WTA Race Update: Mirra Andreeva moves into top four as Marta Kostyuk enters the fray after Madrid Open title

Another WTA 1000 tournament has come and gone in fine fashion. With a lot of the big names failing to make it past the early stages, it really was an event for the lower ranked players to get some points on the board. Some have even got themselves in contention in the WTA Race to Riyadh.

Champion Marta Kostyuk was the big winner over the prior two weeks. Her tremendous title sealed against Mirra Andreeva at Caja Magica was a continuation of her good form and sees her rise, along with the Russian as well. Others solidify their position in the top eight, while other notable names continue to struggle.

If Aryna Sabalenka had taken one of her six match points against Hailey Baptiste, then she would be top of the pile. That was not the case, and Elena Rybakina continues to reign supreme in first after her last-16 exit. The pair are skyrocketing clear of the rest of the field despite not getting the usual amount of points fans expect from the top two players in the world.

In fact, it was a slow week for many of the favourites in Madrid. Jessica Pegula fell to Kostyuk in the early stages for a first exit before the quarterfinals since the Cincinnati Open back in August. Nevertheless, she comfortably retains her position in third, but the gap behind has closed.

A final run for Andreeva has boosted her chance of featuring in Riyadh no ends. A dreadful end to the 2025 season cruelly robbed her of the chance of a shot of glory in the WTA Finals. Up two places into fourth, she will be pleased with her progress with the ambition to continue in the rich vein of form she has enjoyed on clay.

An early exit for Elina Svitolina and a no-show by Karolina Muchova bumped them down a spot, although still comfortably in fifth and sixth. Victoria Mboko also departed at the first hurdle. A fast start to the campaign keeps her in seventh but the threat from behind is increasing. The same could be said for Coco Gauff. She also has added pressure to defend a large number of points from her triumphant clay swing return last year, while looking behind her back in both rankings as new challengers emerge.

A maiden WTA 1000 title has firmly placed the Ukrainian within a shout of debuting in the WTA Finals. It is still a long shot at this stage with a lot of tennis yet to be played and some of the big guns not all firing on all cylinders, but progress has been made. A third final in 2026 rises her from 22nd to ninth. Still unbeaten on clay this season, the next update could see her in the top eight if Rome goes to plan.

Belinda Bencic caps off the top 10, with the 2023 champion Iga Swiatek floundering in 11th. A virus halted her charge in Madrid with her woeful 2026 season prolonging. No real signs of improvement under new coach Francisco Roig as of yet have left her adrift of the top eight. Panic stations will not be alarming yet for the Pole, but the longer this continues the more concern there will be.

Her and Iva Jovic both leapfrogged Amanda Anisimova, despite the early exits. The two-time Grand Slam finalist has seen a drop off in her level on the court. This has not been turned around on clay vastly due to injuries keeping her off the dirt. Rome cannot come soon enough with Roland Garros another chance to get some much needed points on the board.

A quarterfinal for Linda Noskova does absolutely nothing to her position in 14th, while the inform Hailey Baptiste climbs from 26th to 16th thanks to a semi-final showing. Right behind is the other semi-finalist, Anastasia Potapova. Despite not even qualifying for the tournament, her eye-catching run launches her up a whopping 15 position to 17th.

2025 Australian Open champion Madison Keys drops out of the top 20 with Jasmine Paolini also struggling to find form. The reigning Rome champion could plummet in the WTA rankings if she is not careful and has a lot of ground to make up if she is going to make it to a third consecutive WTA Finals.

(as per livetennis.eu)