Sabalenka Brimming with Hope to Break Serena Williams’ Historic Record

Aryna Sabalenka is steadily closing in on breaking the all-time WTA ranking points record held by tennis legend Serena Williams. Currently the world No. 1, Sabalenka overtook Iga Swiatek during the second half of the 2024 season and has held the top spot firmly ever since.

Recently, the Belarusian star became only the third player in WTA history to surpass the 11,000-point mark in the rankings. With her current form and schedule, Sabalenka has a realistic chance to become the highest-ranked player in history since the women’s ranking system was introduced. So, what does she need to do to break the record?

As of now, Sabalenka holds 11,446 WTA points and is set to compete at the WTA 500 tournament in Berlin this week. Last year, she withdrew in the quarterfinals of this event, but this year, her path to the semifinals looks smooth, as she is expected to face two qualifiers en route.

Reaching the semifinals in Berlin alone would earn her an additional 195 points—boosting her total to 11,640 before Wimbledon.

One major advantage for Sabalenka is that she has no points to defend at Wimbledon, having withdrawn from the tournament last year due to a shoulder injury. This gives her a golden opportunity to claim the full 2,000 points at the All England Club, where she is currently the top favorite to win the women’s singles title.

If she triumphs at Wimbledon, Sabalenka will surpass the all-time record of 13,615 points set by Serena Williams over a decade ago. With a Wimbledon title, Sabalenka’s total would reach 13,640 points—making her the highest-ranked WTA player of all time.

Therefore, Sabalenka’s performance in Berlin will be critical in determining whether she can make history at Wimbledon. Even if she falls short of breaking the record, she is almost certain to surpass Swiatek and cement her place as the second-highest ranked player in WTA history.