The first year end number 1 in women’s tennis was Chris Evert from the US who finished 1975 as the top ranked player in the WTA rankings.
The most recent year end no.1 was Iga Swiatek from Poland, who finished top of the rankings in 2022, with an impressive 6,030 point lead over second-placed Ons Jabeur.
List of WTA Number Ones (By Year) from 1975 to 2022
| Year | Player’s Name |
|---|---|
| 2022 | Iga Swiatek |
| 2021 | Ashleigh Barty |
| 2020 | Ashleigh Barty |
| 2019 | Ashleigh Barty |
| 2018 | Simona Halep |
| 2017 | Simona Halep |
| 2016 | Angelique Kerber |
| 2015 | Serena Williams |
| 2014 | S.Williams |
| 2013 | S.Williams |
| 2012 | Victoria Azarenka |
| 2011 | Caroline Wozniacki |
| 2010 | Caroline Wozniacki |
| 2009 | S.Williams |
| 2008 | Jelena Jankovic |
| 2007 | Justine Henin |
| 2006 | Justine Henin |
| 2005 | Lindsay Davenport |
| 2004 | L.Davenport |
| 2003 | Justine Henin |
| 2002 | Serena Williams |
| 2001 | L.Davenport |
| 2000 | Martina Hingis |
| 1999 | Martina Hingis |
| 1998 | L.Davenport |
| 1997 | Martina Hingis |
| 1996 | Steffi Graf |
| 1995 | S.Graf/M.Seles |
| 1994 | S.Graf |
| 1993 | S.Graf |
| 1992 | Monica Seles |
| 1991 | Monica Seles |
| 1990 | S.Graf |
| 1989 | S.Graf |
| 1988 | S.Graf |
| 1987 | S.Graf |
| 1986 | Martina Navratilova |
| 1985 | M.Navratilova |
| 1984 | M.Navratilova |
| 1983 | M.Navratilova |
| 1982 | M.Navratilova |
| 1981 | Chris Evert |
| 1980 | C.Evert |
| 1979 | M.Navratilova |
| 1978 | M.Navratilova |
| 1977 | C.Evert |
| 1976 | C.Evert |
| 1975 | C.Evert |
Most Year End No 1s in Women’s Tennis
Steffi Graf currently holds the record for most year end no. 1s with eight* (1987-1990, 1993-1996).
*In 1995 Graf shared the no.1 position with Monica Seles.
In second place is Martina Navratilova who holds the record for the most consecutive end of year no 1s with five (1982 – 1986).
| Player’s Name | YE No.1s |
|---|---|
| Steffi Graf | 8 |
| Martina Navratilova | 7 |
| Chris Evert | 5 |
| Serena Williams | 5 |
| Lindsay Davenport | 4 |
| Ashleigh Barty | 3 |
| Justine Henin | 3 |
| Martina Hingis | 3 |
| Monica Seles | 3 |
| Caroline Wozniacki | 2 |
| Simona Halep | 2 |
| Angelique Kerber | 1 |
| Iga Swiatek | 1 |
| Jelena Jankovic | 1 |
| Victoria Azarenka | 1 |
WTA Year End Number 1s by Country
The USA leads the way with fourteen (Chris Evert (5), Serena Williams (5), and Lindsay Davenport (4)), followed by Germany with nine (Steffi Graf (8) and Angelique Kerber (1)), and the Czech Republic with seven (Martina Navratilova (7)).
| Country | YE No.1s |
|---|---|
| USA | 14 |
| Germany | 9 |
| Czech Republic | 7 |
| Serbia | 4 |
| Australia | 3 |
| Belgium | 3 |
| Switzerland | 3 |
| Denmark | 2 |
| Romania | 2 |
| Belarus | 1 |
| Poland | 1 |