The WTA rankings are the ratings defined by the Women's Tennis Association, introduced in November 1975.[1] The computer that calculates the ranking is nicknamed "Medusa".[2]
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 (or 19 if she competed in the WTA Finals) for singles and 12 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. For singles, the period must include:[3]
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
For doubles, the best 12 tournament results across all tournament levels are used. Unlike singles, there are no specific tournament level requirements and the WTA Finals are not treated as a bonus tournament, instead they are one of the 12 if applicable.
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.[4]
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
Category
W
F
SF
QF
R16
R32
R64
R128
Q
Q3
Q2
Q1
Grand Slam (128S, 128Q)
2000
1300
780
430
240
130
70
10
40
30
20
2
Grand Slam (64D)
2000
1300
780
430
240
130
10
40
WTA Finals (S)
1500*
1000*
600*
(+200 per round robin win)
WTA Finals (D)
1500*
1000*
600*
(+200 per round robin win)
WTA 1000 (96S, 48Q)
1000
650
390
215
120
65
35
10
30
20
2
WTA 1000 (56S, 32Q)
1000
650
390
215
120
65
10
30
20
2
WTA 1000 (32/28D)
1000
650
390
215
120
10
WTA Elite Trophy (S)
700*
440*
240*
(+40 per round robin match; +80 per round robin win)
WTA 500 (48S, 24Q)
500
325
195
108
60
32
1
25
13
1
WTA 500 (30/28S, 24/16Q)
500
325
195
108
60
1
25
18
13
1
WTA 500 (24D)
500
325
195
108
60
1
WTA 500 (16D)
500
325
195
108
1
WTA 250 (32S, 24/16Q)
250
163
98
54
30
1
18
12
1
WTA 250 (16D)
250
163
98
54
1
WTA 125 (32S, 16Q)
125
81
49
27
15
1
6
4
1
WTA 125 (32S, 8Q)
125
81
49
27
15
1
6
1
WTA 125 (16D)
125
81
49
27
1
WTA 125 (8D)
125
81
49
1
W100 (48S, 32/24Q)
100
65
39
21
12
7
1
5
3
W100 (32S, 32Q)
100
65
39
21
12
1
5
3
W100 (16D)
100
65
39
21
1
W75 (48S, 32/24Q)
75
49
29
16
9
5
1
3
2
W75 (32S, 32Q)
75
49
29
16
9
1
3
2
W75 (16D)
75
49
29
16
1
W50 (48S, 32/24Q)
50
33
20
11
6
3
1
2
1
W50 (32S, 32Q)
50
33
20
11
6
1
2
1
W50 (16D)
50
33
20
11
1
W35 (48S, 32/24Q)
35
23
14
8
4
2
1
1
W35 (32S, 64/48/32/24Q)
35
23
14
8
4
1
1
W35 (16D)
35
23
14
8
1
W15 (32S, 64/48/32/24Q)
15
10
6
3
1
W15 (16D)
15
10
6
3
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.[5]
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.
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:[10]
* 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: As of 27May2024[update]
Number 1 in singles and doubles
At the same time
The below lists the players who were ranked number 1 in both singles and doubles at the same 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.[15]
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).
↑ "WTA Tour All-Time Records"(PDF). Women's Tennis Association. 2021. Retrieved 2021-08-20. Since the inception of computer singles rankings on November 3, 1975, the No.1 ranking has changed hands 101 times
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