WTA Race Update: Lois Boisson's important rise, Zheng Qinwen and Paula Badosa's Finals spots are threatened

Once Wimbledon wrapped up, the transition to the hardcourt swing began, with a couple of clay-court tournaments finishing the European tour. The WTA Race to Riyadh updated with no changes at the top. Aryna Sabalenka remains the clear leader – despite not winning a Grand Slam – followed closely by the three major champions: Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, and Madison Keys.

A few final tournaments were held in Europe, including the Hamburg European Open and the Iasi Open, both WTA 250 events on clay courts, providing a small surface change before the start of the North American hardcourt swing. With new protagonists, Lois Boisson and Irina-Camelia Begu secured new titles and significant advances in the Race, with an eye on the year-end rankings.

The WTA Race only measures points earned in the 2025 season and will determine the year-end rankings for players on Tour. This is crucial for potential year-end financial prizes for the top-ranked players, as well as setting the stage for next season's starting rankings.

There are still four WTA 1000 tournaments ahead – two of them in the coming weeks at the Canadian Open and Cincinnati Open – and the US Open towards the end of August, distributing a significant portion of the remaining points for the season.

French player Lois Boisson won her first professional title at the Hamburg European Open, defeating Anna Bondar of Hungary. The 22-year-old was previously at No. 42 in the Race – largely thanks to her dazzling run to the semifinals at the French Open. However, she has now advanced 14 positions to No. 28 in the Race. The new French star is well-positioned to finish the year inside the Top 30, with virtually few points to defend for the rest of the year. If things continue at this pace, we'll see Boisson as a seeded player in major tournaments sooner rather than later, deepening her simply impressive ascent on Tour.

The other champion of the week was 34-year-old Romanian Irina Camelia Begu, who lifted the title on home soil at the Iasi Open. The veteran brought glory back to the locals, overcoming Swiss player Jil Teichmann to claim her 6th professional title and her first in three years, since winning the Palermo Ladies Open in 2022, also on clay courts.

Despite not competing this week, two players who have been in the spotlight throughout the season are starting to face complications in the Race, risking drops in the rankings in the coming weeks that could push them out of the qualification zone, despite Badosa being in the Top 10 for most of the year, and Zheng since early 2024.

Both players recently reported injuries and are watching their rivals close the gap. Zheng has a significant points defense in the coming weeks and is withdrawn from Canada and Cincinnati, in addition to being doubtful for the US Open after undergoing surgery. In Badosa's case, she's barely at No. 19 and will also be out for a few weeks, while doubts remain about whether she'll be in good form for Flushing Meadows. Both players will surely fall further in the rankings during their time out of competition, and when they return, they'll urgently need good results – for two players who seemed poised to fight for their spot in the WTA Finals until the very end of the season.

Nevertheless, the very top of the ranking remains unchanged. In fact, the Top 20 holds steady, even though some players managed to narrow the gap with their rivals. Currently, Aryna Sabalenka is the only one qualified for the WTA Finals with 7,395 points, while Iga Swiatek (5,983), Coco Gauff (4,609), and Madison Keys (4,105) are the pursuers. The three Grand Slam champions this year are virtually qualified – despite not yet passing the official Qualification Cut, as they simply need to stay in the Top 20 by year-end, thanks to their major title.

In recent seasons, the last qualifier for the WTA Finals has typically been around 3,500 to 3,700 points, meaning Mirra Andreeva (4,024) would virtually be qualified for the WTA Finals. With points still up for grabs, anything can happen, but she is in the best position right now.

The potential qualification zone is completed by Amanda Anisimova (3,453), Jessica Pegula (3,301), and Jasmine Paolini (2,736). The Italian is in the trickiest spot, with Elena Rybakina (2,537) and Elina Svitolina (2,371) hot on her heels and a very live chance of securing a spot in the qualification zone in the coming weeks. In fact, the Kazakhstani only needs a couple of wins this week to displace Paolini, who is not competing this week.

Hamburg European Open: Lois Boisson

Iasi Open: Irina-Camelia Begu

Hamburg European Open: Anna Bondar

Iasi Open: Jil Teichmann