WTA Ranking Update: Mirra Andreeva and Victoria Mboko make gains while Jovic keeps climbing

The WTA Rankings were updated alongside the start of the Australian Open – following another week of competition in the Aussie Swing, with the final tournaments ahead of the first Grand Slam of the year. At the WTA 500 Adelaide International, the teenage final between Mirra Andreeva and Victoria Mboko stole the spotlight, in a tournament that generated several movements in the rankings.

Both players achieved a one-position rise in the WTA Rankings: Andreeva now moves into No. 7 – pushing Jasmine Paolini down – while Mboko reached the best ranking of her career as world No. 16, displacing four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka by one spot.

Meanwhile, at the WTA 250 Hobart International, Elisabetta Cocciaretto pulled off a surprise by defeating Iva Jovic in the final. The Italian climbed more than 20 positions in the rankings – hovering around the top 50 – while Jovic, at just 18 years old, has already reached world No. 27, a rise of three places.

What happened at the WTA 500 Adelaide was likely where most of the attention was focused, as it was the second WTA 500 of the season and featured a high-profile final between teenagers Mirra Andreeva and Victoria Mboko. The Russian won comfortably in straight sets, 6–3, 6–1 (after dropping the first three games of the match), while the Canadian had to settle for a runner-up finish, losing a final for the first time after her 2025 titles at the Canadian Open and Hong Kong.

For Andreeva, the victory meant 500 points that lifted her to No. 7, which will be vital in the coming weeks, considering that after Australia she will need to defend her two WTA 1000 titles in Dubai and Indian Wells. The Russian needs a strong campaign in Australia if she wants to begin safeguarding her place in the top 10 in advance.

Meanwhile, for Mboko the result brought important points at a time of the year when she is practically not defending any. For the Canadian, it seems only a matter of time before she reaches the top 10, with roughly six months ahead in which she is virtually not defending points, and a few wins in key tournaments would easily allow her to climb further. After advancing to another round at the Australian Open, she has already secured an additional rise of several more ranking positions.

Another player who capitalised on her strong run was Diana Shnaider – who reached the semifinals and moved up one position – as well as Kimberly Birrell, the surprise of the semifinals, who climbed more than 30 places to settle at No. 76.

In the top 10, things remain as they have been in recent weeks, with the upper tier dominated by Aryna Sabalenka (10,990), well ahead of Iga Swiatek (8,328). Regardless of what happens at the Australian Open, the Belarusian is guaranteed to remain at No. 1 for at least a few more weeks.

They are followed by Coco Gauff (6,423) and Amanda Anisimova (6,320) – both locked in a tight battle to finish as the American No. 1 – rounding out the top four, with Elena Rybakina (5,850) completing the top five. Further back are Jessica Pegula (5,453), Andreeva (4,731), Paolini (4,267), Madison Keys (4,111) and Belinda Bencic (3,512) – the latest addition to the top 10, and all signs suggest she will remain there after the tournament, following the early elimination of Ekaterina Alexandrova.

A fairly open draw unfolded at the Hobart International, with no major favourites, and it concluded with a final between 18-year-old Iva Jovic and 24-year-old Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto – who came through qualifying and ended up lifting the title, becoming the biggest surprise of the week after winning in straight sets.

The Italian climbed from No. 80 to No. 56, undoubtedly a strong start to the season for a player who had been inside the top 30 just two years ago.

On the other hand, Jovic suffered disappointment after being defeated in the final – where she had entered as the favourite, at least in ranking terms. However, inexperience may have played a role in her loss, although she still received a solid boost of points that allowed her to climb three positions to No. 27.

The semifinalists also enjoyed a significant ranking boost. Australian 20-year-old Taylah Preston celebrated a rise of more than 40 positions in the rankings, placing her at world No. 161 – back inside the top 200. Combined with her recent win on debut at the Australian Open, the Australian is experiencing one of the biggest ranking surges on the Tour at the start of the year and has already secured her return to the top 150.

Less dramatic was the case of Antonia Ruzic, another semifinalist, who climbed six positions and now sits at No. 65 – her best career ranking so far, although her early elimination in Melbourne will cause her to drop a couple of positions once the Happy Slam concludes.