Oldest tennis player ranked world No.1 (WTA Tour)

Lisa Raymond (USA, b. 10 August 1973) was 39 years 30 days old on 9 September 2012, the final day of her reign as the top-ranked women’s doubles player on the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) Tour. No woman has held the No.1 spot – in doubles or singles – at a greater age than Raymond, who won 11 Grand Slam doubles titles – six in women’s doubles (2000–11) and five in mixed doubles (1996–2012) – and was a four-time winner at the end-of-season WTA Finals, with Rennae Stubbs (2001), Samantha Stosur (2005–06) and Liezel Huber (2011).

On the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) Tour, India’s Rohan Bopanna (b. 4 March 1980) is the oldest-ever world No.1, again in doubles. He was 43 years 326 days old on 24 January 2024, the date he advanced to the semi-finals of the men’s doubles at the Australian Open with Matthew Ebden – a win that gave Bopanna enough ranking points to replace second-round loser Austin Krajicek as world No.1.