WTA Rankings Update: Sabalenka asserts position at the top, Gauff rises back above Anisimova while Bencic returns to top 10

After the first week of competition in the 2026 tennis campaign, there have been some movement across the WTA Rankings with the best tennis players in the world looking to rise up the order.

Tournaments held in Brisbane and Auckland were capitalised by numerous players, while the United Cup brought out the best in everyone while competing for their country. This event offered ranking points out as well, with a vast variety of options to choose to commence their season.

There is a return to the top three tennis fans have had locked in their minds over the prior few years. Right at the top, the extra 500 points for defending her title in the Brisbane International sees Aryna Sabalenka remain firmly on top with 10.990 points. A long way back in second is Iga Swiatek, who took home the United Cup trophy on top of some points to finish her with 8.328 for the week.

There has been some movement behind, with Coco Gauff making a swift return ahead of Amanda Anisimova in the top three. Both players gained more ranking points, but an early exit in Brisbane meant Anisimova was only able to climb to 6,320 while Gauff stormed ahead with 6,423 ranking points.

Elena Rybakina (5,850) and Jessica Pegula (5,453) remain where they last stood, but Jasmine Paolini and Mirra Andreeva have both been bumped up a place into seventh and eighth respectively with Madison Keys losing out. The American has a lot of points to defend this month, and is already feeling that sinking feeling with 4,003 points. While she is firmly in the top 10, that may not last for long with a rampant Belinda Bencic continuing from her incredible rise last year to climb into the top 10, making a return. She leapfrogged Ekaterina Alexandrova into 10th after a heroic United Cup showing for Switzerland.

There are some slight changes from 11-20th. ASB Classic champion Elina Svitolina rises a place into 12th while Victoria Mboko moves into a new career-high of 17th in the world. Linda Noskova and Ludmilla Samsonova are the ones to drop down.

The biggest move so far comes with Marta Kostyuk cannoning up six places to emerge back into the top 20th, right on the cusp in 20th. Her final appearance in Brisbane sees her start the week with 1,983 ranking points. The likes of Diana Shnaider and Elise Mertens have dropped two places due to movements like this one.

It is a new career-high for both Iva Jovic. The 18-year-old is not only making her top 32 debut, but her first appearance in the top 30 after an impressive showing in Auckland. She rose five places and is perched 30th with 1,520 points while fellow talented youngster Maya Joint makes a return to the top 32.

McCartney Kessler is one of the biggest losers. She drops six places down to world number 37 with the Hobart International title firmly on her mind as the reigning champion.

Aside from Kostyuk and Jovic, the biggest winner has to go to the semi-finalist in New Zealand Xinyu Wang. She is now on 1,194 which propels her up 13 places into world number 43. While this is not a career-high, Alexandra Eala in 49th is breaking new ground after she was defeated by the Chinese woman in Auckland.

Two-time Grand Slam champion Barbora Krejcikova has been bumped up eight places to 55th as she looks to get back to where she belongs in the rankings. In contrast, the biggest loser dropped down 12 places in the top 100. This was Ashlyn Kruger who has been unable to defend a brace of quarter-finals from last year after being unable to qualify for the Adelaide International. From being in the top 50, she is now outside the top 60 in 61st with 1,026 points.