Aryna Sabalenka, the world’s top-ranked women’s tennis player, has etched her name into the history books alongside the legendary Serena Williams, becoming the first woman since 2015 to surpass 12,000 WTA ranking points. This remarkable feat, achieved following her semifinal run at Wimbledon 2025, underscores Sabalenka’s dominance in a season marked by consistent excellence and relentless power. As the Belarusian star continues to carve her legacy, her latest milestone places her among the sport’s elite, with fans and analysts buzzing about her potential to challenge even more records at the All England Club and beyond.
Sabalenka’s journey to this historic achievement began with a stellar 2024 season, where she clinched two Grand Slam singles titles—the Australian Open and the US Open—while reaching the semifinals or better at all four majors, a feat not accomplished since Williams in 2016. Her 2025 campaign has been equally impressive, with titles in Brisbane, Miami, and Madrid, and a runner-up finish at the Australian Open. By the time she arrived at Wimbledon, Sabalenka was already sitting on 11,640 ranking points. Her victory over Carson Branstine in the first round pushed her past Iga Swiatek’s 11,695-point mark from 2024, making her the second woman in the last decade to cross the 11,000-point threshold. Her subsequent wins, including a hard-fought third-round battle against Emma Raducanu and a quarterfinal triumph over Laura Siegemund, propelled her to 12,420 points, a milestone last reached by Williams during the 2015 US Open. “I’m super happy with the win today,” Sabalenka said after her Raducanu match, reflecting on the challenge. “She really pushed me to the limit today. I’m super happy with the win.”
The significance of surpassing 12,000 points cannot be overstated. In the modern WTA ranking system, introduced in 2009, only Williams, with a peak of 13,615 points in 2013, had previously achieved this. Sabalenka’s ascent to 12,420 points after her Wimbledon semifinal run on July 8, 2025, places her in rare company. “It’s crazy that I’ve managed to put myself in a position where I have the chance to place my name alongside the legends,” she remarked earlier in the year, after reaching the Australian Open semifinals. Her consistency—reaching at least the quarterfinals in every Grand Slam she’s played since 2023—has been a cornerstone of her success. This run includes nine semifinals, six finals, and three titles across her last 10 completed majors, a streak reminiscent of Williams’ dominance from 2014 to 2019.
Sabalenka’s Wimbledon performance was a testament to her resilience. Facing Raducanu, a former US Open champion, she battled through a tight 7-6(6), 6-4 victory, acknowledging the crowd’s support for the home favorite. “She played incredible level,” Sabalenka noted, crediting her own focus for securing the win. Against Siegemund in the quarterfinals, she overcame a first-set loss and tactical challenges, including Siegemund’s slice-heavy game, to win 4-6, 6-2, 6-4. “I had to make sure I didn’t show I was annoyed by her, even if I was slightly,” she admitted, highlighting her mental growth. Her ability to adapt, especially after a tough French Open final loss to Coco Gauff, has been pivotal. “I think there’s a big possibility that I would have lost this match if I didn’t learn that lesson at the French Open,” she said.
Despite her Wimbledon semifinal loss to Amanda Anisimova, Sabalenka’s point total reflects her extraordinary year. With no points to defend from 2024 Wimbledon due to a shoulder injury, every win in 2025 added to her tally, positioning her to potentially eclipse Williams’ record of 13,615 points if she had won the title. Her 4,751-point lead over world No. 2 Coco Gauff further cements her dominance. Off the court, Sabalenka’s journey has been marked by personal challenges, including the loss of her father in 2019 and her ex-partner Konstantin Koltsov in 2024. Supported by her current partner, Georgios Frangulis, she has channeled adversity into on-court ferocity, earning her the nickname “The Tiger.”
As Sabalenka prepares for the US Open, where she’ll defend her 2024 title, her 12,420 points and 94.7% Grand Slam win rate in 2024 (18-1) signal a player at the peak of her powers. With a game defined by booming serves and aggressive groundstrokes, she continues to draw comparisons to her idol, Williams. Whether she can surpass Williams’ all-time points record or add to her five Grand Slam titles (three singles, two doubles) remains to be seen, but Sabalenka’s 2025 season has already solidified her as a force to be reckoned with in tennis history.
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