The only WTA player with more time in the top 50 than Aryna Sabalenka has never broken into the top 10

Aryna Sabalenka has been a steady presence near the top of the WTA Tour for years now.

She’s currently holding onto the world number one ranking, a spot she’s kept since October 2024.

Sabalenka first cracked the top 50 back in April 2018 and hasn’t looked back since, staying there longer than many of her main rivals, including Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina and Coco Gauff.

But despite that longevity, she still trails one player in this particular measure of consistency.

Elise Mertens edges Sabalenka in consecutive weeks inside the top 50

Sabalenka is closing in on eight straight years without dropping out of the WTA’s top 50, a remarkable show of consistency in a sport where rankings often fluctuate.

The only active player with a longer run inside the top 50 is Elise Mertens, who broke into that bracket back in July 2017 and has never left it since.

Mertens’ lowest point during that spell came in September 2022 when she dropped to world number 44, but she managed to steady herself and climb back up from there.

Sabalenka and Mertens also share a bit of history beyond their singles rankings. They used to team up as doubles partners, forming one of the more successful pairings on tour for a stretch.

Together they captured five titles, including two Grand Slams at the US Open and Australian Open. Their partnership brought out some of the best tennis from both players during that period.

Behind Mertens and Sabalenka in terms of consecutive weeks inside the top 50 are Rybakina (since September 2019), Swiatek (since October 2020), followed by Americans Jessica Pegula and Gauff, both holding their spots since February 2021.

Elise Mertens’ highest-ever ranking and her top Grand Slam performance

Even though Mertens holds the record for the most consecutive weeks inside the top 50, she’s never broken into the world’s top 10.

The highest singles ranking of her career is number 12, which she reached back in November 2018.

This was also the year she had her best Grand Slam run, reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open.

Mertens has collected 10 WTA singles titles over her career, but it’s in doubles where she’s found even greater success.

The Belgian currently sits at world number one in doubles and has six Grand Slam titles to her name, including two alongside Sabalenka.

Her sixth major title came at this year’s Australian Open, where she partnered with Shuai Zhang to take home the trophy.

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