# World number 1 ranked female tennis players

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:
* The Women's Tennis Association introduced a computerized ranking system in November 1975, which is incorporated into this list.
* The International Tennis Federation's year-end number 1 classification that was introduced in 1978 is no longer named as such, and has evolved into the ITF World Champion designation and award.
* The Women's Tennis Association has awarded a WTA Player of the Year award each year since 1977.

## List of No. 1 ranked players

* 1883
* 1890
* 1900
* 1921
* 1930
* 1946
* 1950
* 1960
* 1968
* 1975
* 1980
* 1985
* 1990
* 1995
* 2000
* 2005
* 2010
* 2015
* 2020

### Pre-1920: National rankings; few sources available

| Year | Sources and notes |
| 1883 | Maud Watson: The Pastime classification of British players. |
| 1884 | Maud Watson: The Pastime classification of British players. |
| 1885 | Maud Watson: The Pastime classification of British players. |
| 1886 | Maud Watson: The Pastime classification of British players. |
| 1887 | Lottie Dod: The Pastime classification of British players. |
| 1888 | Lottie Dod: The Pastime classification of British players. |
| 1889 | Lottie Dod: The Pastime classification of British players. |
| 1890 | Louisa Martin: The Pastime classification of British players. |
| 1891 | Lottie Dod: The Pastime classification of British players. |
| 1892 | Lottie Dod: The Pastime classification of British players. |
| 1893 | Lottie Dod: The Pastime classification of British players. |
| 1894 | Blanche Bingley: The Pastime classification of British players. |
| 1895 | Louisa Martin: The Pastime classification of British players. |
| 1896 | Blanche Bingley Hillyard, Louisa Martin: The Lawn Tennis classification of British players. |
| 1897 | Charlotte Cooper, Blanche Bingley Hillyard: The Lawn Tennis classification of British players. |
| 1898 | Charlotte Cooper: Lambert Chambers. The Lawn Tennis classification of British players. |
| 1899 | Blanche Bingley Hillyard: Lambert Chambers. Louisa Martin: Lambert Chambers. The Lawn Tennis classification of British players. |
| 1900 | Blanche Bingley Hillyard: Lambert Chambers. The Lawn Tennis classification of British players. |
| 1901 | Charlotte Cooper Sterry: Lambert Chambers. The Lawn Tennis classification of British players. |
| 1902 | Muriel Robb: Lambert Chambers. The Lawn Tennis and Croquet classification of British players. Charlotte Cooper Sterry: Lambert Chambers. |
| 1903 | Dorothea Douglass: Lambert Chambers. Louisa Martin: Lambert Chambers. The Lawn Tennis and Croquet classification of British players. German international rankings. |
| 1904 | Dorothea Douglass: Lambert Chambers. The Lawn Tennis classification of British players. The Lawn Tennis and Badminton classification of British players. |
| 1905 | May Sutton: The Lawn Tennis and Badminton classification of British players and the American and Australian visitor. |
| 1906 | Dorothea Douglass: The Lawn Tennis and Badminton classification of British players and the American and Australian visitors. German international rankings. |
| 1909 | May Sutton: The Lawn Tennis and Badminton classification of British players and the American and Australian visitor. |

### 1921–1967: The Amateur Era

| Year | No. 1 player | Sources and notes |
| 1921 | Suzanne Lenglen (FRA) | Lenglen: A. Wallis Myers, The Daily Telegraph (London). B. H. Liddell Hart. |
| 1922 | Suzanne Lenglen (FRA) | Lenglen: A. Wallis Myers, The Daily Telegraph (London). |
| 1923 | Suzanne Lenglen (FRA) | Lenglen: A. Wallis Myers, The Daily Telegraph (London). B. H. Liddell Hart. |
| 1924 | Suzanne Lenglen (FRA) | Lenglen: A. Wallis Myers, The Daily Telegraph (London). |
| 1925 | Suzanne Lenglen (FRA) | Lenglen: A. Wallis Myers, Daily Mail (London). Bill Tilden. |
| 1926 | Suzanne Lenglen (FRA) | Lenglen: A. Wallis Myers, Daily Mail (London). |
| 1927 | Helen Wills (USA) | Wills: A. Wallis Myers, Daily Mail (London). Bill Tilden. American Lawn Tennis. |
| 1928 | Helen Wills (USA) | Wills: A. Wallis Myers, Daily Mail (London). |
| 1929 | Helen Wills (USA) | Wills: A. Wallis Myers, Daily Mail (London). F. Gordon Lowe. |
| 1930 | Helen Wills Moody (USA) | Wills Moody: A. Wallis Myers, Daily Mail (London). Pierre Gillou, president of the French Tennis Federation. Jean Samazeuilh. Bill Tilden. |
| 1931 | Helen Wills Moody (USA) | Wills Moody: A. Wallis Myers, Daily Mail (London). Pierre Gillou. Didler Pioline, L'Auto. Bill Tilden. |
| 1932 | Helen Wills Moody (USA) | Wills Moody: A. Wallis Myers, Daily Mail (London). Pierre Gillou. Bill Tilden. |
| 1933 | Helen Wills Moody (USA) | Wills Moody: A. Wallis Myers, Daily Mail (London). Pierre Gillou. Jacobs: Herald-Tribune. |
| 1934 | Helen Jacobs (USA)  Dorothy Round (UK) | Jacobs: Ned Potter, American Lawn Tennis. Round: A. Wallis Myers, Daily Mail (London). Pierre Gillou. |
| 1935 | Helen Wills Moody (USA) | Moody: A. Wallis Myers, Daily Mail (London). S. Wallis Merrihew. Ned Potter, American Lawn Tennis. Pierre Gillou. The Times |
| 1936 | Helen Jacobs (USA)  Hilde Krahwinkel Sperling (DEN) | Jacobs: A. Wallis Myers, Daily Mail (London). Pierre Gillou. Fred Perry. Harry Hopman. Mervyn Weston. The Times. Krahwinkel Sperling: Ned Potter, American Lawn Tennis. |
| 1937 | Anita Lizana (CHI) Dorothy Round (UK) | Lizana: A. Wallis Myers, Daily Mail (London). Ned Potter, American Lawn Tennis. Round: Pierre Gillou. Mervyn Weston. The Times. Harry Hopman. Alfred Chave, The Telegraph (Brisbane). |
| 1938 | Helen Wills Moody (USA) | Wills Moody A. Wallis Myers, Daily Mail (London). Ned Potter, American Lawn Tennis. Pierre Goldschmidt, L'Auto. Pierre Gillou. Mervyn Weston, The Argus (Melbourne). "International", The Referee. F. Gordon Lowe. The Times. G. H. McElhone. Alfred Chave, The Telegraph (Brisbane). |
| 1939 | Alice Marble (USA) | Marble: Ned Potter, American Lawn Tennis. American Lawn Tennis. Gordon Lowe. Pierre Gillou. G. H. McElhone. The Times. Alfred Chave, The Telegraph (Brisbane) |
| 1940– 1945 | none (World War II) | The United States Lawn Tennis Association continued to rank U.S. players during the war years: Alice Marble (1940). Sarah Palfrey Cooke (1941 and 1945). Pauline Betz (1942, 1943, and 1944). |
| 1946 | Pauline Betz (USA) | Betz: Ned Potter, American Lawn Tennis. Pierre Gillou. Harry Hopman. |
| 1947 | Louise Brough (USA)  Margaret Osborne duPont (USA) | Brough: Ned Potter, American Lawn Tennis. Osborne duPont: John Olliff, Lawn Tennis Almanack. Pierre Gillou. |
| 1948 | Louise Brough (USA)  Margaret Osborne duPont (USA) | Brough: Pierre Gillou. Osborne duPont: Ned Potter, American Lawn Tennis. John Olliff, Lawn Tennis Almanack. |
| 1949 | Margaret Osborne duPont (USA) | Osborne duPont: Ned Potter, American Lawn Tennis. Pierre Gillou. John Olliff. Harry Hopman. |
| 1950 | Margaret Osborne duPont (USA) | Osborne duPont: Ned Potter, American Lawn Tennis. John Olliff, Lawn Tennis Almanack. |
| 1951 | Doris Hart (USA) | Hart: Ned Potter, American Lawn Tennis. Pierre Gillou, Lawn Tennis Almanack. |
| 1952 | Maureen Connolly (USA) | Connolly: Ned Potter, American Lawn Tennis. Lance Tingay, Daily Mail (London). |
| 1953 | Maureen Connolly (USA) | Connolly: Ned Potter, World Tennis. Lance Tingay |
| 1954 | Maureen Connolly (USA) | Connolly: Ned Potter, World Tennis. Lance Tingay, The Guardian (London). Panel of 8 experts, The New York Times. |
| 1955 | Louise Brough (USA)  Doris Hart (USA) | Brough: Lance Tingay Hart: L'Équipe. Ned Potter, World Tennis. |
| 1956 | Shirley Fry (USA) | Fry: Ned Potter, World Tennis. Lance Tingay |
| 1957 | Althea Gibson (USA) | Gibson: Lance Tingay, The Daily Telegraph (London). Ned Potter, World Tennis. British Lawn Tennis reader's poll. |
| 1958 | Althea Gibson (USA) | Gibson: Lance Tingay Ned Potter, World Tennis. British Lawn Tennis reader's poll. |
| 1959 | Maria Bueno (BRA) | Bueno: Lance Tingay Ned Potter, World Tennis. British Lawn Tennis reader's poll. |
| 1960 | Maria Bueno (BRA) | Bueno: Lance Tingay, The Daily Telegraph (London). Ned Potter, World Tennis. |
| 1961 | Darlene Hard (USA) Angela Mortimer (UK) | Hard: The Miami Herald. Mortimer: Lance Tingay Ned Potter, World Tennis. British Lawn Tennis reader's poll. Denis Lalanne, L'Équipe. |
| 1962 | Margaret Smith (AUS) | Smith: Lance Tingay, The Daily Telegraph (London). Ned Potter, World Tennis. British Lawn Tennis reader's poll. Ulrich Kaiser, from a panel of 13 experts (unanimous). |
| 1963 | Margaret Smith (AUS) | Smith: Lance Tingay, The Daily Telegraph (London). Ned Potter, World Tennis. British Lawn Tennis reader's poll. Ulrich Kaiser, from a panel of 13 experts (unanimous). |
| 1964 | Maria Bueno (BRA)  Margaret Smith (AUS) | Bueno: Ned Potter, World Tennis. British Lawn Tennis reader's poll. Ulrich Kaiser, from a panel of 14 experts. Smith: Lance Tingay, The Daily Telegraph (London). |
| 1965 | Margaret Court (AUS) | Court: Lance Tingay, The Daily Telegraph (London). Ned Potter, World Tennis. British Lawn Tennis reader's poll. Sport za Rubezhom (Russia). Ulrich Kaiser, from a panel of 16 experts (unanimous). |
| 1966 | Maria Bueno (BRA)  Billie Jean King (USA) | Bueno: Bruce Walkley, Herald Sun (Melbourne, Australia). British Lawn Tennis reader's poll. King: Lance Tingay, The Daily Telegraph (London). Joseph McCcauley, World Tennis. Pierre de Thier, Belgium. Sport In The USSR. |
| 1967 | Billie Jean King (USA) | King: Lance Tingay, The Daily Telegraph (London). Joseph McCauley, World Tennis. British Lawn Tennis reader's poll. Ulrich Kaiser, from a panel of 13 experts (unanimous). |

### 1968–present: The Open Era

| Year | No. 1 player | Sources and notes |
| 1968 | Billie Jean King (USA) | King: Bud Collins. Lance Tingay, The Daily Telegraph (London). Rino Tommasi. Ulrich Kaiser, from a panel of 18 experts (unanimous). Seagram's (panel of experts). Joseph McCauley, World Tennis. The Times |
| 1969 | Margaret Court (AUS) | Court: Bud Collins. Joseph McCauley, World Tennis. Lance Tingay, The Daily Telegraph (London). Rino Tommasi. Frank Rostron, Daily Express. |
| 1970 | Margaret Court (AUS) | Court: Bud Collins. Joseph McCauley, World Tennis. Judith Elian, L'Équipe. Lance Tingay, The Daily Telegraph (London). Mike Gibson (Wimbledon referee). Rino Tommasi. Rex Bellamy, The Times (London). Tennis magazine (Germany). |
| 1971 | Evonne Goolagong (AUS)  Billie Jean King (USA) | Goolagong: Joseph McCauley, World Tennis. Lance Tingay, The Daily Telegraph (London). Björn Hellberg, Tennis Tidning (Sweden). Judith Elian, L'Équipe. Rex Bellamy, The Times (London). Rino Tommasi. Frank Rostron. King: Bud Collins, The Boston Globe. Frank Rostron. |
| 1972 | Billie Jean King (USA) | King: Tennis magazine (U.S.). Bud Collins. John Barrett. Lance Tingay, The Daily Telegraph (London). Rino Tommasi. Frank Rostron. Neil Amdur, World Tennis. Rex Bellamy, The Times (London). |
| 1973 | Margaret Court (AUS) | Court: Bud Collins. John Barrett. Lance Tingay, The Daily Telegraph (London). Rino Tommasi. Tennis magazine (U.S.). International poll of 17 tennis writers (unanimous). Rex Bellamy, The Times (London) and World Tennis. |
| 1974 | Chris Evert (USA)  Billie Jean King (USA) | Evert: World Tennis. Lance Tingay, The Daily Telegraph (London). John Barrett. Judith Elian, L'Équipe. Rino Tommasi. Tennis magazine (U.S.). Rex Bellamy, The Times (London). USTA. King: Bud Collins. |
| 1975 | Chris Evert (USA) | Evert: WTA year-end No. 1. Bud Collins. John Barrett. World Tennis. Lance Tingay. The Daily Telegraph (London). Tennis magazine (U.S.). Rino Tommasi. Rex Bellamy, The Times (London). (Chris Evert, for World Tennis.) |
| 1976 | Chris Evert (USA) | Evert: WTA year-end No. 1. Bud Collins. World Tennis. Lance Tingay, The Daily Telegraph (London). Tennis magazine (U.S.). John Barrett. Rino Tommasi. |
| 1977 | Chris Evert (USA)  Virginia Wade (UK) | Evert: WTA year-end No. 1. Bud Collins. France Presse. John Barrett, Financial Times (London) Judith Elian, L'Équipe. Lance Tingay, World of Tennis. Tennis magazine (U.S.). Peter Bodo, Tennis magazine (U.S.). Barry Lorge. Rino Tommasi, Tennis Club (Rome). Wataru Tsukagoshi, Tennis Japan. World Tennis. Wade: WTA Player of the Year. |
| 1978 | Chris Evert (USA)  Martina Navratilova (USA) | Evert: ITF World Champion. Tennis Magazine (Australia). World Tennis. John Barrett. Joseph McCauley, Tennis Australia. Tennis magazine (U.S.). Rino Tommasi. Navratilova: WTA year-end No. 1. WTA Player of the Year. Bud Collins. Lance Tingay, World of Tennis. |
| 1979 | Chris Evert (USA)  Martina Navratilova (USA) | Evert: Judith Elian, L'Équipe. Navratilova: WTA year-end No. 1. ITF World Champion. WTA Player of the Year. Jeffrey Bairstow and Peter Bodo, Tennis magazine (U.S.). World Tennis. Tennis magazine (U.S.). Alan Trengrove, Tennis Magazine (Australia). Bud Collins. John Barrett, Financial Times (London). Rino Tommasi, Tennis Club (Rome). Joseph McCauley, Tennis Australia. Wataru Tsukagoshi, Tennis Japan. Lance Tingay, World of Tennis. |
| 1980 | Tracy Austin (USA)  Chris Evert (USA) | Austin: WTA Player of the Year. Evert: WTA year-end No. 1. ITF World Champion. John Barrett. World Tennis. Lance Tingay, World of Tennis. Tennis magazine (U.S.). Rino Tommasi. Bud Collins. |
| 1981 | Tracy Austin (USA)  Chris Evert (USA) | Austin: John Barrett, Financial Times (London). Lance Tingay, World of Tennis. Bud Collins. Evert: WTA year-end No. 1. ITF World Champion. WTA Player of the Year. Alexander McNab and Peter Bodo, Tennis magazine (U.S.). World Tennis. Alan Trengrove, Tennis Magazine (Australia). Judith Elian, L'Équipe. John Barrett, Financial Times (London). Waturu Tsukagoshi, Tennis Japan. Rino Tommasi, Tennis Club (Rome). |
| 1982 | Martina Navratilova (USA) | Navratilova: WTA year-end No. 1. ITF World Champion. WTA Player of the Year. John Barrett, Financial Times (London). Lance Tingay, World of Tennis. World Tennis. Tennis magazine (U.S.). Rino Tommasi. Bud Collins. |
| 1983 | Martina Navratilova (USA) | Navratilova: WTA year-end No. 1. ITF World Champion. WTA Player of the Year. John Barrett, Financial Times (London). World Tennis. Tennis magazine (U.S.). Lance Tingay, World of Tennis. The Daily Telegraph (London). Rino Tommasi. Bud Collins. |
| 1984 | Martina Navratilova (USA) | Navratilova: WTA year-end No. 1. ITF World Champion. WTA Player of the Year. John Barrett, Financial Times (London). Lance Tingay, World of Tennis. World Tennis. Tennis magazine (U.S.). Rino Tommasi. Bud Collins. |
| 1985 | Martina Navratilova (USA) | Navratilova: WTA year-end No. 1. ITF World Champion. WTA Player of the Year. John Barrett, Financial Times (London). Lance Tingay, World of Tennis. World Tennis. Rino Tommasi. Bud Collins. |
| 1986 | Martina Navratilova (USA) | Navratilova: WTA year-end No. 1. ITF World Champion. WTA Player of the Year. John Barrett, Financial Times (London). Lance Tingay, World of Tennis. World Tennis. Rino Tommasi. Bud Collins. |
| 1987 | Steffi Graf (FRG)  Martina Navratilova (USA) | Graf: WTA year-end No. 1. ITF World Champion. WTA Player of the Year. John Barrett, Financial Times (London). Lance Tingay, World of Tennis. World Tennis. Rino Tommasi. Bud Collins. Navratilova: Lance Tingay, World of Tennis. |
| 1988 | Steffi Graf (FRG) | Graf: WTA year-end No. 1. ITF World Champion. WTA Player of the Year. John Barrett, Financial Times (London). Lance Tingay, World of Tennis. World Tennis. Rino Tommasi. Bud Collins. |
| 1989 | Steffi Graf (FRG) | Graf: WTA year-end No. 1. ITF World Champion. WTA Player of the Year. John Barrett, Financial Times (London). Lance Tingay, World of Tennis. World Tennis. Bud Collins. |
| 1990 | Steffi Graf (GER) Monica Seles (YUG) | Graf: WTA year-end No. 1. ITF World Champion. WTA Player of the Year. John Barrett, Financial Times (London). Seles: Bud Collins. World Tennis. |
| 1991 | Monica Seles (YUG) | Seles: WTA year-end No. 1. ITF World Champion. WTA Player of the Year. John Barrett, Financial Times (London). Bud Collins. |
| 1992 | Monica Seles (YUG) | Seles: WTA year-end No. 1. ITF World Champion. WTA Player of the Year. John Barrett, Financial Times (London). Bud Collins. |
| 1993 | Steffi Graf (GER) | Graf: WTA year-end No. 1. ITF World Champion. WTA Player of the Year. John Barrett, Financial Times (London). Bud Collins. |
| 1994 | Steffi Graf (GER)  Arantxa Sánchez Vicario (ESP) | Graf: WTA year-end No. 1. WTA Player of the Year. Sánchez Vicario: ITF World Champion. John Barrett, Financial Times (London). Bud Collins. |
| 1995 | Steffi Graf (GER)  Monica Seles (USA) | Graf: WTA year-end No. 1. ITF World Champion. WTA Player of the Year. John Barrett, Financial Times (London). Bud Collins. Seles: WTA year-end No. 1. |
| 1996 | Steffi Graf (GER) | Graf: WTA year-end No. 1. ITF World Champion. WTA Player of the Year. John Barrett. Bud Collins. |
| 1997 | Martina Hingis (SUI) | Hingis: WTA year-end No. 1. ITF World Champion. WTA Player of the Year. John Barrett. |
| 1998 | Lindsay Davenport (USA) | Davenport: WTA year-end No. 1. ITF World Champion. WTA Player of the Year. John Barrett. |
| 1999 | Lindsay Davenport (USA)  Martina Hingis (SUI) | Davenport: WTA Player of the Year. Hingis: WTA year-end No. 1. ITF World Champion. John Barrett. |
| 2000 | Martina Hingis (SUI)  Venus Williams (USA) | Hingis: WTA year-end No. 1. ITF World Champion. V. Williams: WTA Player of the Year. |
| 2001 | Jennifer Capriati (USA)  Lindsay Davenport (USA) | Capriati: ITF World Champion. WTA Player of the Year. Davenport: WTA year-end No. 1. |
| 2002 | Serena Williams (USA) | S. Williams: WTA year-end No. 1. ITF World Champion. WTA Player of the Year. |
| 2003 | Justine Henin (BEL) | Henin: WTA year-end No. 1. ITF World Champion. WTA Player of the Year. |
| 2004 | Lindsay Davenport (USA)  Anastasia Myskina (RUS)  Maria Sharapova (RUS) | Davenport: WTA year-end No. 1. Myskina: ITF World Champion. Sharapova: WTA Player of the Year. |
| 2005 | Kim Clijsters (BEL)  Lindsay Davenport (USA) | Clijsters: ITF World Champion. WTA Player of the Year. Davenport: WTA year-end No. 1. |
| 2006 | Justine Henin (BEL)  Amélie Mauresmo (FRA) | Henin: WTA year-end No. 1. ITF World Champion. Mauresmo: WTA Player of the Year. |
| 2007 | Justine Henin (BEL) | Henin: WTA year-end No. 1. ITF World Champion. WTA Player of the Year. |
| 2008 | Jelena Janković (SRB)  Serena Williams (USA) | Janković: WTA year-end No. 1. ITF World Champion. S. Williams: WTA Player of the Year. |
| 2009 | Serena Williams (USA) | S. Williams: WTA year-end No. 1. ITF World Champion. WTA Player of the Year. |
| 2010 | Kim Clijsters (BEL)  Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) | Clijsters: WTA Player of the Year. Wozniacki: WTA year-end No. 1. ITF World Champion. |
| 2011 | Petra Kvitová (CZE)  Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) | Kvitová: ITF World Champion. WTA Player of the Year. Wozniacki: WTA year-end No. 1. |
| 2012 | Victoria Azarenka (BLR)  Serena Williams (USA) | Azarenka: WTA year-end No. 1. S. Williams: ITF World Champion. WTA Player of the Year. |
| 2013 | Serena Williams (USA) | S. Williams: WTA year-end No. 1. ITF World Champion. WTA Player of the Year. |
| 2014 | Serena Williams (USA) | S. Williams: WTA year-end No. 1. ITF World Champion. WTA Player of the Year. |
| 2015 | Serena Williams (USA) | S. Williams: WTA year-end No. 1. ITF World Champion. WTA Player of the Year. |
| 2016 | Angelique Kerber (GER) | Kerber: WTA year-end No. 1. ITF World Champion. WTA Player of the Year. |
| 2017 | Simona Halep (ROM)  Garbiñe Muguruza (ESP) | Halep: WTA year-end No. 1. Muguruza: ITF World Champion. WTA Player of the Year. |
| 2018 | Simona Halep (ROM) | Halep: WTA year-end No. 1. WTA Player of the Year. ITF World Champion. |
| 2019 | Ashleigh Barty (AUS) | Barty: WTA year-end No. 1. WTA Player of the Year. ITF World Champion. |
| 2020 | Ashleigh Barty (AUS)  Sofia Kenin (USA) | Barty: WTA year-end No. 1. Kenin: WTA Player of the Year. |
| 2021 | Ashleigh Barty (AUS) | Barty: WTA year-end No. 1. WTA Player of the Year ITF World Champion. |
| 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: ITF World Champion Świątek: WTA year-end No. 1 WTA Player of the Year |
| 2024 | Aryna Sabalenka  Iga Świątek (POL) | Sabalenka: WTA year-end No. 1 WTA Player of the Year Świątek: ITF World Champion |