Historic Achievements
Following their victories at the US Open, Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic have ascended to the No. 1 world rankings in tennis. Sabalenka achieves her first week atop the WTA rankings, while Djokovic secures his record-extending 390th week as the ATP’s No. 1 player.
Sabalenka’s Rise
Aryna Sabalenka, a 25-year-old from Belarus, becomes the 29th player to hold the women’s No. 1 ranking since the inception of computerized rankings in the 1970s. Her US Open journey allowed her to surpass Iga Swiatek, who had held the No. 1 spot since April 2022. Sabalenka won her first major title at the Australian Open earlier in the year and reached the semifinals at the French Open and Wimbledon.
Gauff’s Impressive Climb
Coco Gauff, the 19-year-old American, achieved a career-high No. 3 ranking in singles, rising three spots from her previous No. 6 position. Additionally, Gauff, alongside partner Jessica Pegula, claimed the No. 1 ranking in doubles after reaching the US Open quarterfinals in that event. This marks the first time since August 2003 that the top-ranked players in both WTA singles and doubles switched positions on the same day.
Djokovic’s Grand Slam Milestone
Novak Djokovic’s victory over Daniil Medvedev in the US Open final earned him his 24th Grand Slam singles title, tying Margaret Court’s all-time record. Djokovic’s triumph also granted him sole possession of the record for the most Grand Slam titles in the professional era, surpassing Serena Williams. Djokovic began the tournament as the No. 2 player but reclaimed the No. 1 ranking following his win.
Rankings Fluctuations
The ATP rankings saw significant fluctuations throughout the season, with Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz switching positions multiple times. The last time there were more changes at the ATP’s No. 1 in a single season was in 1999, with a total of eight switches. Several other players, including Ben Shelton, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Andrey Rublev, also experienced shifts in their rankings after the US Open.
