WTA rankings

The WTA rankings are the ratings defined by the Women's Tennis Association, introduced in November 1975. The computer that calculates the ranking is nicknamed "Medusa".

Iga Swiatek is the current world No. 1 in women's singles.

Ranking method
The WTA rankings are based on a rolling 52-week, cumulative system. A player's ranking is determined by her results at a maximum of 18 tournaments for singles and 11 for doubles. Points are awarded based on how far a player advances in a tournament. The basis for calculating a player's ranking are those tournaments that yield the highest ranking points during the rolling 52-week period. The period must include:
 * the four Grand Slams
 * six WTA 1000 Mandatory combined/virtually combined tournaments
 * one WTA 1000 Mandatory (WTA-only) tournament
 * the best of seven results from all WTA 1000 Mandatory, WTA 500, WTA 250, and WTA 125 Tournaments and ITF W15+ events
 * the WTA Finals as a bonus tournament if the player attended

Up until 2016, the WTA also distributed ranking points, for singles players only, who competed at the Summer Olympics. However, this has since been discontinued.

In order to appear on the WTA rankings, players must earn ranking points in at least three tournaments, or a minimum of 10 singles ranking points or 10 doubles ranking points in one or more tournaments.

The points distribution for tournaments in 2024 is shown below. Points earned in 2023 and before were different and retained their values until they expired after 52 weeks except for 2013 points.

Points Table
S = singles players, D = doubles teams, Q = qualification players.

* Assumes undefeated round robin match record.

Note that if a player or team receives one or more byes and then loses their first match of the tournament, they will only receive points for the first round of that tournament. For example, if a player receives a bye in R64 and then loses her match in R32, she will only receive points for R64 despite having advanced (via bye) to R32. Similarly, if a player or team withdraws from their first match after receiving a bye, they will not be awarded any points for that tournament.

In ITF tournaments, the main draw is normally 32 for singles and 16 for doubles. Losers in the first round of doubles will receive points equal to that shown in the R32 column above. For subsequent rounds (quarter-finals onwards) the points are the same as for singles.

Points breakdown

 * 2023 points and 2024 points are different due to change in the ranking system.
 * Points from WTA 125 and ITF tournaments are not shown.
 * Points in brackets don't count to total points by reason of tournament limit.
 * Points in brackets don't count to total points by reason of tournament limit.

Number one ranked players
The following is a chronological list of players who have achieved the number one position in singles since the WTA began producing computerized rankings on November 3, 1975:

{{Legend|#ffef98|Current world No. 1 .}} {{Legend|#cfc|Active players in green}}

Last update: 

Year-end number one players
The year-end number one player is the player at the head of the WTA rankings following the completion of the final tournament of the calendar year.

Year-end Top 10

 * ★ indicates player's highest year-end ranking

Players with highest career rank 2–5
The following is a list of singles players who were ranked world No. 5 or higher but not No. 1 since November 3, 1975: {{Legend|#cfc|Active players in green}}

Players with highest career rank 6–10
The following is a list of players who were ranked world No. 6 to No. 10 in the period since the 1975 introduction of the WTA rankings. {{Legend|#cfc|Active players in green}}

Consecutive weeks in the Top 10
The below lists the singles players with the most consecutive weeks in the top 10 of the WTA rankings:

{{Legend|#cfc|Active streaks in green}}

* The 20-week period between 23 March 2020 and 10 August 2020, when the WTA rankings were not published due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was not counted.

Last update: 

At the same time
The below lists the players who were ranked number 1 in both singles and doubles at the same time:

At any time
The below lists the players who were ranked number 1 in both singles and doubles at any time in their career. Date in bold indicates date the feat was achieved.

Year-end No. 1
The below lists the players who finished the year ranked number 1 in both singles and doubles: Navratilova also finished number 1 in either ranking list for 8 consecutive seasons: 1982–83 – Singles, 1984 – Singles & Doubles, 1985- Singles, 1986- Singles & Doubles, 1987–89 – Doubles.

No other player has managed to finish number 1 in singles and in doubles (same or different years).