90 Weeks of 1GA as Iga Swiatek has crowned a new milestone as World No.1 and joins only 10 players before her to achieve this feat. Albeit she could yet lose her World No.1 spot shortly so it is very much enjoy it while it lasts for now as Aryna Sabalenka could return to top spot in Dubai.
Swiatek spent 75 weeks on top spot consecutively from April 4, 2022 in the retirement of Ashleigh Barty up until September 10, 2023 before Aryna Sabalenka took over for eight weeks. But given the WTA Finals win, she returned to top spot. Albeit after spending most of the end of the season saying how it was a weight lifted off so in reality wasn't too much of a big deal.
But she now joins a special group of players including Steffi Graf, Martina Navratilova, Serena Williams and Chris Evert to achieve 90 or more career weeks as World No.1 in WTA history since 1975. All of those higher in the list are seen as tennis legends so she is in good company.
Her next milestone will be usurping Lindsay Davenport, with Justine Henin and Ashleigh Barty the next two on the list with the latter seeing the rise of the Pole come full circle after taking her top spot. Swiatek returns to action on Monday afternoon after a disappointing Australian Open where she faces Sorana Cirstea with the latter fresh off a Quarter-Final run at Abu Dhabi meaning it could be a banana skin early on as she looks to keep the wolves from the door in terms of her World No.1 spot.
MOST WEEKS AT NO. 1 IN WTA RANKINGS HISTORY (since 1975):
377: Steffi Graf
332: Martina Navratilova
319: Serena Williams
260: Chris Evert
209: Martina Hingis
178: Monica Seles
121: Ashleigh Barty
117: Justine Henin
98: Lindsay Davenport
90: Iga Swiatek (to be continued)