Roger Federer was still the world’s top-ranked men’s singles player at 36—an age when many professionals have long since retired. On the women’s side, Serena Williams held the No. 1 spot at 35. Those are the oldest ages reached by the leaders of the ATP and WTA singles rankings, respectively.
So, if you mean the oldest player to hold the top singles ranking, the overall answer is Federer. The records are kept separately for men and women, and doubles rankings have their own histories.
Oldest tennis players to hold the No. 1 singles ranking
| Ranking tour | Player | Oldest age at No. 1 | Notable detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| ATP men’s singles | Roger Federer | 36 years, 320 days | Last held No. 1 in June 2018 |
| WTA women’s singles | Serena Williams | 35 years, 224 days | Held No. 1 during 2017 |
These figures describe the oldest age at which each player was ranked No. 1, not the age when they first reached the top. Federer first became No. 1 in 2004, aged 22. Williams first reached No. 1 in 2002, aged 20.
Roger Federer: the oldest ATP No. 1
Federer set the men’s singles age record in 2018. He returned to No. 1 after winning the Rotterdam title, beating Grigor Dimitrov 6–2, 6–2 in the final. At 36 years and 195 days old, he became the oldest man to top the ATP rankings, surpassing Andre Agassi, who had held the record at 33 years and 131 days.
Federer’s late-career return was striking because it came nearly 14 years after his first spell at No. 1. He had already spent years building his case as one of the greatest players in the sport: his serve and forehand could still dictate points, while his movement and ability to take the ball early helped him shorten rallies. That combination mattered on hard courts, where a sharp return or a quick attack could keep younger opponents from settling into long exchanges.
He later returned to No. 1 and held the ranking for a final stretch in 2018. His last week at the top was at 36 years and 320 days old. That is the oldest age at which a man has held the ATP singles No. 1 ranking.
Federer’s record is about age, not the total length of a career at No. 1. His 310 weeks at the top were a remarkable total, but Novak Djokovic has since surpassed that mark. The age record and the weeks-at-No. 1 record are separate achievements.
Serena Williams: the oldest WTA No. 1
Williams holds the corresponding women’s singles record. She was 35 years and 224 days old the last time she held the WTA No. 1 ranking, in 2017. Her achievement followed a career in which she repeatedly returned to the top after injuries, breaks and changes in the field around her.
Williams first became No. 1 in 2002 and spent 319 weeks there across her career. She also matched Steffi Graf’s record of 186 consecutive weeks at No. 1, a run that lasted from 2013 to 2016. Those totals give useful context, but it is her age during her final stint that makes her the oldest WTA singles No. 1.
Her game helps explain how she remained so difficult to beat into her thirties. A powerful serve gave her a steady supply of free points and let her attack more aggressively on return games. Even when she was not moving as freely as earlier in her career, she could take control with a first strike rather than relying on speed alone. That ability to win points on her own terms is valuable at any age, and especially so as recovery between matches becomes more important.
What the records do—and don’t—mean
The rankings are updated weekly and reflect results over a rolling period, rather than a player’s standing on one tournament day. A player can therefore remain No. 1 after a loss or a short break from competition, provided other players have not earned enough points to pass them. The record age refers to the date the player was ranked at the top, not necessarily the date of a match or title.
It is also worth separating “oldest No. 1” from “oldest player to win a major” or “oldest player to win a tournament.” Those are different records, with different ages and criteria. And because the ATP and WTA maintain separate singles rankings, Federer is the men’s record-holder and Williams the women’s record-holder; Federer is the oldest of the two overall.
Age alone does not make a ranking run more or less impressive. The ranking rewards results, and staying at the top requires consistently beating a changing group of challengers. Federer’s and Williams’s records stand out because both remained capable of producing world-leading results well into their thirties, when the physical demands of the tour become harder to manage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the oldest tennis player ever to be world No. 1?
In singles, Roger Federer is the oldest overall. He held the ATP No. 1 ranking at 36 years and 320 days. Serena Williams holds the WTA women’s singles age record at 35 years and 224 days.
Who is the oldest man to reach No. 1 in tennis?
Roger Federer is the oldest man to hold the ATP singles No. 1 ranking. He first reached No. 1 at 22, but later returned to the top in his mid-thirties and set the age record.
Who is the oldest woman to be ranked No. 1?
Serena Williams is the oldest woman to hold the WTA singles No. 1 ranking. She did so at 35 years and 224 days.
Does this include doubles rankings?
No. These are singles records. ATP and WTA doubles rankings are separate categories, so their age records should not be mixed with the singles figures.
Final Thoughts
Federer is the answer to the broad question: he is the oldest player to hold a world No. 1 singles ranking, reaching 36 years and 320 days at the top of the ATP list. Williams owns the women’s record at 35 years and 224 days. Their late-career ranking runs show that age can raise the physical challenge, but it does not automatically end a player’s ability to lead the sport.
