CAREER DEVELOPMENT TRENDS OF THE WTA TOP 100 TENNIS PLAYERS

Dejan Žličar

doi:10.58984/smb2502009z

Authors

Dejan Žličar Tennis Coaching Specialist, Good to Great Tennis Academy, Rinkebyvägen 20, 18236 Danderyd, Sweden Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58984/smb2502009z

Keywords:

tennis, emale players career development, ranking, WTA points

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to compare patterns of entry into the professional women’s tennis rankings through the age at which the first WTA point is earned, the time required to first break into the world’s top 100, and the relationship of these indicators with career-high ranking. The analysis was conducted on samples from the year-end rankings for 2023 and 2024, including the top 100 players. Descriptive statistics were applied, along with Pearson’s correlation between the age at first point and career-high ranking. The results show that the average age at which the world’s leading female players earn their first point is between 15 and 16 years. Some players earn points immediately after turning 14, as soon as regulations allow, while others earn their first points after age 17. The average time from earning the first point to entering the top 100 is between 5.1 and 5.5 years.

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