Swiatek Stays World No. 1 As Zheng Breaks Into Top 10 In Latest WTA Rankings

| by Nurein Ahmed

Iga Swiate is still the world no. 1 in the latest WTA Rankings after the conclusion of the 2024 Australian Open.

As always, the rankings are published immediately after the tournament following a two-week hiatus. Iga Swiatek keeps her spot as the world's top-ranked player, but the Polish star endured a disappointing adventure in Melbourne after losing in the third round of the tournament.

Swiatek has 9,770 points but faces a tough challenge to remain in her perch next month. After being crowned Australian Open champion for the second year in a row, Aryna Sabalenka is edging closer to replacing Swiatek as World No. 1 again.

Sabalenka is 865 points behind the Pole, but both players are projected to have the same number of points in the five-week rankings forecast. This means whoever accumulates the most points in February will be the World No. 1 at the end of next month.

Australian Open Champion Sabalenka Leads 2024 WTA Prize Money List
Australian Open Champion Sabalenka Leads 2024 WTA Prize Money List

Coco Gauff improved her ranking to become World No. 3, but last year's finalist, Elena Rybakina, dropped to fifth after a shocking defeat in a record-breaking second-round match in Melbourne. Jessica Pegula, who also had a poor showing in Australia, rises to fourth.

There is a new entrant in the world's Top 10, and her name is Qinwen Zheng. The 21-year-old from Shiyan, China, fell short of emulating her idol and compatriot Li Na on the 10th anniversary of her 2014 Australian Open triumph.

Sabalenka overpowered Zheng in her first taste of a Grand Slam final, but that run has enabled her to break into the elite level of women's tennis. Zheng rises to the 7th spot. The player to move out from the Top 10 is Jelena Ostapenko.

Elina Svitolina has rejoined the Top 20, but her Australian Open campaign ended in retirement due to a back injury. 22-year-old American Emma Navarro rose to a career-high ranking of No. 23 after winning 10 of her 12 matches in New Zealand and Australia.

Dayana Yastremska was on the verge of becoming the second qualifier in tennis history to win a Grand Slam until her majestic run ended in the semifinal stage. But she leaves Melbourne with her ranking firmly on an upward trajectory.

Yastremska re-enters the Top 30. At the same time, Linda Noskova, who authored the biggest upset in the women's tournament by beating Iga Swiatek, makes her Top 30 debut. Victoria Azarenka drops to a low of 33 for failing to defend semifinal points from last year's Australian Open.

Who Were The Most Fined Players At 2024 Australian Open Sharing $76,000 In Fines
Who Were The Most Fined Players At 2024 Australian Open Sharing $76,000 In Fines

Russian prodigy Mirra Andreeva is now the youngest player in the world's Top 40 after reaching a career-best ranking of World No. 35 following her first appearance at the Australian Open senior tournament.

Compatriot Anna Kalinskaya joined her in that category at No. 38 after reaching her first Grand Slam quarterfinal in Melbourne. Another player standing at a career-high ranking is Poland's Magdalena Frech, who climbed 18 spots to 51st in the standings.

However, fellow Pole Magda Linette cascaded significantly in the latest rankings, dropping 32 places after retiring from her first-round match at the Australian Open. Linette was a semifinalist at last year's event, meaning she forfeited many ranking points.

But the biggest underachiever in the Top 100 is Karolina Pliskova, who fell 39 places to a low of World No. 77. Pliskova was unfortunate to draw Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in the first round, meaning she couldn't defend her quarterfinal points from last year after losing right out of the gate.

Russia's Maria Timofeeva makes her Top 100 debut after winning six matches - three from qualifying - during her terrific run to the fourth round of the Australian Open. You can track the movements of all your favorite WTA players by visiting our dedicated rankings page.

How Much Did Sabalenka & Sinner Earn Per Minute With Equal Prize Money At Australian Open
How Much Did Sabalenka & Sinner Earn Per Minute With Equal Prize Money At Australian Open

Read the full article

Just in

Look at more articles