The only WTA player who has spent more time in the top 50 than Aryna Sabalenka has never made it into the top 10

She has been the number one player in the world since October 2024 and she still is.

Sabalenka made it into the top 50 for the first time in April 2018 and hasn't looked back since. She has stayed there longer than many of her main rivals such as Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina and Coco Gauff.

But even though she has been around for a long time she is still behind one player in this measure of consistency.

Elise Mertens beats Sabalenka in the top 50 for two weeks in a row.

Sabalenka is getting close to eight straight years in the WTA's top 50 without dropping out. This is a great example of consistency in a sport where rankings change all the time.

Elise Mertens is the only active player who has been in the top 50 for longer than Elise Mertens. She broke into the top 50 in July 2017 and has never left since.

Mertens hit rock bottom in September 2022 when she fell to number 44 in the world, but she was able to pull herself together and rise again.

Sabalenka and Mertens have a little bit of history together besides their singles rankings. They used to play doubles together, and for a while they were one of the best pairs on tour.

They won five titles together, including two Grand Slams at the US Open and the Australian Open. During that time, their partnership brought out the best tennis from both players.

Rybakina (since September 2019) and Swiatek (since October 2020) are next in line for consecutive weeks in the top 50. Americans Jessica Pegula and Gauff have both been in the top 50 since February 2021.

Elise Mertens' best Grand Slam performance and highest ranking ever

Mertens has been in the top 50 for the longest time in a row, but she has never made it into the top 10 in the world.

She reached her highest singles ranking of number 12 in November 2018.

This was also the year she did the best in the Grand Slam, making it to the semifinals of the Australian Open.

Mertens has won 10 WTA singles titles in her career, but she has had even more success in doubles.

The Belgian is currently ranked number one in the world in doubles and has won six Grand Slam titles, two of which she won with Sabalenka.

She won her sixth major title at this year's Australian Open, where she and Shuai Zhang won the trophy.