The first women’s tennis grand slam tournament rounded up today with it winner, Naomi Osaka rising up to the World Number 1 spot on the WTA rankings.
Osaka who is currently ranked 4th in the world is expected to rise up to the Number 1 spot after her win over Petra Kvitova at the Australian Open final earlier today. Osaka had a solid tournament, defeating her idol, Serena Williams on the way to the final. She is going to be ranked as World number 1 at the young age of 21 years.
As incredible as this may sound, Naomi Osaka isn’t the youngest person to hold the position of the Number 1 ranked women tennis player in the world. There have been other magnificent players who have gotten to that exalted position before her and at even younger ages.
Here is a list of the top five youngest players to become World Number 1:
- Martina Hingis – 16 years
#MartinaHingis will be missed. pic.twitter.com/LP734oexVN
— ScoopWhoop News (@scoopwhoopnews) October 27, 2017
- Tracy Austin – 18 years
The 50 Greatest Players of the Open Era (Women): No. 18, tennis's most celebrated child prodigy, Tracy Austin.
By @SteveTignor: https://t.co/4cLB26ReHy #OpenEra50 pic.twitter.com/RHGW5GwtJ2— TENNIS.com (@Tennis) February 8, 2018
- Monica Seles – 18 years
It was her first Australian Open: Monica Seles won the first of her four #AusOpen titles in 1991 pic.twitter.com/07lqvjVgZr
— Ramtiger (@triviaaivirt) January 26, 2019
- Steffi Graf – 18 years
On this day in 1988, #SteffiGraf won the first of her four #AustralianOpen titles. pic.twitter.com/BwXNUTukrw
— Sports Nerds (@_SportsNerds) January 23, 2019
- Maria Sharapova – 18 years
How has it been 11 years 😳 #AusOpen @MariaSharapova pic.twitter.com/rJh2YGq7rd
— Meera (@Meera8r) January 26, 2019
Sharapova is the only one on the list who is still playing the game. She is currently the 30th seeded player in the WTA rankings.
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