Aryna Sabalenka Surpasses Chris Evert With 77th Consecutive Week At World Number One

Aryna Sabalenka hits 77 weeks at world No. 1, passing Chris Evert. Discover the latest WTA rankings moves for Pegula and Starodubtseva here.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 6, 2026, 4:11 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Tennis365

Sabalenka Consolidates Historic Hold On Top Spot

The latest WTA Rankings release confirms Aryna Sabalenka’s continued reign at the pinnacle of women’s professional tennis, marking her 77th consecutive week as world number one. Since reclaiming the top position from Iga Swiatek on October 21, 2024, the four-time Grand Slam champion has maintained a statistical stranglehold on the tour. Her current tenure has now officially surpassed the 76-week streak once held by Chris Evert, placing Sabalenka 11th on the all-time list for consecutive weeks at the summit. With a total of 85 career weeks at the top, she is rapidly closing in on Martina Hingis, who occupies the 10th spot with 80 consecutive weeks.

Dominant Performance Across the Sunshine Double

The Belarusian’s ascent is fueled by a period of remarkable consistency, most notably her recent sweep of the "Sunshine Double" where she secured back-to-back titles in Indian Wells and Miami. This surge has provided Sabalenka with a formidable cushion in the rankings, as she currently holds 11,025 points. This tally places her 2,917 points ahead of her closest rival, world number two Elena Rybakina. According to tour data, this significant lead guarantees that Sabalenka will remain in the top position for at least the next several weeks, further distancing herself from Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek, who currently sit in third and fourth place respectively.

Pegula Defends Title Amid Stable Top Ten

While the upper echelon of the rankings remained largely static this week, Jessica Pegula provided the primary highlight among the world’s elite. By successfully defending her title at the Charleston Open, Pegula secured her position as world number five. Her victory in the final came against Yuliia Starodubtseva, a match that underscored Pegula’s resilience on the green clay. Despite the lack of movement in the top ten, other seasoned competitors saw marginal gains, with Belinda Bencic climbing to number 11 following a quarter-final appearance and Madison Keys rising to number 17 after reaching the semi-finals.