Lindsay Davenport's first rise to world No. 1 remembered
On October 12, 1998, Lindsay Davenport became world No. 1 for the first time at age 22, despite losing the Porsche Open final to Sandrine Testud. Earlier that season, she had won her first Grand Slam title at the US Open by defeating Martina Hingis in the final. Davenport went on to hold the top ranking for a total of 98 weeks.
Davenport was born in 1976 in Palos Verdes, California, and turned professional in 1993. That year she won her first title in Switzerland, made the US Open fourth round, defeated Gabriela Sabatini in Philadelphia, and ended the season ranked No. 20.
In 1994 she entered the top 10 and finished second at the WTA Championships. After family difficulties in 1995, she rebuilt her fitness, won 1996 Atlanta Olympic gold, then took six 1997 titles, including Indian Wells. In 1998, four pre-US Open titles and deep major runs set up her rise.
Davenport’s first No. 1 ranking may resonate beyond tennis record books, offering young athletes a model of persistence, fitness work, and consistency. Fans and historians could view it as a reminder that rankings reward sustained excellence, not only major titles. For women’s sport, her achievement may have helped broaden attention toward American players in the late 1990s, though its social reach likely remained concentrated among tennis followers and aspiring competitors.