WTA Race Update: Aryna Sabalenka strengthens grip, Coco Gauff returns to the top-10

The WTA Race to Riyadh was updated this Monday after the Madrid Open, with Aryna Sabalenka increasing her distance from her pursuers. Tournament finalist Coco Gauff advanced 6 positions and is one of the two new additions to the top-10.

Unlike the official WTA Rankings, the Race only takes into account points earned during the 2025 calendar year. The top eight players by season’s end will qualify for the prestigious WTA Finals in Riyadh.

It is no longer news that Sabalenka (4,915 points) remains at the top, and she is assured of staying in that position for several weeks, at least until the end of Roland Garros. The 3-time Grand Slam champion claimed her 8th WTA 1000 crown and third in Madrid after defeating Coco Gauff in the final 6-3, 7-6(3).

Further behind are Madison Keys (3,284) and Mirra Andreeva (2,840), both quarterfinalists in Madrid, carrying their consistency on hardcourts from the early months of the year to the clay swing. Keys, champion at the Australian Open at the start of the year, could not overcome Swiatek and fell in the Round of 8, although she maintains a great 23-5 record for the season.

Similar was the case for the teenager Andreeva, who advanced to the quarterfinals and fell to the eventual finalist Gauff. Like Keys, the Russian earned 215 points for reaching the quarterfinals and remains strong in third place, although with Swiatek breathing down her neck, less than 30 points behind.

Swiatek's (2,840) hesitant present does not negate that she has been one of the best of the year. The 5-time Grand Slam champion fell for the fourth time this season in the semifinals of a tournament, overwhelmed by Gauff 1-6, 1-6 in the semifinals. In any case, she added 390 points, which allowed her to close the gap with Andreeva. For the moment, the clay swing has not brought the expected results for the Pole, who has not reached a final since Roland Garros 2024, and who hopes in the Rome Open - where she defends the title - to begin to leave behind the doubts about her level.

Completing the top-5 is American Jessica Pegula (2,483), owner of three titles this season and finalist at the Miami Open. The 31-year-old barely reached the third round in Madrid – being surprised by Moyuka Uchijima – but the good point advantage she had obtained in previous months allowed her to maintain the same 5th position in the Race.

Without a doubt, Gauff was one of the big winners of the week, not only for returning to a final but also for a convincing level heading into the rest of the clay swing. The American also added 650 points, which returned her to the top-3 of the ranking and put her back in the top-10 of the Race after a couple of months. The 21-year-old advanced 6 positions and accumulated 1,948 points, still almost 500 points from the top-5.

The always consistent Elina Svitolina was another who can draw good conclusions, advancing 9 positions in the WTA Race and placing 7th. She reached the semifinals, defeating Elena Rybakina and Maria Sakkari along the way, but could not take advantage of her opportunities against No. 1 Sabalenka and fell just short of reaching the final in Madrid. The 390 points are more than welcome for the Ukrainian, who places herself in qualifying positions for a potential WTA Finals.

Completing the top-10 are Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova (1,501) – eliminated in the round of 16 – and Americans Emma Navarro (1,477) and Amanda Anisimova (1,470). Both Americans suffered early defeats, Navarro reaching the Round of 32 and Anisimova falling in the debut. In any case, the good performances of the previous months keep them in the top-10, closely following the qualifying options for a potential Finals.