WTA Race Update | Pegula and Svitolina storm into podium positions, as Swiatek drops outside top-10

The Middle East swing came to an end over the weekend with Jessica Pegula’s title at the final of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, and the WTA Race to Riyadh was updated with major movements in the top zone. The American climbed up to second place – only behind Elena Rybakina, while Aryna Sabalenka dropped to the fourth spot.

We are practically two months into the season and the constant movement at the top continues. The Ukrainian Elina Svitolina – runner-up in Dubai – was another who had reason to celebrate, climbing to third place and pushing Sabalenka further down.

There were also others who had to endure drops – led by Iga Swiatek, who now sits only at No. 11 in the WTA Race to the WTA Finals, as well as Belinda Bencic – two names who had started the season at the top of the Race, but week by week have lost consistency, this time losing their position inside the top-10.

Meanwhile, the Americans continue to shine, following the semifinals of Coco Gauff and Amanda Anisimova – who were outside the top-10 a week ago – in addition to Iva Jovic’s fourth round in Dubai – there are now four American players inside the top 10 of the Race 2026.

In the top zone, the ones who lost positions were the finalists of the WTA 1000 Qatar Open: Karolina Muchova – champion – and Victoria Mboko – runner-up. After starring in the final of the first WTA 1000 of the year just one week ago, they chose to skip Dubai in order to take proper rest after an exhausting week. Their absence in Doha cost them a couple of positions in the Race – displaced by the campaigns of Pegula and Svitolina – but they nevertheless remain inside the top-6 as they prepare for Indian Wells.

Also inside the top-10 stands the name of Mirra Andreeva (7th), one of the three teenagers leading the new wave (alongside Mboko and Jovic). The Russian was the defending champion in Dubai, but ended up eliminated in the quarterfinals.

She will have to regroup thinking about her upcoming title defense in Indian Wells, although the points she has accumulated in this 2026 show that her place among the best is not only because of the titles from a year ago, but that in 2026 she has already made her mark, highlighted by the title in Adelaide International and the fourth round at the Australian Open.

Outside the top-10 remains Iga Swiatek, another who opted to skip Dubai. The six-time Grand Slam champion was displaced by the trio of Americans (Gauff–Anisimova–Jovic) and may begin to look with concern at how she has lost prominence on Tour over the past year. The Pole will have an opportunity to bounce back in Indian Wells, where she will be one of the favourites as one of the former champions.

Further back stands Belinda Bencic, who started the year as the leader of the Race – thanks to her perfect campaign at the United Cup – but since the Australian Open has only added one tournament in Dubai, where she fell to eventual runner-up Svitolina, wasting a set advantage.

Also inside the top-15 are the 20-year-old Czech Sara Bejlek (champion in Abu Dhabi), the Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto (champion in Hobart Open and quarterfinalist in Qatar), as well as Sorana Cirstea (champion in Transylvania Open a few weeks ago).