A Decade On: Where Are the WTA's Top 10 from 2016 Now?
A decade ago, the landscape of women's professional tennis, governed by the WTA, featured a dominant Serena Williams at the pinnacle of the rankings, with her sister Venus still firmly entrenched among the elite. That formidable top 10 boasted five athletes who would go on to secure Grand Slam championships. Fast forward ten years, and a significant transformation has occurred: the majority of these once-reigning players have concluded their illustrious careers, leaving only a select few who continue to grace the courts. This retrospective offers a glimpse into the evolution of these prominent figures from the 2016 WTA top 10, charting their paths from peak performance to their current status, whether active or retired.
In the summer of 2016, the WTA rankings presented a snapshot of tennis excellence. Serena Williams led the charge, poised to equal Steffi Graf's record for consecutive weeks at world number one. Despite some Grand Slam final setbacks that year, Serena still clinched titles at Rome and Wimbledon, showcasing her enduring prowess. However, injuries marred the latter part of her 2016 season, leading to early exits from the Olympics and the US Open, though she successfully matched Graf's record before relinquishing the top spot. Her post-2016 career saw her claim two more Grand Slam titles, including the 2017 Australian Open while pregnant, and reach four additional major finals before her retirement in 2022. Remarkably, she is slated for a return to action in 2026.
Angelique Kerber emerged as the player who dethroned Serena in 2016, ascending to world number one after a stellar season that included Australian Open and US Open victories, alongside a Wimbledon final appearance. This marked the zenith of Kerber's career, culminating in three titles and five runner-up finishes. She officially retired in 2024 as a former world number one and a three-time Grand Slam champion.
Garbiñe Muguruza, after securing her maiden Grand Slam title at the 2016 Roland Garros, steadily climbed the rankings. She remained within the top five throughout 2016 and eventually achieved the world number one ranking the following year after triumphing at Wimbledon. Her journey saw further Grand Slam finals, but also a notable decline in her ranking, leading to an extended break and her eventual retirement in 2024.
Simona Halep consistently contended for major honors in 2016, reaching world number three after winning the Canadian Open. Although a Grand Slam breakthrough eluded her that year, her consistent performance, including three titles and two WTA 1000 finals, maintained her top-four presence for a third consecutive year. Her subsequent career included Grand Slam victories at Roland Garros (2018) and Wimbledon (2019), a return to world number one in 2022, followed by a significant controversy, and a return to the tour post-suspension before retiring in 2025.
Agnieszka Radwańska, a seasoned top-10 player at 28, showcased strong performances at the Australian Open, Dubai, and Indian Wells in 2016, alongside some surprising early exits. Her consistent ranking stemmed partly from her successful late-2015 season, which included a WTA Finals win. Radwańska remained in the top five and concluded 2016 in the top 10 for the eighth time in her career. She retired in 2018 at the young age of 29 as a former world number two, leaving the sport at her peak.
Venus Williams, the eldest among the 2016 top 10 at 36, continued to display remarkable competitiveness. Her impressive run to the Wimbledon semifinals marked her best Grand Slam performance since 2009. However, a reduced tournament schedule led to a gradual decline in her ranking. Despite this, Venus, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, remains active, competing more than three decades after turning professional.
Victoria Azarenka's 2016 season was cut short by injuries, despite a historic Sunshine Double achievement at Indian Wells and the Miami Open. She announced her pregnancy mid-season and did not return until 2017. Her current status remains uncertain, but she is still officially active, having not formally announced retirement, much like Svetlana Kuznetsova.
Roberta Vinci, despite a less impactful 2016 season, maintained her top-10 position due to her memorable run to the 2015 US Open final. She won the St. Petersburg Ladies Open earlier in 2016 but saw her ranking drop by year-end. Vinci, known for her historic upset of Serena Williams, retired in 2018.
Madison Keys, a rising American talent, broke into the top 10 for the first time in 2016 at just 21. She reached two WTA 1000 finals, made the fourth round of all four Grand Slams, and won a WTA 500 title. Alongside Venus Williams, Keys is one of the few from that 2016 cohort who remains active, consistently performing at a high level and recently adding another title at the Eastbourne Open, having also become a Grand Slam champion at the Australian Open.
Svetlana Kuznetsova, a two-time Grand Slam champion, made a remarkable return to the top 10 in 2016 at age 31 after a six-year absence. This resurgence was fueled by two WTA 500 titles and a Miami Open final appearance. After 2016, her ranking declined, and she eventually retired in 2026 after battling injuries in her final years on tour.
The decade following 2016 has seen a significant shift in the WTA's top echelon. While some players like Serena Williams, Angelique Kerber, Simona Halep, Garbiñe Muguruza, Agnieszka Radwańska, Roberta Vinci, and Svetlana Kuznetsova have retired after impactful careers, Venus Williams and Madison Keys continue to defy expectations. Kerber's rapid ascent and Radwańska's early exit highlight varied career trajectories. The journeys of these tennis stars underscore the dynamic nature of professional sports, where dominance can evolve into retirement or continued resilience.