Active player's age when ranked #1, #2 (...up to 6), and #10

Here is a list of the age of all active players when they got their #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, and #6 ranking for the fist time in their career. There is also a similar list of all active top ten players.

I have no exact ranking data from the 90's so a few dates are estimated. Feel free to submit correct data if you have such. The same applies if you find errors in the tables, or if I've forgot some players. Some of the dates were a bit hard to find, and there may be some errors. The problem with these lists is that while there are official lists of the dates when players cracked the Top ten, no such lists exists of Top 4 etc. However, I believe the dates are correct. Source for all ranking dates is SEWTA Notes and Netcords.

Age when being ranked #1
DOB Date of #1 ranking Age when ranked #1
Sharapova 19-04-1987 22-08-2005 18 years, 4 months,3 days
Clijsters 08-06-1983 11-08-2003 20 years, 2 months,3 days
Wozniacki 11-07-1990 11-10-2010 20 years, 3 months,0 days
Ivanovic 06-11-1987 09-06-2008 20 years, 7 months,3 days
S. Williams 26-09-1981 08-07-2002 20 years, 9 months,12 days
V. Williams 17-06-1980 25-02-2002 21 years, 8 months,8 days
Safina 27-04-1986 20-04-2009 22 years, 11 months,24 days
Jankovic 28-02-1985 11-08-2008 23 years, 5 months,14 days

Age when being ranked #2
DOB Date of #2 ranking Age when ranked #2

Sharapova 19-04-1987 11-04-2005 17 years, 11 months,23 days
Wozniacki 11-07-1990 22-03-2010 19 years, 8 months,11 days
Clijsters 08-06-1983 14-04-2003 19 years, 10 months,6 days
Ivanovic 06-11-1987 03-03-2008 20 years, 3 months,26 days
S. Williams 26-09-1981 10-06-2002 20 years, 8 months,15 days
V. Williams 17-06-1980 09-04-2001 20 years, 9 months,23 days
Kuznetsova 27-06-1985 10-09-2007 22 years, 2 months,14 days
Safina 27-04-1986 13-10-2008 22 years, 5 months,16 days
Jankovic 28-02-1985 16-06-2008 23 years, 3 months,19 days
Zvonareva 07-09-1984 25-10-2010 26 years, 1 months,18 days

Age when being ranked #3
DOB Date of #3 ranking Age when ranked #3
Sharapova 19-04-1987 07-02-2005 17 years, 9 months,19 days
Clijsters 08-06-1983 04-03-2002 18 years, 8 months,24 days
V. Williams 17-06-1980 30-08-1999* 19 years, 2 months,13 days
Wozniacki 11-07-1990 01-02-2010 19 years, 6 months,21 days
Ivanovic 06-11-1987 14-01-2008 20 years, 2 months,8 days
S. Williams 26-09-1981 20-05-2002 20 years, 7 months,24 days
Kuznetsova 27-06-1985 19-03-2007 21 years, 8 months,20 days
Azarenka 31-07-1989 12-09-2011 22 years, 1 months,12 days
Jankovic 28-02-1985 11-06-2007 22 years, 3 months,14 days
Safina 27-04-1986 22-09-2008 22 years, 4 months,26 days
Petrova 08-06-1982 15-05-2006 23 years, 11 months,7 days
Zvonareva 07-09-1984 11-10-2010 26 years, 1 months,4 days

*Estimated. Venus was ranked #3 going into US Open and probably got this ranking
after New Haven

Age when being ranked #4
DOB Date of #4 ranking Age when ranked #4

Sharapova 19-04-1987 15-11-2004 17 years, 6 months,27 days
S. Williams 26-09-1981 15-09-1999* 17 years, 11 months,20 days
Clijsters 08-06-1983 25-02-2002 18 years, 8 months,17 days
V. Williams 17-06-1980 07-07-1999** 19 years, 0 months,20 days
Wozniacki 11-07-1990 26-10-2009 19 years, 3 months,15 days
Dokic 12-04-1983 18-08-2002 19 years, 4 months,6 days
Kuznetsova 27-06-1985 08-11-2004 19 years, 4 months,12 days
Ivanovic 06-11-1987 13-08-2007 19 years, 9 months,7 days
Azarenka 31-07-1989 09-05-2011 21 years, 9 months,8 days
Jankovic 28-02-1985 21-05-2007 22 years, 2 months,23 days
Safina 27-04-1986 22-09-2008 22 years, 4 months,26 days
Petrova 08-06-1982 01-05-2006 23 years, 10 months,23 days
Date-Krumm 28-09-1970 13-11-1995 25 years, 1 months,16 days
Zvonareva 07-09-1984 13-09-2010 26 years, 0 months,6 days
Stosur 30-03-1984 21-02-2011 26 years, 10 months,22 days
Na Li 26-02-1982 06-06-2011 29 years, 3 months,11 days
Schiavone 23-06-1980 31-01-2011 30 years, 7 months,8 days

*Estimated. Serena had a ranking of #4 after US Open
**Estimated. Venus probably got her #4 ranking after Wimbledon.

Age when being ranked #5
DOB Date of #5 ranking Age when ranked #5
Sharapova 19-04-1987 15-11-2004 17 years, 6 months,27 days
S. Williams 26-09-1981 15-09-1999* 17 years, 11 months,20 days
V. Williams 17-06-1980 07-07-1998** 18 years, 0 months,20 days
Clijsters 08-06-1983 30-07-2001 18 years, 1 months,22 days
Henin 01-06-1982 09-07-2001 19 years, 1 months,8 days
Wozniacki 11-07-1990 21-09-2009 19 years, 2 months,10 days
Kuznetsova 27-06-1985 20-09-2004 19 years, 2 months,24 days
Dokic 12-04-1983 29-07-2002 19 years, 3 months,17 days
Ivanovic 06-11-1987 09-07-2007 19 years, 8 months,3 days
Hantuchova 23-04-1983 27-01-2003 19 years, 9 months,4 days
Chakvetadze 05-03-1987 10-09-2007 20 years, 6 months,5 days
Azarenka 31-07-1989 11-04-2011 21 years, 8 months,11 days
Jankovic 28-02-1985 14-05-2007 22 years, 2 months,16 days
Safina 27-04-1986 08-09-2008 22 years, 4 months,12 days
Dementieva 15-10-1981 13-09-2004 22 years, 10 months,29 days
Petrova 08-06-1982 17-04-2006 23 years, 10 months,9 days
Zvonareva 07-09-1984 02-02-2009 24 years, 4 months,26 days
Date-Krumm 28-09-1970 13-11-1995*** 25 years, 1 months,16 days
Stosur 30-03-1984 05-07-2010 26 years, 3 months,5 days
Na Li 26-02-1982 06-06-2011**** 29 years, 3 months,11 days
Schiavone 23-06-1980 31-01-2011***** 30 years, 7 months,8 days

*Estimated.
**Estimated, assuming Venus got the #5 ranking after Wimbledon.
***Estimated. This is the date Kimiko Date-Krumm got her career-high #4 ranking.
**** The date Na Li got her #4 ranking. She jumped directly from #7 to #4 after her FO win 2011.
*****This is the date Sciavone got her #4 ranking. She jumped directly from #7 to #4 after Australian Open 2011.

Age when being ranked #6
DOB Date of #6 ranking Age when ranked #6

Sharapova 19-04-1987 08-11-2004 17 years, 6 months,20 days
S. Williams 26-09-1981 16-08-1999* 17 years, 10 months,21 days
V. Williams 17-06-1980 07-06-1998* 17 years, 11 months,21 days
Clijsters 08-06-1983 09-07-2001 18 years, 1 months,1 days
Wozniacki 11-07-1990 14-09-2009 19 years, 2 months,3 days
Kuznetsova 27-06-1985 13-09-2004 19 years, 2 months,17 days
Dokic 12-04-1983 08-07-2002 19 years, 2 months,26 days
Ivanovic 06-11-1987 11-06-2007 19 years, 7 months,5 days
Hantuchova 23-04-1983 27-01-2003 19 years, 9 months,4 days
Azarenka 31-07-1989 26-10-2009 20 years, 2 months,25 days
Chakvetadze 05-03-1987 30-07-2007 20 years, 4 months,25 days
Petrova 08-06-1982 19-04-2004 21 years, 10 months,11 days
Jankovic 28-02-1985 07-05-2007 22 years, 2 months,9 days
Safina 27-04-1986 11-08-2008 22 years, 3 months,15 days
Date-Krumm 28-09-1970 15-05-1994* 23 years, 7 months,17 days
Zvonareva 07-09-1984 02-02-2009 24 years, 4 months,26 days
Stosur 30-03-1984 21-06-2010 26 years, 2 months,22 days
Na Li 26-02-1982 21-03-2011 29 years, 0 months,23 days
Schiavone 23-06-1980 07-06-2010 29 years, 11 months,15 days

* Estimated dates

Age when being ranked #10
DOB Date of #10 ranking Age when ranked #10

Sharapova 19-04-1987 05-07-2004 17 years, 2 months,16 days
S. Williams 26-09-1981 05-04-1999 17 years, 6 months,10 days
V. Williams 17-06-1980 30-03-1998 17 years, 9 months,13 days
Clijsters 08-06-1983 11-06-2001 18 years, 0 months,3 days
Dokic 12-04-1983 08-10-2001 18 years, 5 months,26 days
Wozniacki 11-07-1990 18-05-2009 18 years, 10 months,7 days
Kuznetsova 27-06-1985 07-06-2004 18 years, 11 months,11 days
A. Radwanska 06-03-1989 07-07-2008 19 years, 4 months,1 days
Hantuchova 23-04-1983 14-10-2002 19 years, 5 months,21 days
Ivanovic 06-11-1987 14-05-2007 19 years, 6 months,8 days
Azarenka 31-07-1989 23-03-2009 19 years, 7 months,20 days
Schnyder 14-12-1978 10-08-1998 19 years, 7 months,27 days
Zvonareva 07-09-1984 09-08-2004 19 years, 11 months,2 days
Chakvetadze 05-03-1987 19-02-2007 19 years, 11 months,14 days
Safina 27-04-1986 02-10-2006 20 years, 5 months,5 days
Kvitova 08-03-1990 09-05-2011 21 years, 2 months,1 days
Petrova 08-06-1982 05-04-2004 21 years, 9 months,28 days
Jankovic 28-02-1985 29-01-2007 21 years, 11 months,1 days
Bartoli 02-10-1984 27-08-2007 22 years, 10 months,25 days
Date-Krumm 28-09-1970 17-01-1994 23 years, 3 months,20 days
Petkovic 09-09-1987 08-08-2011 23 years, 10 months,30 days
Molik 27-01-1981 31-01-2005 24 years, 0 months,4 days
Stosur 30-03-1984 22-03-2010 25 years, 11 months,20 days
Pennetta 25-02-1982 17-08-2009 27 years, 5 months,23 days
Na Li 26-02-1982 01-02-2010 27 years, 11 months,6 days
Schiavone 23-06-1980 07-06-2010 29 years, 11 months,15 days

Another thing we could calculate using the dates above - just for the fun of it - is the time needed to move in the top rankings. I've made three tables:


Time needed to move from #10 to #1

Date ranked #10 Date ranked #1 Time needed to move from #10 to #1

Ivanovic 14-05-2007 09-06-2008 1 years, 0 months,26 days
Sharapova 05-07-2004 22-08-2005 1 years, 1 months,17 days
Wozniacki 18-05-2009 11-10-2010 1 years, 4 months,23 days
Jankovic 29-01-2007 11-08-2008 1 years, 6 months,13 days
Clijsters 11-06-2001 11-08-2003 2 years, 2 months,0 days
Safina 02-10-2006 20-04-2009 2 years, 6 months,18 days
S. Williams 05-04-1999 08-07-2002 3 years, 3 months,3 days
V. Williams 30-03-1998 25-02-2002 3 years, 10 months,26 days


Time needed to move from #10 to #2

Date ranked #10 Date ranked #2 Time needed to move from #10 to #2

Sharapova 05-07-2004 11-04-2005 0 years, 9 months,6 days
Ivanovic 14-05-2007 03-03-2008 0 years, 9 months,18 days
Wozniacki 18-05-2009 22-03-2010 0 years, 10 months,4 days
Jankovic 29-01-2007 16-06-2008 1 years, 4 months,18 days
Clijsters 11-06-2001 14-04-2003 1 years, 10 months,3 days
Safina 02-10-2006 13-10-2008 2 years, 0 months,11 days
V. Williams 30-03-1998 09-04-2001 3 years, 0 months,10 days
S. Williams 05-04-1999 10-06-2002 3 years, 2 months,5 days
Kuznetsova 07-06-2004 10-09-2007 3 years, 3 months,3 days
Zvonareva 09-08-2004 25-10-2010 6 years, 2 months,16 days


Time needed to move from #10 to #3

Date ranked #10 Date ranked #3 Time needed to move from #10 to #3

Jankovic 29-01-2007 11-06-2007 0 years, 4 months,13 days
Sharapova 05-07-2004 07-02-2005 0 years, 7 months,2 days
Ivanovic 14-05-2007 14-01-2008 0 years, 8 months,0 days
Wozniacki 18-05-2009 01-02-2010 0 years, 8 months,14 days
Clijsters 11-06-2001 04-03-2002 0 years, 8 months,21 days
Safina 02-10-2006 22-09-2008 1 years, 11 months,20 days
V. Williams 30-03-1998 30-08-1999* 1 years, 5 months,0 days
Petrova 05-04-2004 15-05-2006 2 years, 1 months,10 days
Azarenka 23-03-2009 12-09-2011 2 years, 5 months,20 days
Kuznetsova 07-06-2004 19-03-2007 2 years, 9 months,12 days
S. Williams 05-04-1999 20-05-2002 3 years, 1 months,15 days
Zvonareva 09-08-2004 11-10-2010 6 years, 2 months,2 days

*Estimated

Ofcourse Maria!

oh wow Maria :lol: She's the most epic tennis-teen ever :speakles:

Speaking of teens: I've made yet another list. It's not really related to the original topic but still relevant regarding ranking and age, so I'll post it here instead of creating a new topic. It shows all the active players who became top 10 players when they were still teenagers. 14 (active) players have achieved this since 1998 - an average of more than one per year.

Teenagers in the top 10 (active players to have achived this):

Player Age becoming a top 10 player Date becoming top 10

V. Williams 17 years, 9 months,13 days 30-03-1998
Schnyder 19 years, 7 months,27 days 10-08-1998
S. Williams 17 years, 6 months,10 days 05-04-1999
Clijsters 18 years, 0 months,3 days 11-06-2001
Dokic 18 years, 5 months,26 days 08-10-2001
Hantuchova 19 years, 5 months,21 days 14-10-2002
Kuznetsova 18 years, 11 months,11 days 07-06-2004
Sharapova 17 years, 2 months,16 days 05-07-2004
Zvonareva 19 years, 11 months,2 days 09-08-2004
Chakvetadze 19 years, 11 months,14 days 19-02-2007
Ivanovic 19 years, 6 months,8 days 14-05-2007
A. Radwanska 19 years, 4 months,1 days 07-07-2008
Azarenka 19 years, 7 months,20 days 23-03-2009
Wozniacki 18 years, 10 months,7 days 18-05-2009

Several other players became top 10 players as teenagers during this period - all now retired:

Kournikova 17 years, 0 months,15 days 22-06-1998
Mauresmo 19 years, 10 months,5 days 10-05-1999
Dementieva 19 years, 4 months,11 days 26-02-2001
Henin 19 years, 0 months,10 days 11-06-2001
Vaidisova 17 years, 3 months,15 days 07-08-2006

This means that we've had nineteen top 10 teenagers in a span of 12 years!

Great read! Didn't realise Sharapova was so young when she reached #1. :eek:

It's interesting how you (at least I) seem to remember the WSs as meteors who rose to the top in no time while actually it took them both more than 3 years to rise from #10 to #1. I haven't thought of Caro as a particularly fast riser, but if she wins USO she has accomplished the same thing in less than 1½ years, only Ivanovic and Sharapova doing it faster. I wonder what that stat says most about; them as players or the times they rose in respectively!? ;)

I wonder what that stat says most about; them as players or the times they rose in respectively!? ;)
Your wink-smiley already suggests the answer, but I'll say it anyway: It was of course very difficult to reach the #1 spot when Venus and Serena were so young, because Hingis and Davenport were so consitant and had a firm grip of that spot in those years.

Another thing I have to stress is that Serena moved incredibly fast in the lower rankings. It took her only 18 month to move from outside of the top 1000 and into the top 10 - by far the fastest ranking progression in those ranks among active players!

Zvonareva reached a career-high #4 yesterday, so I've added her in the no. 4 table in the first post. Well done by Vera, btw!

Posts updated as Wozniacki and Zvonareva have new career-high rankings of #1 and #3 respectively.

This thread is awesome, thanks!!

oh wow Maria :lol: She's the most epic tennis-teen ever :speakles:

Hingis was 5-5 in Slam finals when she turned 20, Sharapova was 2-1. Hingis was 3-1 in Slam finals before turning 17. Winning Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open and making the final of the French Open. WOW! :worship:

Schiavone got a new career high ranking of #4 in the latest ranking published a few days ago, so I've updated the first post accordingly. I have also removed the now retired Henin and Dementieva from all the tables in the thread. It would probably not do any harm to keep them there, but since this is about active players I thought it would be best to remove them - at least for consistency reasons.

The next rankings to be published Monday will have Na Li at #6 - a new career high. I've already added her in the first post.

I will probably not bump the thread every time I make an update in the future. But please bump it if I forget to keep it updated (or PM me)...

How about AGE vs LAST WEEK AT #1 and/or AGE vs HIGHEST RANK - could you do that?

Thanks!

How about AGE vs LAST WEEK AT #1 and/or AGE vs HIGHEST RANK - could you do that?

Age at the last day ranked #1 (active players):

DOB Last date ranked #1 Age

Wozniacki 11-07-1990 15-04-2011* 20 years, 9 months,4 days
Ivanovic 06-11-1987 07-09-2008 20 years, 10 months,1 days
Sharapova 19-04-1987 08-06-2008 21 years, 1 months,20 days
V. Williams 17-06-1980 07-07-2002 22 years, 0 months,20 days
Safina 27-04-1986 01-11-2009 23 years, 6 months,5 days
Jankovic 28-02-1985 01-02-2009 23 years, 11 months,4 days
Clijsters 08-06-1983 20-02-2011 27 years, 8 months,12 days
S. Williams 26-09-1981 10-10-2010 29 years, 0 months,14 days

*Today's date

Age at the last day ranked #1 (active players):

DOB Last date ranked #1 Age

Ivanovic 06-11-1987 07-09-2008 20 years, 10 months,1 days
Wozniacki 11-07-1990 15-04-2011* 20 years, 9 months,4 days
Sharapova 19-04-1987 08-06-2008 21 years, 1 months,20 days
V. Williams 17-06-1980 07-07-2002 22 years, 0 months,20 days
Jankovic 28-02-1985 01-02-2009 23 years, 11 months,4 days
Safina 27-04-1986 01-11-2009 23 years, 6 months,5 days
Clijsters 08-06-1983 20-02-2011 27 years, 8 months,12 days
S. Williams 26-09-1981 10-10-2010 29 years, 0 months,14 days

*Today's date

Kinda surprising that Caroline is almost as old as Maria was when she had her last week at #1!

oh wow Maria :lol: She's the most epic tennis-teen ever :speakles:

Monica Seles.

Wozniacki the 3rd youngest #1 and the 2nd youngest #2 :worship:

Masha totally rocks this thread :hearts:

Very interesting thread. :)

Andrea Petkovic has reached #10 today for the first time. Congrats! She's been added in the first post.

oh wow Maria :lol: She's the most epic tennis-teen ever :speakles:

:spit: How long have you been watching tennis for? :scratch: :o