Coco Gauff enjoyed a relatively long stint in the Top 5 on the WTA Tour, but that will come to an end immediately after the 2024 US Open.
The young American player first broke into the Top 5 in the WTA Rankings in October 2022, following quarter-final appearances at the Canadian Open, the US Open, and the Guadalajara Open.
However, she almost immediately exited the elite five on the WTA Tour, just to find herself back in it for a very brief period in May 2023. Soon after that, Gauff had the best period of her tennis career.
She won the Citi Open in Washington, won the Cincinnati Open, and she also lifted her maiden major trophy at the US Open, which catapulted her all the way up to third place in the WTA Rankings in September 2023.
For a brief period this year, it looked like she could be the top favorite to become the World No. 1 player in singles, but it soon became apparent that her form wasn't good enough to achieve that feat, but she reached the World No. 2 rank in the process.
The fight for a World No. 1 spot soon changed into a fight for remaining in the Top 2, which she recently lost, as Aryna Sabalenka overtook her for the No. 2 spot.
Entering the 2024 US Open, Gauff knew that also her World No. 3 position would be under threat, as she had the most points to defend out of all players, considering she was the defending champion.
Elena Rybakina was the closest player behind her, and after she withdrew from the tournament, it seemed that Gauff's chances of retaining her ranking received a significant boost.
However, the 20-year-old lost in the fourth round of the tournament. That, combined with the results of some of her rivals, meant that she won't appear in the Top 5 of the WTA Rankings on Monday, September 9, 2024.
It will end a year-long period that the American spent in the Top 5. On top of that, she could drop even further. Currently, Gauff is set to be ranked sixth at best after the US Open. Ahead of her will be the undisputed World No. 1, Iga Swiatek, who will have at least 10,695 points to her name.
Aryna Sabalenka almost secured her World No. 2 spot, with 6,956 points currently next to her name, but Jasmine Paolini's title run could still send her down the rankings. The Italian player is currently fourth in the live rankings with 5,398 points, right behind Rybakina, who won't add to her 5,871 points.
Jessica Pegula can improve to third position with the run to the final, but she is behind Paolini at the moment, in fifth, with 5,160 points secure. Behind all of these players is Gauff, who will have 4,983 points after the 2024 US Open.
Currently, there are only two players who could threaten that total, and both of them would need to win the title to overtake the American player and send her to the seventh position. Qinwen Zheng is one of them, and Emma Navarro, who is the player that bested Gauff in the fourth round, is the other player that could do it.
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