The 15 women to peak at No 2 on WTA Rankings – as Coco Gauff reaches new high

It’s official: Coco Gauff will become world No 2 next Monday.

Aryna Sabalenka’s shock French Open quarter-final loss to Mirra Andreeva on Wednesday means that the US No 1 is guaranteed to reach a new career-high ranking.

Gauff has reached the Australian Open semi-finals and won the US Open over the last 12 months, with only Iga Swiatek preventing her from becoming the world No 1.

The US star will have her eyes on usurping the Pole at the top of the WTA Rankings, but for now she will become the 16th woman to have so far peaked as world No 2.

And she is in incredible company, with some legends of the game also reaching the same point of the rankings.

We take you through all 15 women to peak at world No 2.

Virginia Wade

One of the greatest British players of all time, Wade was the first-ever world No 2 when the official rankings made their debut in 1975, with only Chris Evert keeping her off the top spot.

Wade had already claimed US and Australian Open titles by that stage of her career but is best remembered for her triumph on home soil at Wimbledon in 1977.

Billie Jean King

Arguably the most influential female player in history, King claimed 12 major singles titles during her career and countless doubles titles across all four Grand Slams.

The US star was ranked No. 1 on a different system prior to the official WTA Rankings but reached a WTA peak of second in 1977.

Andrea Jaeger

A superb teen prodigy, Jaeger was just 16 years old when she became the world No 2 in August 1981, with Evert also preventing her from rising to the very top of the sport.

Runner-up at the French Open in 1982 and Wimbledon in 1983, the American won 10 WTA titles in her career before her early retirement in 1985.

Conchita Martinez

A former Wimbledon champion and runner-up at the Australian and French Opens, Martinez was a phenomenal competitor in her time.

Winning 33 singles titles during her career, the Spaniard reached her career-high in October 1995, with Steffi Graf and Monica Seles – joint No 1’s – ranked ahead of her.

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Jana Novotna

One of the most beloved tennis players in history, the late, great Novotna is most celebrated for her Wimbledon triumph in 1998, claiming her sole singles major after losing three previous Slam finals.

A winner of 24 career singles titles overall, the Czech ace reached No 2 in the rankings in July 1997, shortly after reaching her second SW19 final.

Anastasia Myskina

Champion at the 2004 French Open, Myskina will always have a place in history as the first Russian woman to claim a Grand Slam singles title.

Spearheading a Russian charge over the next half-decade, she reached No 2 in September of that year and won 10 career singles titles.

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Svetlana Kuznetsova

A player of huge skill and guile, Kuznetsova was the third Russian WTA player in a row to win a Slam following her 2004 US Open victory – and also won the 2009 French Open.

She won 18 WTA singles titles across her impressive career and reached second in the rankings after progressing to her second US Open final in 2007.

Vera Zvonareva

The third Russian player to peak at No 2 in the WTA Rankings, Zvonareva’s surprise success in 2010 saw her reach her career-high peak that October.

Runner-up at both Wimbledon and the US Open that summer, she won 12 singles titles across her career, and was the WTA Finals champion in doubles at the end of 2023.

Petra Kvitova

Another hugely popular figure throughout her career, Kvitova is one of the most successful players of her generation, with 31 career titles to the Czech’s name.

Twice a Wimbledon champion and also an Australian Open runner-up, she first peaked at No 2 in October 2011 – the same year as her first SW19 triumph.

Agnieszka Radwanska

The ultimate WTA fan favourite and hotshot maker, the supremely talented Radwanska was one of the great entertainers of her generation.

Reaching No 2 after reaching her sole Grand Slam final at Wimbledon in 2012, the Pole was a consistent figure towards the top of the game, winning 20 titles overall.

Li Na

A true trailblazer, Na inspired a generation of Asian players with her 2011 French Open and 2014 Australian Open triumphs.

With nine career titles to her name, the Chinese ace reached her peak ranking in February 2014, shortly after her memorable Melbourne triumph.

Barbora Krejcikova

A hugely successful doubles player – with 10 major titles to her name across women’s and mixed events – Krejcikova was a surprise Roland Garros champion in 2021.

And she backed up that success by reaching No 2 in the singles ranking in February 2022, currently holding seven WTA singles titles.

Paula Badosa

Badosa is struggling with injuries currently, but at her peak, she was undoubtedly one of the very best, with only Iga Swiatek keeping her off the top spot in April 2022.

A winner of three WTA titles so far, the Spaniard is best remembered for her stunning run to the Indian Wells title in 2021.

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Anett Kontaveit

Another player cruelly cut down by injury, Kontaveit was just 26 when she retired from tour but managed to reach a career-high of second in June 2022 – just a year before her eventual farewell.

The Estonian is probably best remembered for a stunning end to the 2021 season, where she won four of her six career titles in the space of three months.

Ons Jabeur

Tunisian trailblazer Jabeur has had an impact on the sport bigger than most, with a whole generation of African and Middle Eastern tennis players inspired by her exploits.

Reaching No 2 for the first time in June 2022, Jabeur has reached three Grand Slam finals and is a winner of five WTA titles.

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