The world’s number one tennis player achieves a remarkable feat only three have accomplished in the 21st century

02/11/2025 23:13:00 PANDATV

Aryna Sabalenka has become the third female tennis player in the 21st century to hold the world number one ranking for every week of a calendar year.

Sabalenka achieves a unique career milestone

This will be the second straight year Aryna Sabalenka ends the season as world number one, but what’s special is that this time she maintained the top spot from start to finish without being overtaken.

The Belarusian player had a stellar 2025 season, capturing 4 titles – including her fourth career Grand Slam at the US Open – and reaching 4 more finals, among them two Grand Slam finals at the Australian Open and Roland Garros.

Sabalenka held the WTA number one ranking throughout all weeks of 2025

Not only successful in major tournaments, Sabalenka also showed rare consistency all season. She reached at least the quarterfinals in 13 of the 15 tournaments she played – demonstrating world-class steadiness.

Thanks to these excellent results, regardless of the outcome at the WTA Finals in Riyadh, Sabalenka has officially preserved the year-end world number one ranking on the WTA standings for 2025.

After also finishing 2024 at number one, Sabalenka becomes the 13th female player in WTA history to complete two consecutive seasons as the top-ranked player – a rare feat achieved by only a handful of tennis legends.

In the 21st century alone, Sabalenka is the third female player to hold the WTA number one position every week of a calendar year – a clear demonstration of the 27-year-old’s dominance, courage, and superior class in her era.

*Female players who have held the WTA world number one ranking for at least two consecutive years since 1975

Chris Evert[1975-1977, 1980-1981]

Martina Navratilova[1978-1979, 1982-1986]

Steffi Graf[1987-1990, 1993-1996]

Monica Seles[1991-1992]

Martina Hingis[1999-2000]

Lindsay Davenport[2004-2005]

Justine Henin[2006-2007]

Caroline Wozniacki[2010-2011]

Serena Williams[2013-2015]

Simona Halep[2017-2018]

Ashleigh Barty[2019-2021]