However, across her seven different spells as the top-ranked player, she also reigned for 87 weeks from June 1993 to February 1995, and 94 weeks from August 1995 to March 1997.
Serena Williams – two spells
With the third-highest tally of total weeks as world No 1 on the WTA Tour, it is no surprise to see Williams on this list.
The American famously matched Graf’s record of 186 straight weeks in the 2010s, reigning from February 2013 to September 2016.
Before that, her longest spell at the top came when she first reached the top of the rankings, reigning from July 2002 to August 2003 – a period lasting 57 weeks.
Martina Navratilova – two spells
Before Graf’s 186-week-long run, fellow all-time great Navratilova had held the record for the most consecutive weeks atop the world rankings.
Navratilova became world No 1 for a seventh separate spell in June 1982 and then held that ranking for three straight years until June 1985, a run of 156 weeks.
She would then reign for 90 weeks at the end of her 332 weeks as the No 1, from November 1985 to August 1987.
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Chris Evert – two spells
The first No 1 in WTA history, only the three women mentioned above can beat Evert’s total of 260 weeks atop the rankings.
The American’s longest spell at the top lasted 113 weeks, spanning from when she regained the No 1 ranking from Evonne Goolagong in May 1976 until she was usurped in July 1978.
Later on in her career, Evert would again top the ranking for 76 consecutive weeks – reigning from November 1980 to May 1982.
Monica Seles – two spells
With 178 weeks as world No 1 in total, Seles sits sixth in the all-time rankings for most weeks at the top of the WTA Rankings.
Her longest reign came from September 1991 to June 1993, a spell of 91 weeks that largely only came to an end following her infamous stabbing in April of that year.
When she returned to the tour in August 1995 she was reinstated as a joint No 1 alongside Graf and remained at the top for 64 weeks until November 1996.
Martina Hingis – two spells
One of the most prolific players in tennis history, Hingis is one of just five women to spend more than 200 weeks as world No 1 across her career.
The Swiss star’s most dominant period at the top came when she first rose to No 1 in March 1997, holding that ranking for 80 straight weeks until October 1998.
After several shorter spells as the top-ranked player, she was then No 1 for 73 straight weeks from May 2000 to October 2001 – when she was knocked off the top for the final time.
Iga Swiatek – two spells
Despite losing her No 1 ranking in controversial fashion, Swiatek has still been able to make history and join WTA legends in having two reigns of 50+ weeks.
The 23-year-old memorably rose to No 1 for the first time in April 2022 and did not lose the top ranking until September 2023, a spell of 75 weeks.
After moving back to No 1 in November 2023, Swiatek was then at the top until this week – a span of exactly 50 weeks.
