History UsefulNotes / Tennis

* '''Novak Djokovic (Serbia)''', 2003–present: Current No. 1, holding that spot for an ATP record of 410 weeks, and also winner of 24 singles Grand Slams, the most for anyone in the Open Era. His 24 Slams include a record 10 Australian Open titles, and he's also the only men's player to win all four singles Slams at least three times in the Open Era. Also holds the ATP records for most year-end No. 1 rankings (8, most recently in 2023; equaling Steffi Graf on the women's side), most [=YECs=] (7), and most ranking points accumulated (16,950), and his 36 Slam finals are the most for any man or woman in the Open Era. Not to mention that he has an Olympic bronze medal in singles. Was constantly overshadowed by Federer and Nadal early on in his career [[OvershadowedByAwesome despite being World No. 3]], until he went on a spectacular 43-0 match winning streak in 2011. Is also known as "[[FanNickname Djoker]]" for his sense of humor and impersonations of other players. In 2016, he became the first men's singles tennis player since Rod Laver in ''1969'' to win four consecutive Slams, also earning the career Slam in the process.

* '''Novak Djokovic (Serbia)''', 2003–present: Current No. 1, holding that spot for an ATP record of 406 weeks (as of the start of 2024), and also winner of 24 singles Grand Slams, the most for anyone in the Open Era. His 24 Slams include a record 10 Australian Open titles, and he's also the only men's player to win all four singles Slams at least three times in the Open Era. Also holds the ATP records for most year-end No. 1 rankings (8, most recently in 2023; equaling Steffi Graf on the women's side), most [=YECs=] (7), and most ranking points accumulated (16,950), and his 36 Slam finals are the most for any man or woman in the Open Era. Not to mention that he has an Olympic bronze medal in singles. Was constantly overshadowed by Federer and Nadal early on in his career [[OvershadowedByAwesome despite being World No. 3]], until he went on a spectacular 43-0 match winning streak in 2011. Is also known as "[[FanNickname Djoker]]" for his sense of humor and impersonations of other players. In 2016, he became the first men's singles tennis player since Rod Laver in ''1969'' to win four consecutive Slams, also earning the career Slam in the process.

* '''Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus)''',[[note]]As with Azarenka, Sabalenka is not allowed to play under the Belarusian flag due to WTA sanctions.[[/note]] 2015–present: Has held No. 1 for 8 weeks, and won 1 singles Slam and 2 doubles Slams to date. She also became the eighth woman to have been No. 1 in both singles and doubles during her career. Sabalenka was relatively unknown until 2017, when she helped lead Belarus to a runner-up finish in the Fed Cup (now Billie Jean King Cup) despite being outside the top 75. She was the WTA's newcomer of the year in 2018, and cracked the top 10 for the first time in 2019, winning the WTA Elite Trophy (essentially the second-tier WTA Finals) that year. She made her first singles Slam semifinals in 2021 at Wimbledon and Flushing Meadow, but didn't fully break through until 2023, when she won the Australian Open. Sabalenka has a very aggressive, all-or-nothing playing style, routinely amassing large numbers of winners and unforced errors, and is also known for a powerful serve.
* '''Iga Świątek (Poland)''', 2016–present: Current No. 1, who has held the rank for 80 weeks, been year-end No. 1 twice (2022 and 2023), and also won 4 singles Grand Slams and one YEC. The daughter of a former Olympic rower, she went pro in 2016 and enjoyed major success on the second-level ITF Women's World Tennis Tour, winning all seven finals she reached, as well as winning the 2018 Wimbledon junior singles title. Świątek joined the WTA Tour in 2019 and had a steady rise, entering the top 50 that year before a foot injury temporarily derailed her career. She came back even stronger in 2020, winning that year's COVID-delayed French Open while unseeded, making her the first Pole[[note]]as in a player representing Poland; although 2018 Australian Open winner Caroline Wozniacki was born to two Polish parents, she represented Denmark, where she was born and raised[[/note]] and first player born in the 21st century[[note]]by the standard definition, which treats 2000 as part of the 20th century[[/note]] to win a singles Slam. Has recorded some impressive WTA statistics since then, such as becoming the first woman to win the first three WTA 1000 events of the year in 2022 and going on a 37-match winning streak that same year. Świątek is an all-court player known for a vicious forehand.

* '''The Woodies (Australia)''', 1988–2000: The doubles partnership of Todd Woodbridge (1988–2005) and Mark Woodforde (1984–2000), who held most of the ATP records for men's doubles until the Bryans (and Daniel Nestor) came along. They won 11 Grand Slam doubles titles, including a record 6 at Wimbledon, won 61 tournaments, and claimed Olympic gold in 1996 and silver in 2000. After Woodforde retired, Woodbridge won five more Slams partnering with Jonas Björkman. Both Woodies were also successful in mixed doubles, with Woodbridge winning six Slams with four partners and Woodforde five Slams with three partners.

* Aránzazu Isabel María '''"Arantxa" Sánchez Vicario (Spain)''', 1985–2002: Held No. 1 for 14 weeks in singles and 4 in doubles, and also one of a select few players (6 women, plus John [=McEnroe=]) to be No. 1 in singles and doubles at the same time. Also won 4 Grand Slam titles in both singles and mixed doubles, plus 6 in women's doubles. She's the youngest and by far most successful of four siblings (one sister, two brothers) to have played professional tennis. Arantxa started out being known by her father's surname of Sánchez, but a few years into her career asked to be known by both of her parental surnames. A baseliner known for her tenacity and court coverage, she became known as the "Barcelona Bumblebee", a nickname bestowed by late NBC tennis commentator Bud Collins. Also has four Olympic medals, with a silver and bronze in both singles and doubles, and is the only person to have played in five Olympic tennis tournaments (having briefly come out of retirement to play doubles in 2004). Sánchez Vicario was a mainstay of Spain's Fed Cup (now Billie Jean King Cup) team, winning five titles and setting still-standing records for most matches won and ties played.

* '''Serena Williams (USA)''', 1995–2022: Held No. 1 for 319 weeks, also sharing the WTA record for most consecutive weeks in that spot (186) with Steffi Graf, and was year-end No. 1 five times. Won 23 singles Grand Slams, an Open Era record for women, as well as 13 doubles and 2 mixed doubles. She has achieved the Career Golden Slam in both singles and doubles--the only player to accomplish this (her doubles partner being her sister Venus), winning the Olympic gold in doubles 3 times. [[note]] More accurately , like Graf, the only ''able''-bodied player to accomplish this, as once again, [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Slam_(tennis) Dylan Alcott, Diede de Groot, and Shingo Kunieda have achieved this feat in the wheelchair division. [[/note]] Serena is also the most recent of the six women to have been No. 1 in singles and doubles at the same time, achieving that feat in 2010. Is also the only female tennis player to earn over $40 million on the court,[[note]]Not counting endorsements; when those are included, Serena made over $45 million in 2021, and Naomi Osaka made more than $55 million in that year.[[/note]] the oldest female No. 1 tennis player, ''and'' the oldest tennis player overall to win a singles Slam. She also has the WTA record for longest time span between her first and most recent year-end No. 1 (2003–2015), a year longer than Rafa's on the men's side. On top of that, while Serena never won a calendar-year Grand Slam, she has held all four Grand Slam singles trophies at the same time twice. Needless to say, she is the other person frequently cited as the greatest tennis player of all time. Took a maternity leave between April 2017 and February 2018 -- turned out she won the 2017 Australian Open ''while {{pregnant|Badass}}''. Before the 2022 US Open, she announced that she would likely retire after that tournament. While she hadn't completely ruled out a brief return, that effectively came off the table in May 2023 when she announced her second pregnancy. Also part of the army of owners of the aforementioned Angel City FC; her husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, is one of that team's lead investors.

* '''Serena Williams (USA)''', 1995–2022: Held No. 1 for 319 weeks, also sharing the WTA record for most consecutive weeks in that spot (186) with Steffi Graf, and was year-end No. 1 five times. Won 23 singles Grand Slams, an Open Era record for women, as well as 13 doubles and 2 mixed doubles. She has achieved the Career Golden Slam in both singles and doubles--the only player to accomplish this (her doubles partner being her sister Venus), winning the Olympic gold in doubles 3 times. Serena is also the most recent of the six women to have been No. 1 in singles and doubles at the same time, achieving that feat in 2010. Is also the only female tennis player to earn over $40 million on the court,[[note]]Not counting endorsements; when those are included, Serena made over $45 million in 2021, and Naomi Osaka made more than $55 million in that year.[[/note]] the oldest female No. 1 tennis player, ''and'' the oldest tennis player overall to win a singles Slam. She also has the WTA record for longest time span between her first and most recent year-end No. 1 (2003–2015), a year longer than Rafa's on the men's side. On top of that, while Serena never won a calendar-year Grand Slam, she has held all four Grand Slam singles trophies at the same time twice. Needless to say, she is the other person frequently cited as the greatest tennis player of all time. Took a maternity leave between April 2017 and February 2018 -- turned out she won the 2017 Australian Open ''while {{pregnant|Badass}}''. Before the 2022 US Open, she announced that she would likely retire after that tournament. While she hadn't completely ruled out a brief return, that effectively came off the table in May 2023 when she announced her second pregnancy. Also part of the army of owners of the aforementioned Angel City FC; her husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, is one of that team's lead investors.

* '''Serena Williams (USA)''', 1995–2022: Held No. 1 for 319 weeks, also sharing the WTA record for most consecutive weeks in that spot (186) with Steffi Graf, and was year-end No. 1 five times. Won 23 singles Grand Slams, an Open Era record for women, as well as 13 doubles and 2 mixed doubles. She has achieved the Career Golden Slam in both singles and doubles (her doubles partner being her sister Venus), winning the Olympic gold in doubles 3 times. Serena is also the most recent of the six women to have been No. 1 in singles and doubles at the same time, achieving that feat in 2010. Is also the only female tennis player to earn over $40 million on the court,[[note]]Not counting endorsements; when those are included, Serena made over $45 million in 2021, and Naomi Osaka made more than $55 million in that year.[[/note]] the oldest female No. 1 tennis player, ''and'' the oldest tennis player overall to win a singles Slam. She also has the WTA record for longest time span between her first and most recent year-end No. 1 (2003–2015), a year longer than Rafa's on the men's side. On top of that, while Serena never won a calendar-year Grand Slam, she has held all four Grand Slam singles trophies at the same time twice. Needless to say, she is the other person frequently cited as the greatest tennis player of all time. Took a maternity leave between April 2017 and February 2018 -- turned out she won the 2017 Australian Open ''while {{pregnant|Badass}}''. Before the 2022 US Open, she announced that she would likely retire after that tournament. While she hadn't completely ruled out a brief return, that effectively came off the table in May 2023 when she announced her second pregnancy. Also part of the army of owners of the aforementioned Angel City FC; her husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, is one of that team's lead investors.

Tennis[[note]]technically "lawn" tennis, to distinguish it from its predecessor [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real_tennis "real", or "court" tennis]][[/note]] is a popular worldwide racket sport, originating as a racket-less game in France during the MiddleAges. In addition to the BondOneLiner provided above, it is also the source for [[http://www.tennisforum.com/showthread.php?t=340653 numerous sex jokes]] (Even when we're not scoring, we're in love!). It's regulated by the International Tennis Federation, with the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) responsible for the men's game and the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) for the ladies'. The most important tournaments in the sport are UsefulNotes/{{Wimbledon}}, the Australian Open, the French Open (also known as Roland Garros), and US Open; these are referred to as the Grand Slam''s'', but winning all four is known as ''the'' Grand Slam. Each of these tournaments is held annually, spread throughout the year.

* '''Novak Djokovic (Serbia)''', 2003–present: Current No. 1, holding that spot for an ATP record of 400 weeks, and also winner of 24 singles Grand Slams, the most for anyone in the Open Era. His 24 Slams include a record 10 Australian Open titles, and he's also the only men's player to win all four singles Slams at least three times in the Open Era. Also holds the ATP records for most year-end No. 1 rankings (8, most recently in 2023; equaling Steffi Graf on the women's side), most [=YECs=] (7), and most ranking points accumulated (16,950), and his 36 Slam finals are the most for any man or woman in the Open Era. Not to mention that he has an Olympic bronze medal in singles. Was constantly overshadowed by Federer and Nadal early on in his career [[OvershadowedByAwesome despite being World No. 3]], until he went on a spectacular 43-0 match winning streak in 2011. Is also known as "[[FanNickname Djoker]]" for his sense of humor and impersonations of other players. In 2016, he became the first men's singles tennis player since Rod Laver in ''1969'' to win four consecutive Slams, also earning the career Slam in the process.

* '''Iga Świątek (Poland)''', 2016–present: Current No. 1, who has held the rank for 78 weeks, been year-end No. 1 twice (2022 and 2023), and also won 4 singles Grand Slams and one YEC. The daughter of a former Olympic rower, she went pro in 2016 and enjoyed major success on the second-level ITF Women's World Tennis Tour, winning all seven finals she reached, as well as winning the 2018 Wimbledon junior singles title. Świątek joined the WTA Tour in 2019 and had a steady rise, entering the top 50 that year before a foot injury temporarily derailed her career. She came back even stronger in 2020, winning that year's COVID-delayed French Open while unseeded, making her the first Pole[[note]]as in a player representing Poland; although 2018 Australian Open winner Caroline Wozniacki was born to two Polish parents, she represented Denmark, where she was born and raised[[/note]] and first player born in the 21st century[[note]]by the standard definition, which treats 2000 as part of the 20th century[[/note]] to win a singles Slam. Has recorded some impressive WTA statistics since then, such as becoming the first woman to win the first three WTA 1000 events of the year in 2022 and going on a 37-match winning streak that same year. Świątek is an all-court player known for a vicious forehand.

* '''WTA Finals and ATP Finals''' (late Oct for the women, mid-Nov for the men): The event that marks the true end of the tennis season. Ideally, it's supposed to determine the No. 1 player (or doubles team) with only the top eight players/teams in the world being pitted against each other in separate tournaments for the men and women. More often, what happens instead is that there's already a runaway No. 1 who doesn't even need to win the event to be the clear Player of the Year, and the fun of the year-end championships lies more in their unique round-robin format that lets people see their favorites play for at least three guaranteed matches in the opening rounds[[note]]the 8 players are split into 2 groups of 4 and each player dukes it out with the 3 other members in their group, with the best-performing 2 players from each group advancing to the semifinals; the semis and finals use the more typical knockout format[[/note]]. Also worth watching for the [[BigEntrance dramatically-lit player entrances]] and the ConfettiDrop during the trophy ceremony.

* '''Novak Djokovic (Serbia)''', 2003–present: Current No. 1, holding that spot for an ATP record of 399 weeks, and also winner of 24 singles Grand Slams, the most for anyone in the Open Era. His 24 Slams include a record 10 Australian Open titles, and he's also the only men's player to win all four singles Slams at least three times in the Open Era. Also holds the ATP records for most year-end No. 1 rankings (8, most recently in 2023; equaling Steffi Graf on the women's side) and most ranking points accumulated (16,950), and his 36 Slam finals are the most for any man or woman in the Open Era. Not to mention that he has an Olympic bronze medal in singles. Was constantly overshadowed by Federer and Nadal early on in his career [[OvershadowedByAwesome despite being World No. 3]], until he went on a spectacular 43-0 match winning streak in 2011. Is also known as "[[FanNickname Djoker]]" for his sense of humor and impersonations of other players. In 2016, he became the first men's singles tennis player since Rod Laver in ''1969'' to win four consecutive Slams, also earning the career Slam in the process.

* '''Iga Świątek (Poland)''', 2016–present: Current No. 1, who has held the rank for 77 weeks, been year-end No. 1 twice (2022 and 2023), and also won 4 singles Grand Slams and one YEC. The daughter of a former Olympic rower, she went pro in 2016 and enjoyed major success on the second-level ITF Women's World Tennis Tour, winning all seven finals she reached, as well as winning the 2018 Wimbledon junior singles title. Świątek joined the WTA Tour in 2019 and had a steady rise, entering the top 50 that year before a foot injury temporarily derailed her career. She came back even stronger in 2020, winning that year's COVID-delayed French Open while unseeded, making her the first Pole[[note]]as in a player representing Poland; although 2018 Australian Open winner Caroline Wozniacki was born to two Polish parents, she represented Denmark, where she was born and raised[[/note]] and first player born in the 21st century[[note]]by the standard definition, which treats 2000 as part of the 20th century[[/note]] to win a singles Slam. Has recorded some impressive WTA statistics since then, such as becoming the first woman to win the first three WTA 1000 events of the year in 2022 and going on a 37-match winning streak that same year. Świątek is an all-court player known for a vicious forehand.

* '''Roger Federer (Switzerland)''', 1998–2022: Held No. 1 for 310 weeks (holding the record for most weeks as ATP No. 1 until March 2021), with a record 237 of those weeks being consecutive, and was year-end No. 1 five times. He retired in third place in the Open Era ATP ranking of Grand Slams wins with 20 -- he has a record 8 Wimbledon titles, is the only player to win three of the Slams at least 5 times, and also the only player to win two of the Slams 5 consecutive times. Also has an Olympic gold medal in men's doubles with Stan Wawrinka and a silver in singles. Is often cited as the greatest tennis player of all time. If one were to look up ATP singles tennis records on [[Website/{{Wikipedia}} The Other Wiki]], [[TheAce one would find his name on 90%]]. During his 2012 Wimbledon run he [[SerialEscalation broke a record in every match he played]] after the second round. His return to the top of the rankings in February 2018 made him the oldest No. 1 at age 36, and is also the longest gap between No. 1 stints in ATP rankings history at 5 years and 106 days. He remains the oldest man to have been No. 1, last holding that ranking in June 2018, less than two months before turning 37.[[note]]Djokovic would have to be No. 1 on or after April 6, 2024 to surpass this record.[[/note]] However, age finally caught up to Federer in the early 2020s; a series of knee surgeries kept him away from competitive play after Wimbledon in 2021, and he called it a career after the 2022 Laver Cup.

* '''Novak Djokovic (Serbia)''', 2003–present: Current No. 1, holding that spot for an ATP record of 399 weeks, and also winner of 24 singles Grand Slams, the most for anyone in the Open Era. His 24 Slams include a record 10 Australian Open titles, and he's also the only men's player to win all four singles Slams at least three times in the Open Era. Also holds the ATP records for most year-end No. 1 rankings (8, most recently in 2023) and most ranking points accumulated (16,950), and his 36 Slam finals are the most for any man or woman in the Open Era. Not to mention that he has an Olympic bronze medal in singles. Was constantly overshadowed by Federer and Nadal early on in his career [[OvershadowedByAwesome despite being World No. 3]], until he went on a spectacular 43-0 match winning streak in 2011. Is also known as "[[FanNickname Djoker]]" for his sense of humor and impersonations of other players. In 2016, he became the first men's singles tennis player since Rod Laver in ''1969'' to win four consecutive Slams, also earning the career Slam in the process.

* Stefanie Marie '''"Steffi" Graf (West Germany/Germany)''', 1982–1999: Held No. 1 for a WTA-record 377 weeks, with 186 of those weeks being consecutive (also a WTA record, shared with Serena Williams), and also year-end No. 1 eight times[[labelnote:*]]one shared with Monica Seles[[/labelnote]], a record for either men or women. Mr. Agassi's lovely wife, she won 22 Grand Slams and achieved a Calendar Year Golden Slam in 1988; i.e., doing the Career Golden Slam ''in a single year''. [[note]] A feat so remarkable that for ''33'' years she was the only player to achieve this. Not until [[https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.popsugar.com/amphtml/fitness/what-is-golden-slam-tennis-48421832 2021]] did two wheelchair tennis players, the Netherlands' Diede de Groot in women's singles and Australia's Dylan Alcott in quad singles, also accomplish this. Graf remains the only able-bodied player to complete a calendar Golden Slam.[[/note]][[labelnote:More]]In wheelchair tennis, players with lower-body disabilities such as de Groot compete in the "open" division, which is split into men's and women's draws. Those with disabilities in both the upper and lower body, such as Alcott, compete in the mixed quad division.[[/labelnote]] Graf also earned a non-calendar Grand Slam in 1993–94. Is also the only player, male or female, to win every Slam at least four times. Nicknamed "Fräulein Forehand" by fans due to the power and accuracy of her signature shot.

* '''Creator/JohnMcEnroe (USA)''', 1978–1992: Held No. 1 for 170 weeks. Won 7 Grand Slam singles titles and 10 doubles; his 155 combined ATP Tour titles (77 in singles, 78 in doubles) are the most in the Open Era. He's also the only male player ever to have been No. 1 in singles and doubles at the same time,[[note]]The only other male player to have been No. 1 in both, albeit at different times, is Stefan Edberg.[[/note]] and one of only two players, male or female, to have been year-end No. 1 in both disciplines, achieving that honor three straight years (1981–83). He was a devastating serve-and-volleyer, but is best remembered for [[HotBlooded his notorious temper]], frequent misconduct and especially the CatchPhrase "You cannot be serious!"[[note]] [[UnstoppableRage You can't be serious, man. You canNOT BE SERIOUS. That ball was ON THE LINE. CHALK FLEW UP. It was CLEARLY IN. How can you POSSIBLY CALL THAT OUT? He's walking over, EVERYONE knows it's in, in the WHOLE STADIUM and YOU CALL IT OUT? You guys are the absolute PITS of the world.]][[/note]]. He is the only player in the Open Era to be disqualified from a Grand Slam for Unsportsmanlike Conduct; the 1990 Australian Open, where one of his offences was [[FelonyMisdemeanor staring at a line judge]]. Naturally he was quite a divisive figure, but is now more widely loved for his personality and continued passion for the sport. Regularly commentates on Grand Slam tournaments and is known to be creepily accurate in his predictions.

* '''Novak Djokovic (Serbia)''', 2003–present: Current No. 1, holding that spot for an ATP record of 398 weeks, and also winner of 24 singles Grand Slams, the most for anyone in the Open Era. His 24 Slams include a record 10 Australian Open titles, and he's also the only men's player to win all four singles Slams at least three times in the Open Era. Also holds the ATP records for most year-end No. 1 rankings (7) and most ranking points accumulated (16,950), and his 36 Slam finals are the most for any man or woman in the Open Era. Not to mention that he has an Olympic bronze medal in singles. Was constantly overshadowed by Federer and Nadal early on in his career [[OvershadowedByAwesome despite being World No. 3]], until he went on a spectacular 43-0 match winning streak in 2011. Is also known as "[[FanNickname Djoker]]" for his sense of humor and impersonations of other players. In 2016, he became the first men's singles tennis player since Rod Laver in ''1969'' to win four consecutive Slams, also earning the career Slam in the process.

* '''Iga Świątek (Poland)''', 2016–present: Current No. 1, who has held the rank for 76 weeks, been year-end No. 1 twice (2022 and 2023), and also won 4 singles Grand Slams and one YEC. The daughter of a former Olympic rower, she went pro in 2016 and enjoyed major success on the second-level ITF Women's World Tennis Tour, winning all seven finals she reached, as well as winning the 2018 Wimbledon junior singles title. Świątek joined the WTA Tour in 2019 and had a steady rise, entering the top 50 that year before a foot injury temporarily derailed her career. She came back even stronger in 2020, winning that year's COVID-delayed French Open while unseeded, making her the first Pole[[note]]as in a player representing Poland; although 2018 Australian Open winner Caroline Wozniacki was born to two Polish parents, she represented Denmark, where she was born and raised[[/note]] and first player born in the 21st century[[note]]by the standard definition, which treats 2000 as part of the 20th century[[/note]] to win a singles Slam. Has recorded some impressive WTA statistics since then, such as becoming the first woman to win the first three WTA 1000 events of the year in 2022 and going on a 37-match winning streak that same year. Świątek is an all-court player known for a vicious forehand.

* '''Iga Świątek (Poland)''', 2016–present: Current No. 1, who has held the rank for 76 weeks, been year-end No. 1 twice (2022 and 2023), and also won 4 singles Gand Slams and one YEC. The daughter of a former Olympic rower, she went pro in 2016 and enjoyed major success on the second-level ITF Women's World Tennis Tour, winning all seven finals she reached, as well as winning the 2018 Wimbledon junior singles title. Świątek joined the WTA Tour in 2019 and had a steady rise, entering the top 50 that year before a foot injury temporarily derailed her career. She came back even stronger in 2020, winning that year's COVID-delayed French Open while unseeded, making her the first Pole[[note]]as in a player representing Poland; although 2018 Australian Open winner Caroline Wozniacki was born to two Polish parents, she represented Denmark, where she was born and raised[[/note]] and first player born in the 21st century[[note]]by the standard definition, which treats 2000 as part of the 20th century[[/note]] to win a singles Slam. Has recorded some impressive WTA statistics since then, such as becoming the first woman to win the first three WTA 1000 events of the year in 2022 and going on a 37-match winning streak that same year. Świątek is an all-court player known for a vicious forehand.

* '''Novak Djokovic (Serbia)''', 2003–present: Current No. 1, holding that spot for an ATP record of 397 weeks, and also winner of 24 singles Grand Slams, the most for anyone in the Open Era. His 24 Slams include a record 10 Australian Open titles, and he's also the only men's player to win all four singles Slams at least three times in the Open Era. Also holds the ATP records for most year-end No. 1 rankings (7) and most ranking points accumulated (16,950), and his 36 Slam finals are the most for any man or woman in the Open Era. Not to mention that he has an Olympic bronze medal in singles. Was constantly overshadowed by Federer and Nadal early on in his career [[OvershadowedByAwesome despite being World No. 3]], until he went on a spectacular 43-0 match winning streak in 2011. Is also known as "[[FanNickname Djoker]]" for his sense of humor and impersonations of other players. In 2016, he became the first men's singles tennis player since Rod Laver in ''1969'' to win four consecutive Slams, also earning the career Slam in the process.

* '''Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus)''',[[note]]As with Azarenka, Sabalenka is not allowed to play under the Belarusian flag due to WTA sanctions.[[/note]] 2015–present: Current No. 1, who has held the ranking for 8 weeks so far, and has won 1 singles Slam and 2 doubles Slams to date. She also became the eighth woman to have been No. 1 in both singles and doubles during her career. Sabalenka was relatively unknown until 2017, when she helped lead Belarus to a runner-up finish in the Fed Cup (now Billie Jean King Cup) despite being outside the top 75. She was the WTA's newcomer of the year in 2018, and cracked the top 10 for the first time in 2019, winning the WTA Elite Trophy (essentially the second-tier WTA Finals) that year. She made her first singles Slam semifinals in 2021 at Wimbledon and Flushing Meadow, but didn't fully break through until 2023, when she won the Australian Open. Sabalenka has a very aggressive, all-or-nothing playing style, routinely amassing large numbers of winners and unforced errors, and is also known for a powerful serve.
* '''Iga Świątek (Poland)''', 2016–present: Has held No. 1 for 75 weeks and won 4 singles Gand Slams. The daughter of a former Olympic rower, she went pro in 2016 and enjoyed major success on the second-level ITF Women's World Tennis Tour, winning all seven finals she reached, as well as winning the 2018 Wimbledon junior singles title. Świątek joined the WTA Tour in 2019 and had a steady rise, entering the top 50 that year before a foot injury temporarily derailed her career. She came back even stronger in 2020, winning that year's COVID-delayed French Open while unseeded, making her the first Pole[[note]]as in a player representing Poland; although 2018 Australian Open winner Caroline Wozniacki was born to two Polish parents, she represented Denmark, where she was born and raised[[/note]] and first player born in the 21st century[[note]]by the standard definition, which treats 2000 as part of the 20th century[[/note]] to win a singles Slam. Has recorded some impressive WTA statistics since then, such as becoming the first woman to win the first three WTA 1000 events of the year in 2022 and going on a 37-match winning streak that same year. Świątek is an all-court player known for a vicious forehand.

* '''Novak Djokovic (Serbia)''', 2003–present: Current No. 1, holding that spot for an ATP record of 396 weeks, and also winner of 24 singles Grand Slams, the most for anyone in the Open Era. His 24 Slams include a record 10 Australian Open titles, and he's also the only men's player to win all four singles Slams at least three times in the Open Era. Also holds the ATP records for most year-end No. 1 rankings (7) and most ranking points accumulated (16,950), and his 36 Slam finals are the most for any man or woman in the Open Era. Not to mention that he has an Olympic bronze medal in singles. Was constantly overshadowed by Federer and Nadal early on in his career [[OvershadowedByAwesome despite being World No. 3]], until he went on a spectacular 43-0 match winning streak in 2011. Is also known as "[[FanNickname Djoker]]" for his sense of humor and impersonations of other players. In 2016, he became the first men's singles tennis player since Rod Laver in ''1969'' to win four consecutive Slams, also earning the career Slam in the process.

* '''Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus)''',[[note]]As with Azarenka, Sabalenka is not allowed to play under the Belarusian flag due to WTA sanctions.[[/note]] 2015–present: Current No. 1, who has held the ranking for 7 weeks so far, and has won 1 singles Slam and 2 doubles Slams to date. She also became the eighth woman to have been No. 1 in both singles and doubles during her career. Sabalenka was relatively unknown until 2017, when she helped lead Belarus to a runner-up finish in the Fed Cup (now Billie Jean King Cup) despite being outside the top 75. She was the WTA's newcomer of the year in 2018, and cracked the top 10 for the first time in 2019, winning the WTA Elite Trophy (essentially the second-tier WTA Finals) that year. She made her first singles Slam semifinals in 2021 at Wimbledon and Flushing Meadow, but didn't fully break through until 2023, when she won the Australian Open. Sabalenka has a very aggressive, all-or-nothing playing style, routinely amassing large numbers of winners and unforced errors, and is also known for a powerful serve.

* '''Novak Djokovic (Serbia)''', 2003–present: Current No. 1, holding that spot for an ATP record of 395 weeks, and also winner of 24 singles Grand Slams, the most for anyone in the Open Era. His 24 Slams include a record 10 Australian Open titles, and he's also the only men's player to win all four singles Slams at least three times in the Open Era. Also holds the ATP records for most year-end No. 1 rankings (7) and most ranking points accumulated (16,950), and his 36 Slam finals are the most for any man or woman in the Open Era. Not to mention that he has an Olympic bronze medal in singles. Was constantly overshadowed by Federer and Nadal early on in his career [[OvershadowedByAwesome despite being World No. 3]], until he went on a spectacular 43-0 match winning streak in 2011. Is also known as "[[FanNickname Djoker]]" for his sense of humor and impersonations of other players. In 2016, he became the first men's singles tennis player since Rod Laver in ''1969'' to win four consecutive Slams, also earning the career Slam in the process.

* '''Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus)''',[[note]]As with Azarenka, Sabalenka is not allowed to play under the Belarusian flag due to WTA sanctions.[[/note]] 2015–present: Current No. 1, who has held the ranking for 6 weeks so far, and has won 1 singles Slam and 2 doubles Slams to date. She also became the eighth woman to have been No. 1 in both singles and doubles during her career. Sabalenka was relatively unknown until 2017, when she helped lead Belarus to a runner-up finish in the Fed Cup (now Billie Jean King Cup) despite being outside the top 75. She was the WTA's newcomer of the year in 2018, and cracked the top 10 for the first time in 2019, winning the WTA Elite Trophy (essentially the second-tier WTA Finals) that year. She made her first singles Slam semifinals in 2021 at Wimbledon and Flushing Meadow, but didn't fully break through until 2023, when she won the Australian Open. Sabalenka has a very aggressive, all-or-nothing playing style, routinely amassing large numbers of winners and unforced errors, and is also known for a powerful serve.

* '''Daniil Medvedev''', 2014-present: Has held No. 1 for 15 weeks in all, and won 1 Grand Slam. He's the third Russian man to get the top ranking, and the first player outside of the Big Four to do so since Andy Roddick in 2004. Known for his unusual playing style, he made himself known to the tennis world after reaching his first Slam final in the 2019 US Open and was victorious in his third final two years later at the same tournament, stunning Djokovic in straight sets and denying him a calendar-year Grand Slam.

* '''Victoria Azarenka (Belarus)''', 2003–present: Has held No. 1 for 51 weeks, including one year-end No. 1. Has won 2 singles Grand Slams and 2 mixed doubles. She won the first Olympic gold medal awarded for mixed doubles (at London 2012), also picking up a bronze medal in the singles. As well as her achievements, she is known for her distinctive "wail" on court. She began her maternity leave in 2016 for her first child and came back in the latter half of 2017.

* '''Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus)''', 2015–present: Current No. 1, who has held the ranking for 6 weeks so far, and has won 1 singles Slam and 2 doubles Slams to date. She also became the eighth woman to have been No. 1 in both singles and doubles during her career. Sabalenka was relatively unknown until 2017, when she helped lead Belarus to a runner-up finish in the Fed Cup (now Billie Jean King Cup) despite being outside the top 75. She was the WTA's newcomer of the year in 2018, and cracked the top 10 for the first time in 2019, winning the WTA Elite Trophy (essentially the second-tier WTA Finals) that year. She made her first singles Slam semifinals in 2021 at Wimbledon and Flushing Meadow, but didn't fully break through until 2023, when she won the Australian Open. Sabalenka has a very aggressive, all-or-nothing playing style, routinely amassing large numbers of winners and unforced errors, and is also known for a powerful serve.

* '''Novak Djokovic (Serbia)''', 2003–present: Current No. 1, holding that spot for an ATP record of 394 weeks, and also winner of 24 singles Grand Slams, the most for anyone in the Open Era. His 24 Slams include a record 10 Australian Open titles, and he's also the only men's player to win all four singles Slams at least three times in the Open Era. Also holds the ATP records for most year-end No. 1 rankings (7) and most ranking points accumulated (16,950), and his 36 Slam finals are the most for any man or woman in the Open Era. Not to mention that he has an Olympic bronze medal in singles. Was constantly overshadowed by Federer and Nadal early on in his career [[OvershadowedByAwesome despite being World No. 3]], until he went on a spectacular 43-0 match winning streak in 2011. Is also known as "[[FanNickname Djoker]]" for his sense of humor and impersonations of other players. In 2016, he became the first men's singles tennis player since Rod Laver in ''1969'' to win four consecutive Slams, also earning the career Slam in the process.

* '''Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus)''', 2015–present: Current No. 1, who has held the ranking for 5 weeks so far, and has won 1 singles Slam and 2 doubles Slams to date. She also became the eighth woman to have been No. 1 in both singles and doubles during her career. Sabalenka was relatively unknown until 2017, when she helped lead Belarus to a runner-up finish in the Fed Cup (now Billie Jean King Cup) despite being outside the top 75. She was the WTA's newcomer of the year in 2018, and cracked the top 10 for the first time in 2019, winning the WTA Elite Trophy (essentially the second-tier WTA Finals) that year. She made her first singles Slam semifinals in 2021 at Wimbledon and Flushing Meadow, but didn't fully break through until 2023, when she won the Australian Open. Sabalenka has a very aggressive, all-or-nothing playing style, routinely amassing large numbers of winners and unforced errors, and is also known for a powerful serve.

* '''Novak Djokovic (Serbia)''', 2003–present: Current No. 1, holding that spot for an ATP record of 393 weeks, and also winner of 24 singles Grand Slams, the most for anyone in the Open Era. His 24 Slams include a record 10 Australian Open titles, and he's also the only men's player to win all four singles Slams at least three times in the Open Era. Also holds the ATP records for most year-end No. 1 rankings (7) and most ranking points accumulated (16,950), and his 36 Slam finals are the most for any man or woman in the Open Era. Not to mention that he has an Olympic bronze medal in singles. Was constantly overshadowed by Federer and Nadal early on in his career [[OvershadowedByAwesome despite being World No. 3]], until he went on a spectacular 43-0 match winning streak in 2011. Is also known as "[[FanNickname Djoker]]" for his sense of humor and impersonations of other players. In 2016, he became the first men's singles tennis player since Rod Laver in ''1969'' to win four consecutive Slams, also earning the career Slam in the process.

* '''Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus)''', 2015–present: Current No. 1, who has held the ranking for 4 weeks so far, and has won 1 singles Slam and 2 doubles Slams to date. She also became the eighth woman to have been No. 1 in both singles and doubles during her career. Sabalenka was relatively unknown until 2017, when she helped lead Belarus to a runner-up finish in the Fed Cup (now Billie Jean King Cup) despite being outside the top 75. She was the WTA's newcomer of the year in 2018, and cracked the top 10 for the first time in 2019, winning the WTA Elite Trophy (essentially the second-tier WTA Finals) that year. She made her first singles Slam semifinals in 2021 at Wimbledon and Flushing Meadow, but didn't fully break through until 2023, when she won the Australian Open. Sabalenka has a very aggressive, all-or-nothing playing style, routinely amassing large numbers of winners and unforced errors, and is also known for a powerful serve.

* '''Novak Djokovic (Serbia)''', 2003–present: Current No. 1, holding that spot for an ATP record of 392 weeks, and also winner of 24 singles Grand Slams, the most for anyone in the Open Era. His 24 Slams include a record 10 Australian Open titles, and he's also the only men's player to win all four singles Slams at least three times in the Open Era. Also holds the ATP records for most year-end No. 1 rankings (7) and most ranking points accumulated (16,950), and his 36 Slam finals are the most for any man or woman in the Open Era. Not to mention that he has an Olympic bronze medal in singles. Was constantly overshadowed by Federer and Nadal early on in his career [[OvershadowedByAwesome despite being World No. 3]], until he went on a spectacular 43-0 match winning streak in 2011. Is also known as "[[FanNickname Djoker]]" for his sense of humor and impersonations of other players. In 2016, he became the first men's singles tennis player since Rod Laver in ''1969'' to win four consecutive Slams, also earning the career Slam in the process.

* '''Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus)''', 2015–present: Current No. 1, who has held the ranking for 3 weeks so far, and has won 1 singles Slam and 2 doubles Slams to date. She also became the eighth woman to have been No. 1 in both singles and doubles during her career. Sabalenka was relatively unknown until 2017, when she helped lead Belarus to a runner-up finish in the Fed Cup (now Billie Jean King Cup) despite being outside the top 75. She was the WTA's newcomer of the year in 2018, and cracked the top 10 for the first time in 2019, winning the WTA Elite Trophy (essentially the second-tier WTA Finals) that year. She made her first singles Slam semifinals in 2021 at Wimbledon and Flushing Meadow, but didn't fully break through until 2023, when she won the Australian Open. Sabalenka has a very aggressive, all-or-nothing playing style, routinely amassing large numbers of winners and unforced errors, and is also known for a powerful serve.

* '''Novak Djokovic (Serbia)''', 2003–present: Current No. 1, holding that spot for an ATP record of 390 weeks, and also winner of 24 singles Grand Slams, the most for anyone in the Open Era. His 24 Slams include a record 10 Australian Open titles, and he's also the only men's player to win all four singles Slams at least three times in the Open Era. Also holds the ATP records for most year-end No. 1 rankings (7) and most ranking points accumulated (16,950), and his 36 Slam finals are the most for any man or woman in the Open Era. Not to mention that he has an Olympic bronze medal in singles. Was constantly overshadowed by Federer and Nadal early on in his career [[OvershadowedByAwesome despite being World No. 3]], until he went on a spectacular 43-0 match winning streak in 2011. Is also known as "[[FanNickname Djoker]]" for his sense of humor and impersonations of other players. In 2016, he became the first men's singles tennis player since Rod Laver in ''1969'' to win four consecutive Slams, also earning the career Slam in the process.

* '''Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus)''', 2015–present: Current No. 1, who has held the ranking for 2 weeks so far, and has won 1 singles Slam and 2 doubles Slams to date. She also became the eighth woman to have been No. 1 in both singles and doubles during her career. Sabalenka was relatively unknown until 2017, when she helped lead Belarus to a runner-up finish in the Fed Cup (now Billie Jean King Cup) despite being outside the top 75. She was the WTA's newcomer of the year in 2018, and cracked the top 10 for the first time in 2019, winning the WTA Elite Trophy (essentially the second-tier WTA Finals) that year. She made her first singles Slam semifinals in 2021 at Wimbledon and Flushing Meadow, but didn't fully break through until 2023, when she won the Australian Open. Sabalenka has a very aggressive, all-or-nothing playing style, routinely amassing large numbers of winners and unforced errors, and is also known for a powerful serve.

* Stefanie Marie '''"Steffi" Graf (West Germany/Germany)''', 1982–1999: Held No. 1 for a WTA-record 377 weeks, with 186 of those weeks being consecutive (also a WTA record, shared with Serena Williams), and also year-end No. 1 eight times[[labelnote:*]]one shared with Monica Seles[[/labelnote]], a record for either men or women. Mr. Agassi's lovely wife, she won 22 Grand Slams and achieved a Calendar Year Golden Slam in 1988; i.e., doing the Career Golden Slam ''in a single year''. [[note]] A feat so remarkable that for ''33'' years she was the only player to achieve this. Not until [[https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.popsugar.com/amphtml/fitness/what-is-golden-slam-tennis-48421832 2021]] did two wheelchair tennis players, the Netherlands' Diede de Groot in women's singles and Australia's Dylan Alcott in quad singles, also accomplish this. Graf remains the only able-bodied player to complete a calendar Golden Slam.[[/note]][[:labelnote:More]]In wheelchair tennis, players with lower-body disabilities such as de Groot compete in the "open" division, which is split into men's and women's draws. Those with disabilities in both the upper and lower body, such as Alcott, compete in the mixed quad division.[[/labelnote]] Graf also earned a non-calendar Grand Slam in 1993–94. Is also the only player, male or female, to win every Slam at least four times. Nicknamed "Fräulein Forehand" by fans due to the power and accuracy of her signature shot.

* Stefanie Marie '''"Steffi" Graf (West Germany/Germany)''', 1982–1999: Held No. 1 for a WTA-record 377 weeks, with 186 of those weeks being consecutive (also a WTA record, shared with Serena Williams), and also year-end No. 1 eight times[[labelnote:*]]one shared with Monica Seles[[/labelnote]], a record for either men or women. Mr. Agassi's lovely wife, she won 22 Grand Slams and achieved a Calendar Year Golden Slam in 1988; i.e., doing the Career Golden Slam ''in a single year''. [[note]] A feat so remarkable that for ''33'' years she was the only player to achieve this. Not until [[https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.popsugar.com/amphtml/fitness/what-is-golden-slam-tennis-48421832 2021]] did the Netherlands' Diede de Groot and Australia's Dylan Alcott also accomplish this. [[/note]] Graf also earned a non-calendar Grand Slam in 1993–94. Is also the only player, male or female, to win every Slam at least four times. Nicknamed "Fräulein Forehand" by fans due to the power and accuracy of her signature shot.

* '''Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus)''', 2015–present: Current No. 1, who has held the ranking for 2 weeks so far, and has won 1 singles Slam and 2 doubles Slams so far. She also became the eighth woman to have been No. 1 in both singles and doubles during her career. Sabalenka was relatively unknown until 2017, when she helped lead Belarus to a runner-up finish in the Fed Cup (now Billie Jean King Cup) despite being outside the top 75. She was the WTA's newcomer of the year in 2018, and cracked the top 10 for the first time in 2019, winning the WTA Elite Trophy (essentially the second-tier WTA Finals) that year. She made her first singles Slam semifinals in 2021 at Wimbledon and Flushing Meadow, but didn't fully break through until 2023, when she won the Australian Open. Sabalenka has a very aggressive, all-or-nothing playing style, routinely amassing large numbers of winners and unforced errors, and is also known for a powerful serve.

* '''Novak Djokovic (Serbia)''', 2003–present: Current No. 1, holding that spot for an ATP record of 389 weeks, and also winner of 24 singles Grand Slams, the most for anyone in the Open Era. His 24 Slams include a record 10 Australian Open titles, and he's also the only men's player to win all four singles Slams at least three times in the Open Era. Also holds the ATP records for most year-end No. 1 rankings (7) and most ranking points accumulated (16,950), and his 36 Slam finals are the most for any man or woman in the Open Era. Not to mention that he has an Olympic bronze medal in singles. Was constantly overshadowed by Federer and Nadal early on in his career [[OvershadowedByAwesome despite being World No. 3]], until he went on a spectacular 43-0 match winning streak in 2011. Is also known as "[[FanNickname Djoker]]" for his sense of humor and impersonations of other players. In 2016, he became the first men's singles tennis player since Rod Laver in ''1969'' to win four consecutive Slams, also earning the career Slam in the process.

* '''Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus)''', 2015–present: Current No. 1, who took over the ranking following the 2023 US Open, and has won 1 singles Slam and 2 doubles Slams so far. She also became the eighth woman to have been No. 1 in both singles and doubles during her career. Sabalenka was relatively unknown until 2017, when she helped lead Belarus to a runner-up finish in the Fed Cup (now Billie Jean King Cup) despite being outside the top 75. She was the WTA's newcomer of the year in 2018, and cracked the top 10 for the first time in 2019, winning the WTA Elite Trophy (essentially the second-tier WTA Finals) that year. She made her first singles Slam semifinals in 2021 at Wimbledon and Flushing Meadow, but didn't fully break through until 2023, when she won the Australian Open. Sabalenka has a very aggressive, all-or-nothing playing style, routinely amassing large numbers of winners and unforced errors, and is also known for a powerful serve.

* Stefanie Marie '''"Steffi" Graf (West Germany/Germany)''', 1982–1999: Held No. 1 for a WTA-record 377 weeks, with 186 of those weeks being consecutive (also a WTA record, shared with Serena Williams), and also year-end No. 1 eight times[[labelnote:*]]one shared with Monica Seles[[/labelnote]], a record for either men or women. Mr. Agassi's lovely wife, she won 22 Grand Slams and achieved a Calendar Year Golden Slam in 1988; i.e., doing the Career Golden Slam ''in a single year''. Graf also earned a non-calendar Grand Slam in 1993–94. Is also the only player, male or female, to win every Slam at least four times. Nicknamed "Fräulein Forehand" by fans due to the power and accuracy of her signature shot.

* '''Bob and Mike Bryan (USA)''', 1998–2020:[[note]]They actually made their ATP debut in 1995 as amateurs, but didn't go on tour until 1998 after a couple of years at Stanford.[[/note]] Also known as the '''Bryan Brothers''', the identical twins were the No. 1 men's doubles team for practically the whole period from 2005 to early 2016, and hold virtually every record in the book for men's doubles teams. Their most notable team records are Grand Slam titles (16), tournaments won (119), most weeks at No. 1 (438, with Mike having the individual record at 506), and most year-end No. 1 rankings (10). They were named by ATP fans as their favorite team in the first 12 years that award was presented (2006–2017), and Mike got that honor with Jack Sock in 2018 while Bob was out injured. They have a career Golden Slam in doubles after winning Olympic gold in London in 2012, and their win at Wimbledon in 2013 made them the first men's doubles team in the Open era to hold all four Grand Slam titles at once. Finally, they are the only men's doubles team in history to win every major title in the sport—all four Grand Slam events, Olympic gold, every Masters 1000 event,[[note]]There have been 10 Masters 1000 events, but only nine in any given season. The former Hamburg event moved to Shanghai in 2009; the Bryans won in Hamburg in 2007 and Shanghai in 2014.[[/note]] the YEC, and Davis Cup. Even though age caught up with them near the end, they were still able to take down any other team on their day, as evidenced by two Masters 1000 wins in 2018 and one in 2019. Mike also won 2 more men's doubles Slams with the aforementioned Jack Sock. They announced in late 2019 that they would retire after the 2020 US Open, but with COVID-19 disrupting the 2020 season, they bowed out before that event started, having played (and won) their last tournament in March of that year.

* Stefanie Marie '''"Steffi" Graf (West Germany/Germany)''', 1982–1999: Held No. 1 for a record 377 weeks, and also year-end No. 1 eight times[[labelnote:*]]one shared with Monica Seles[[/labelnote]], a record for either men or women. Mr. Agassi's lovely wife, she won 22 Grand Slams and achieved a Calendar Year Golden Slam in 1988; i.e., doing the Career Golden Slam ''in a single year''. Graf also earned a non-calendar Grand Slam in 1993–94. Is also the only player, male or female, to win every Slam at least four times. Nicknamed "Fräulein Forehand" by fans due to the power and accuracy of her signature shot.

* '''Serena Williams (USA)''', 1995–2022: Held No. 1 for 319 weeks and was year-end No. 1 five times. Won 23 singles Grand Slams, an Open Era record for women, as well as 13 doubles and 2 mixed doubles. She has achieved the Career Golden Slam in both singles and doubles (her doubles partner being her sister Venus), winning the Olympic gold in doubles 3 times. Serena is also the most recent of the six women to have been No. 1 in singles and doubles at the same time, achieving that feat in 2010. Is also the only female tennis player to earn over $40 million on the court,[[note]]Not counting endorsements; when those are included, Serena made over $45 million in 2021, and Naomi Osaka made more than $55 million in that year.[[/note]] the oldest female No. 1 tennis player, ''and'' the oldest tennis player overall to win a singles Slam. She also has the WTA record for longest time span between her first and most recent year-end No. 1 (2003–2015), a year longer than Rafa's on the men's side. On top of that, while Serena never won a calendar-year Grand Slam, she has held all four Grand Slam singles trophies at the same time twice. Needless to say, she is the other person frequently cited as the greatest tennis player of all time. Took a maternity leave between April 2017 and February 2018 -- turned out she won the 2017 Australian Open ''while {{pregnant|Badass}}''. Before the 2022 US Open, she announced that she would likely retire after that tournament. While she hadn't completely ruled out a brief return, that effectively came off the table in May 2023 when she announced her second pregnancy. Also part of the army of owners of the aforementioned Angel City FC; her husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, is one of that team's lead investors.

* '''Serena Williams (USA)''', 1995–2022: Held No. 1 for 319 weeks and was year-end No. 1 five times. Won an Open Era record 23 singles Grand Slams, as well as 13 doubles and 2 mixed doubles. She has achieved the Career Golden Slam in both singles and doubles (her doubles partner being her sister Venus), winning the Olympic gold in doubles 3 times. Serena is also the most recent of the six women to have been No. 1 in singles and doubles at the same time, achieving that feat in 2010. Is also the only female tennis player to earn over $40 million on the court,[[note]]Not counting endorsements; when those are included, Serena made over $45 million in 2021, and Naomi Osaka made more than $55 million in that year.[[/note]] the oldest female No. 1 tennis player, ''and'' the oldest tennis player overall to win a singles Slam. She also has the WTA record for longest time span between her first and most recent year-end No. 1 (2003–2015), a year longer than Rafa's on the men's side. On top of that, while Serena never won a calendar-year Grand Slam, she has held all four Grand Slam singles trophies at the same time twice. Needless to say, she is the other person frequently cited as the greatest tennis player of all time. Took a maternity leave between April 2017 and February 2018 -- turned out she won the 2017 Australian Open ''while {{pregnant|Badass}}''. Before the 2022 US Open, she announced that she would likely retire after that tournament. While she hadn't completely ruled out a brief return, that effectively came off the table in May 2023 when she announced her second pregnancy. Also part of the army of owners of the aforementioned Angel City FC; her husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, is one of that team's lead investors.

* '''Rafael Nadal (Spain)''', 2001–present: Has held No. 1 for 209 weeks, including five year-end No. 1 rankings. The span between his first and most recent year-end No. 1s (2008 to 2019) is the longest in ATP rankings history. Also holds the record [[AlwaysSecondBest for the most weeks at No. 2]]. He's second to Djokovic for most men's Grand Slam titles with 22, just one short of the overall Open Era record for all genders. One of only four people to achieve a singles Career Golden Slam, which entails winning all four Grand Slam championships ''and'' an Olympic gold medal. Known as the "King of Clay", he has won 14 French Open championships -- he's lost only ''three'' matches there, and is the first player to win at least 10 titles at a grand slam in the Open era. He also has an Olympic gold medal in men's doubles with Marc López.