“Twenty -nine women headed the WTA world rating since its introduction in 1975”, – WRITE: Sport.ua
In recent decades in tennis – both women’s and male – are mostly high players, but some tennis players managed to break this stereotype.
Based on the official data of Wtatennis.com, below is a list of the seven lowest tennis players that have ever headed the world rating.
7. Arancha Sanchez Vicario – 169 cm
Barcelona Bee Sanchez Vicario was one of the leading tennis players in the late 1980s and 1990s. She won three titles on Rolan Garros and one on US Open for her legendary career.
Despite the competition with stars such as Steff, the Spanish managed to break into the top of the world ranking and spent 12 weeks in status # 1 in 1995 (in three stages).
In height 169 cm Sanchez Vicario – the first racket of Spain in a single category – is the seventh place among the lowest # 1 WTA in history.
4–6. Ivonne Guugung – 168 cm
During her career, Australian was not officially considered the first racket of the world, but after 30 years WTA listed points and awarded her two weeks of leadership in 1976.
The tennis icon, the guning won seven titles of a large helmet in a single category: four – on the Australian Open, two – on Wimbledon and one – on Rolan Garros.
With a height of 168 cm, it divides the fourth stage among the lowest tennis players who led the WTA rating.
4–6. Simon Halep – 168 cm
Playing in the era when her main rivals were far superior in height, Romanian Halepian managed to overcome all the difficulties and stayed at the top of the rating for 64 weeks.
It was the first racket of the world in two periods – from October 2017 to January 2019 – and became the champion Rolan Harros 2018 and Wimbledon 2019.
Simon Halep – the third in height among all # 1 in the 21st century and divides fourth place in the general list.
4–6. Chris Everts – 168 cm
The legendary Everts became the first tennis player in history to head the WTA rating in November 1975. In total, she spent 260 weeks at the top – the fourth result in history.
The American nine times became the first racket of the world at different periods of her career, and won 18 titles of a great helmet – at least two on each of the tournaments.
With a height of 168 cm, Evert also divides the fourth position in the rating of the lowest # 1.
3. Justin Enen – 167 cm
One of the most talented tennis players of her generation, Belgiyka Jesthin Een dominated in the mid-2000s and won seven titles of the Great Helme.
She won Rolan Harros four times, twice on the US Open and once on Australian Open. Enan spent 117 weeks in four different periods.
In 167 cm in height, it ranks third among the lowest tennis players who led the WTA rating.
2. Ashley Barty – 166 cm
Australian Barty completed her career in 2022 at the age of 25 years, but had time to leave a noticeable mark in history.
She won Rong Garros, Wimbledon and Australian Open – the last tournament in her career – and maintained the status of the world’s first racket for 121 weeks.
By height, 166 cm Barti is the second lowest tennis player in history, which became # 1.
1. Tracy Austin – 165 cm
A centimeter is lower than Barta – the two -time champion of the Great Helmet tournaments and the authoritative tennis expert Tracy Austin – the officially the lowest first racket in the world in WTA history.
Despite the competition with legends like Evert and Martina Navratilova, Austin won the US Open in 1979 and 1981 and headed the world rating.
She spent 21 weeks in status # 1 in two periods in 1980 and remains the third youngest tennis player who led the WTA rating.
With a height of 165 cm, her record will probably never be broken.