Swiatek is the youngest world number one in years. However, the record is held by the Czechoslovakian-born

Iga Swiatek will also become the new world number one at the age of 20 thanks to Ashleigh Barty’s retirement. She will be the first Polish tennis player ever to do so. In addition, she is the youngest world number one since 2010. Who holds the historic record?

Ashleigh Barty recently announced that she is retiring from professional tennis at the age of 25. Women’s tennis will have a new world number one, 20-year-old Iga Swiatek from Poland.

It will be the first time ever that a Polish tennis player will climb to the top of the WTA rankings. In addition, she will be the youngest world number one since Caroline Wozniacki became the best tennis player on the planet at the same age in 2010.

Swiatek has won 5 WTA titles so far, and she managed to win her first Grand Slam title in 2020 when she dominated Roland Garros. This year she reached the semifinals of the Australian Open, at the next grand slams her best is 4th round, which she will want to improve.

Of course, it is impressive that she has become world number one at the age of 20. Especially in recent years when it’s not so common. However, the five youngest ever world No. 1s on the WTA rankings were not even 19 years old.

The youngest world No. 1s in history

5. Maria Sharapova – 18 years and 4 months

The Russian tennis player has made history not only with her loudness on the courts, as she even holds the world record, as no female tennis player has ever been louder. She deserves recognition especially for her sporting performance.

She is one of the youngest Grand Slam winners in history, having beaten Serena Williams at Wimbledon at the age of 17. That was 2004. A year later she had already managed to climb to the top of the WTA rankings, she was only 18 years and 4 months old.

4. Steffi Graf – 18 years and 2 months

Today Steffi Graf is considered one of the best tennis players of all time, she broke many records, winning 22 Grand Slam titles. She has had a fantastic career.

In 1987, she became world number one when she dethroned Martina Navratilova after 332 weeks. She did it at the age of 18 years and 2 months.

3. Tracy Austin – 17 years and 3 months

Tracy Austin was considered a child prodigy. She won her first Grand Slam title at the US Open at the age of 16 years and 9 months. However, she definitely didn’t fulfil her potential as she couldn’t conquer any other Grand Slam apart from the US Open, which she won once more afterwards.

However, she made history by becoming the world number one at 17 years and 3 months. It was 1980.

2. Monica Seles – 17 years and 3 months

The Yugoslavian tennis player had an incredible entry into professional tennis. In 1990, she became the youngest Roland Garros champion in history. In March 1991, she became the youngest ever world number one.

She ruled world tennis from her throne for a long time. She won 9 Grand Slams, captured the Champions Tournament three times. Between 1991 and 1996, she spent 178 weeks at the top of the rankings.

1. Martina Hingis – 16 years and 3 months

Martina Hingisová, a native of Košice, ended Selesova’s dominance in 1997, but represented Switzerland. She was only 16 years and 3 months old. It is questionable whether her record will ever be broken.

Hingis, of course, also holds the record for the youngest Grand Slam winner of all time. She has won five Grand Slam titles in her career. Three times in a row, she’s won the Australian Open. She won the Masters Tournament twice.

Source: WTA, Planet Sport