WTA Race Update: Ostapenko Ties Rybakina In Top Spot While Swiatek Drops To Third

With just two weeks into the new season gone, the WTA Race doesn't quite have its usual look, but two women have already set the pace.

Those are Elena Rybakina and Jelena Ostapenko, who are tied in the top spot with 678 points after both progressed into the second round of the Australian Open. The bulk of their points came from winning a WTA 500 title.

Rybakina was champion in Brisbane from the opening week of the season, while the Latvian won in Adelaide this past week, defeating Daria Kasatkina. The Russian, however, sits a high of fourth in the race despite coming up short in the final.

Iga Swiatek, who is undefeated in 16 singles matches dating back to last year's China Open, is third in the race with 570 points. The Polish star topped last year's race in the final week to emerge as the year-end No. 1 for the second year in a row.

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Swiatek will have the chance to strengthen her grip on this year's WTA race by winning her first Australian Open title. She is the odds-favorite to do so and laid down a marker in her opening match by beating former champion Sofia Kenin in straight sets.

USA's rising star Emma Navarro became a WTA champion for the first time at the Hobart International and sits in fifth spot in the race ahead of World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka, who is in a low of sixth. Coco Gauff occupies the seventh spot, but compatriot Jessica Pegula is down in 11th after withdrawing from Adelaide due to illness.

The WTA race will determine not just the woman who will finish 2024 as the year-end No. 1 but also the eight qualifying players for the WTA Finals, who will have a new home this season. The race is expected to look completely different by the end of the Australian Open fortnight.

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2024 WTA Race as of January 15th, 2024: