“Aryna Sabalenka reaches 11th historic position as world number 1.”

The weekly update of the WTA ranking brought surprises and historical milestones, with Aryna Sabalenka further consolidating her dominance at the top of the world rankings, while other players experience dramatic ups and downs in the table. Even without competing in the Charleston tournament, Sabalenka achieved an impressive feat: 77 consecutive weeks as the world number one, becoming the 11th player with the most time at the top in the history of women’s tennis.

Since ending the reign of the dominant Iga Swiatek, Sabalenka has shown consistency and strength, especially after winning the “Sunshine Double” at Indian Wells and Miami. The 27-year-old Belarusian now boasts a total of 85 weeks as WTA leader, surpassing legends like Chris Evert and quickly approaching the elite, where Martina Hingis holds the 10th spot with 80 consecutive weeks. At the top of the historical list, Steffi Graf and Serena Williams lead with an impressive 186 weeks each.

With an almost insurmountable lead of nearly 3,000 points over second-placed Elena Rybakina, Sabalenka seems destined to hold the top spot for a longer period. Rybakina, 26, remains firmly in second place, while young American Coco Gauff, 22, stays in third, showcasing the emerging strength of the new generation.

Jessica Pegula, the world number five, maintained her position after successfully defending her title in Charleston, although without gaining additional points due to defending her score from the previous year. Despite this, Pegula remains a constant threat on the circuit, solidifying her place among the best in the world.

Other highlights include Swiss player Belinda Bencic, who rose to 11th place after an excellent performance, and Madison Keys, who regained ground to 17th place after reaching the semifinals in Charleston, despite missing a historic showdown with Pegula in the final.

The biggest surprise of the week came from Yuliia Starodubtseva, who reached her first WTA tournament final by eliminating Madison Keys, before falling to Pegula. The Ukrainian jumped from 89th to 53rd in the rankings, a spectacular rise that promises to shake up the circuit.

On the other hand, players like Camila Osorio and Sofia Kenin suffered significant drops, falling 27 and 19 positions, respectively, after failing to defend their titles and important points.

The updated WTA ranking as of April 6, 2026, shows an intensely competitive landscape, with Sabalenka dominating the elite, while new stars emerge and others struggle to maintain their position. The race for the top promises to be exciting in the coming weeks, with many eyes on the performances of the top players in upcoming tournaments.

Partial list of the best positions in the WTA ranking (4/6/26):

1. Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) – 11025 points

2. Elena Rybakina (KAZ) – 8108 points

3. Coco Gauff (USA) – 7278 points

4. Iga Świątek (POL) – 7263 points

5. Jessica Pegula (USA) – 6243 points

11. Belinda Bencic (SUI) – 3090 points

17. Madison Keys (USA) – 2161 points

53. Yuliia Starodubtseva (UKR) – 1139 points

With this update, women’s tennis is experiencing a vibrant phase, where Sabalenka’s experience blends with the ambition of young talents, promising a continuous and unpredictable spectacle for fans around the world.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.