Iga Swiatek has not struck a ball since a shock third-round defeat at the Australian Open but has maintained a firm grip on the World No. 1 ranking.
Swiatek was under pressure heading to the Middle East swing from Aryna Sabalenka. Predictably, following the Belarusian's successful title defense at the Australian Open, the World No. 1 ranking was on the line this month. However, Sabalenka withdrew from this week's Qatar Open.
That means the Pole, with 9,770 points, will remain on her perch at tournaments in Doha and Dubai, irrespective of her results. Coco Gauff remained in third and, like Swiatek, will play her first tournament since Melbourne in Qatar's capital.
Elena Rybakina surpassed Jessica Pegula and took the fourth spot after winning her second title of 2024 in Abu Dhabi. The American won't be able to improve her ranking this month after pulling out from the two WTA 1000 tournaments.
There are no new entrants into the world's Top 10. Therefore, Jelena Ostapenko will have to settle for 11th place, although she remains certain of entering that group by the end of the week, with World No. 10 Karolina Muchova confirming her absence in Doha.
Czech teenager Linda Noskova motors to a career-high ranking of World No. 28, but Anastasia Potapova drops seven spots to a low of 34. Belinda Bencic faces a huge rankings dip in the next few months. She dropped to World No. 36 and is unlikely to play anytime soon due to pregnancy.
Romania's Ana Bogdan was a finalist at her home tournament in Cluj-Napoca and rose 11 spots to 54th, while the champion of the Transylvania Open, Karolina Pliskova, rejoined the Top 60 (up to 59th). Danielle Collins (63rd) and Cristina Bucsa (66th) both cracked the Top 70.
Harriet Dart re-entered the Top 100 (92nd) after qualifying at the WTA 250 event in Cluj-Napoca this past week and reached her first-ever tour-level semifinal at the age of 27. You can check all the movements by visiting our dedicated rankings page.
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