Aryna Sabalenka passes Martina Hingis with latest achievement on the WTA Tour

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Aryna Sabalenka is back on the court this week, heading into the Italian Open in Rome as the world number one and top seed.

She’s been given a bye into the second round of the WTA 1000 tournament, where she’ll take on either Barbora Krejcikova or Elsa Jacquemot in her opener.

Sabalenka comes into the event after a surprising loss to Hailey Baptiste, who came from behind to win their Madrid Open quarter-final 2-6, 6-2, 7-6(8-6).

But with another WTA 1000 event now underway, she has an immediate chance to respond — and does so having just hit a major rankings milestone.

Sabalenka moves ahead of Martina Hingis in WTA number one streaks

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Sabalenka remains world number one following the Madrid Open, and she is now set to spend her 81st and 82nd successive weeks in that position during the Italian Open.

That keeps her in 10th place for the longest consecutive runs at the top since the WTA rankings began in 1975.

She has already passed a few big names. Martina Hingis held onto number one for 80 weeks from 1997 to 1998, which Sabalenka has now surpassed.

The next milestone is Steffi Graf’s run of 87 weeks between 1993 and 1995. Graf also shares the record for most consecutive weeks at number one with Serena Williams, both spending an incredible 186 weeks at the top—Graf from 1987 to 1991, and Williams from 2013 to 2016.

Aryna Sabalenka’s Italian Open draw looks challenging

Sabalenka has had a remarkable stretch, and she goes into Rome knowing her spot at the top of the rankings isn’t under immediate threat.

That could change by the time the French Open rolls around, though, with Elena Rybakina closing in.