WTA Rankings: Aryna Sabalenka’s healthy lead, Emma Navarro back at career high, Katie Boulter -12
There was no change in the top five of the WTA Rankings this week, with Aryna Sabalenka continuing to dominate at the summit, ahead of Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff. Meanwhile, it was a great week for American players Jessica Pegula, Emma Navarro, and McCartney Kessler, who all made significant gains, while British No. 1 Katie Boulter suffered a notable rankings drop.
Sabalenka’s Dominance at No. 1
Despite not playing last week, Aryna Sabalenka remains firmly in control at No. 1, with 9,076 points—holding a 1,091-point advantage over second-placed Iga Swiatek. With Indian Wells and Miami Open coming up, Sabalenka is in an excellent position to extend her lead further as she is defending less than 200 points from last year, while Swiatek is set to drop over 1,000 points.
The Belarusian has now spent 28 weeks at the top of the rankings and is on track to surpass Angelique Kerber’s 34-week reign, moving up to 15th on the all-time list for the most weeks at No. 1. If she continues her dominance, she could challenge for a spot in the top 10 longest-serving WTA No. 1s in the near future.
Navarro’s Rise and Pegula’s Steady Form
Two players who made headlines last week were Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro, both of whom won WTA 500 titles.
Pegula, currently ranked No. 4, won the ATX Open in Austin, Texas, beating McCartney Kessler in the final to claim her seventh WTA title. Although she remains in fourth place, she gained valuable ranking points that could help her challenge Elena Rybakina for the No. 3 spot.
Emma Navarro, one of the fastest-rising American stars, won the Merida Open, securing her second WTA title. Her victory saw her climb three places to No. 14, equaling her career-high ranking. If she continues her strong form, she could break into the top 10 by the end of the Sunshine Double.
McCartney Kessler Hits Career-High Ranking
Another big mover in the rankings was McCartney Kessler, who reached her first WTA final at the ATX Open. Although she lost to Pegula, she climbed eight places to No. 48, just one spot below her career-best ranking. The 24-year-old American has shown great potential and will look to continue her momentum in the upcoming tournaments.
Katie Boulter’s Rankings Setback
While it was a positive week for American players, Katie Boulter suffered a significant rankings setback, dropping 12 places to No. 53. The British No. 1 was unable to defend points from last season, causing her to fall outside the top 50. She will be hoping for a strong showing in Indian Wells and Miami to climb back up the rankings and re-establish herself as a top-50 player.
Top 20 Movers and Shakers
Apart from the changes in the top 15, there were a few notable shifts in the top 20:
Elena Rybakina remains at No. 4, just 117 points behind Pegula.
Marketa Vondrousova holds firm at No. 6 despite not playing last week.
Jelena Ostapenko moved up to No. 9, overtaking Maria Sakkari, who slipped to No. 10.
Upcoming Battles at Indian Wells and Miami
With the Sunshine Double approaching, the next few weeks could bring major ranking shifts. Indian Wells (starting 5 March) and Miami (starting 19 March) are two of the most prestigious WTA 1000 events outside the Grand Slams, and top players will be looking to gain crucial points.
Swiatek, who won both tournaments in 2022, has a lot of points to defend, meaning her No. 2 spot could be under threat. Meanwhile, Sabalenka, Pegula, and Gauff will be aiming to capitalize on Swiatek’s points drop and close the gap at the top.
With top players returning to action and rising stars making their mark, the WTA rankings race is heating up, promising an exciting month of high-stakes tennis on the American hard courts.