[Stefwhit]

I was currious about the head-to-head records of ten of the last number one ranked players of the WTA (all against one another). While finding the numbers I found some interesting facts. For example the only number one player to have a winning record over Serena is Aranxta, Aranxta has the most lopsided win-lost ratio against the group, and Steffi is the only one in the group that has played everyone on the list and and at the same time no one on the list has a winning record over her.

(First set of numbers is the win lost ratio against the entire group) (The second set of numbers is the over all head-to-head against the group, win-lost-tie):
example....
Steffi- 77 wins 34 loses (she's beaten 7 players- lost to zero- and tied with 2)


Steffi- (77-34) 7-0-2
Hingis- (70-49) 5-3
Lindsay- (62-61) 3-6
Monica- (55-63) 4-5
Venus- (52-36) 5-3
Serena- (43-23) 6-1-1
Araxta- (36-101) 3-6
Martina N-(30-23) 2-1-2
Jennifer- (25-55) 1-8-1
Kim- (19-27) 2-6-1

Martina N has only played 5 of the last 9 number ones Seles is the only player listed here to have a winning record over her, she's tied with Graf in their head to heads.

This was done for pure enjoyment, these numbers don't really mean all that much, but it's very interesting- I thought so anyway.

 

[Rtael]

wow Arantxa sucks! Just Kidding!


anyway....it was interesting to see.

 

[bandabou]

So even by the numbers Kim´s the worst no.1 in tennis history? Damn...

 

[tennisjam]

fun read, thanks...

 

[Stefwhit]

Another interesting note is that all the former number ones have at least one winning record over someone else on that list. Jennifer has the worst record in career head to heads against the last nine number ones, but thanks to her winning record over Kim she at least has an edge over one of them.

 

[selesrules]

Monica has 3 wins over Kim, not only 1. Thus it should be 57...

 

[Stefwhit]

Monica has 3 wins over Kim, not only 1. Thus it should be 57...

2001 Hopman Cup (Perth) Qualification 7-6 (7-4), 6-0 Monica Seles
2002 Hopman Cup (Perth) Qualification 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 Monica Seles
2002 Nasdaq-100 Open Quarterfinal 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 Monica Seles

The Hopman Cup doesn't count only regular WTA tour events, what is the Hopman Cup anyway and why is Seles playing Qualifacation rounds? I left those off because I didn't know what that was. How on earth did you know that I left those two matches off??!?! All I have is the tally and I didn't list the matches that I counted so that's amazing that you knew that.

 

[Jen'sFan]

So even by the numbers Kim´s the worst no.1 in tennis history? Damn...

I wud have thought that was obvious when u consider she's never won a slam

 

[bandabou]

Wow...look at Serena´s record. Damn the girl´s good, only Graf´s a better record. Too bad, ASV retired otherwise I´m sure she would have set that record straight too.

 

[hingis-seles]

I was wondering if you included the Grand Slam Cup results? Eg: Venus beat Martina 6-2, 6-7, 9-7 in 1999. However, it's an exhibition like the Hopman Cup. So, if you're leaving out the Hopman Cup, I think the Grand Slam Cup should be left out as well.

 

[Martian Willow]

...Jennifers' stats look worse than Kims'...

 

[bandabou]

...Jennifers' stats look worse than Kims'...

Yeah but GS´s are the tie-breakers and Jen´s got three and Kim ain´t gotten none.

 

[Kart]

2001 Hopman Cup (Perth) Qualification 7-6 (7-4), 6-0 Monica Seles
2002 Hopman Cup (Perth) Qualification 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 Monica Seles
2002 Nasdaq-100 Open Quarterfinal 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 Monica Seles

The Hopman Cup doesn't count only regular WTA tour events, what is the Hopman Cup anyway and why is Seles playing Qualifacation rounds? I left those off because I didn't know what that was. How on earth did you know that I left those two matches off??!?! All I have is the tally and I didn't list the matches that I counted so that's amazing that you knew that.

It's not a qualification tournament it's an exhibition tournament in January just before Sydney.

 

[Sofiane]

You should count wins over numer one, onely when the player is number one (or two).
Monica defeated Kim, when Kim wasn't number one yet.

 

[Stefwhit]

You should count wins over numer one, onely when the player is number one (or two).
Monica defeated Kim, when Kim wasn't number one yet.

...now don't you think that's taking it a little too far, I've got a little free time on my hands- but come now!

 

[Alan]

very interesting...

 

[347]

Here's a file with the Head to Heads of the #1s in question (plus Henin, as its looking increasingly likely she'll be next). Sorry, when i tried to post it as text it went all strange

Read the names horizontally.

 

[rikvanlooy]

Yeah but GS´s are the tie-breakers and Jen´s got three and Kim ain´t gotten none.

???????

They have been ranked randomly.

Lindsay has been put before Serena, but that is pure coincidence.

Kim's stats are not that bad at all.

A few more matches against Seles, Davenport and Capriati and she has much better figures (even better than Seles and Capriati).

Arantxa and Capriati figures look much worse.

BTW : Etcheberry has been able to improve Justine last winter and next year he will work 6 months exclusively with her.

Do you think Justine won't improve any more ?

Justine and Pat are looking forward to another 30 to 40 % improvement. Pat thinks it will take another 2 to 3 years before Justine will be at her peak. Then we will see if she won't be able to handle the power of Serena and Venus. The difference in speed and power will be much smaller and I imagine that we will see at that moment that the sisters don't have as much skill as Justine (but nothing is certain off course).

I begin to have the sneaky suspicion that the 5 slams of Hingis will be surpassed by Justine and not in a small way (who will be able to beat Justine the next 7 years at RG ?)

 

[Sam L]

Thanks, great stats!

Just wondering. What about Chrissie Evert or Tracy Austin?

 

[Kart]

I begin to have the sneaky suspicion that the 5 slams of Hingis will be surpassed by Justine and not in a small way (who will be able to beat Justine the next 7 years at RG ?)

Justine is lucky to have fans as believing in her as you - if she believes in herself half as much as you do she's got that base covered totally .