Zheng Qinwen New No. 1? The ranking that places her above Sabalenka and Swiatek

Sunday, 24 November 2024 at 11:10

Aryna Sabalenka concluded a dream season as the leader of the official WTA rankings, securing two Grand Slam titles. The Belarusian surpassed Iga Swiatek just weeks before the season’s end, dethroning her after a 50-week reign at the top.

Sabalenka claimed the Australian Open and US Open titles, along with two WTA 1000 events. Meanwhile, Swiatek secured her fourth French Open title and four WTA 1000 titles. However, neither player reached the final of the WTA Finals, where Coco Gauff triumphed in a thrilling third-set tiebreak against Zheng Qinwen.

The 22-year-old Chinese star had a standout season, breaking into the top 10 for the first time after reaching the Australian Open final. She later captured Olympic gold in Paris 2024, defeating Swiatek in the semifinals—a monumental win over the four-time French Open champion.

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Zheng’s late-season surge included a title at the Palermo Open, semifinals at the China Open, and runner-up finishes at the Wuhan Open and the WTA Finals. These achievements placed her at World No. 5 in the official WTA rankings. However, she currently tops the UTR (Universal Tennis Rating) alternative ranking.

Unlike the WTA rankings, which consider points accumulated over the past 52 weeks, the UTR places greater emphasis on a player’s recent form and the calibre of their opponents. This means that the ranking doesn’t just reflect tournament progress but also who the player defeated along the way, offering a potentially more accurate snapshot of current performance levels.

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In the UTR system, all players are rated on a scale from 1.00 to 16.50 based on individual match results. Zheng Qinwen leads the UTR rankings, followed by Coco Gauff. The top five is rounded out by Iga Swiatek (3rd), Aryna Sabalenka (4th), and Elena Rybakina. Surprising entries include Paula Badosa in 6th and Karolina Muchova in 7th. Below, find the current top players in the UTR rankings.

Women's UTR Ranking

Rankings	Name	Country	3 Mo. Trend	UTR
1	Zheng Qinwen	CHN	12.97	12.95
2	Coco Gauff	USA	13.04	12.95
3	Iga Swiatek	POL	12.89	12.93
4	Aryna Sabalenka	BLR	13.01	12.93
5	Elena Rybakina	KAZ	12.89	12.91
6	Paula Badosa	ESP	12.83	12.86
7	Karolina Muchova	CZE	12.93	12.82
8	Emma Navarro	USA	12.81	12.78
9	Jessica Pegula	USA	12.73	12.78
10	Mirra Andreeva	RUS	12.78	12.77
11	Madison Keys	USA	12.74	12.75
12	Naomi Osaka	JPN	12.84	12.71
13	Victoria Azarenka	BLR	12.59	12.71
14	Jasmine Paolini	ITA	12.62	12.68
15	Yulia Putintseva	KAZ	12.62	12.68
16	Amanda Anisimova	USA	12.65	12.66
17	Danielle Collins	USA	12.28	12.66
18	Daria Kasatkina	RUS	12.58	12.61
19	Elina Svitolina	UKR	12.51	12.60
20	Marketa Vondrousova	CZE	-	12.59
21	Maria Sakkari	GRE	-	12.58
22	Beatriz Haddad Maia	BRA	12.62	12.58
23	Diana Shnaider	RUS	12.60	12.58
24	Katie Boulter	GBR	12.60	12.57
25	Emma Raducanu	GBR	12.55	12.57
26	Leylah Fernandez	CAN	12.50	12.55
27	Donna Vekic	CRO	12.61	12.54
28	Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova	RUS	12.56	12.53
29	Marta Kostyuk	UKR	12.50	12.50
30	Caroline Wozniacki	DEN	12.57	12.50
31	Ons Jabeur	TUN	-	12.47
32	Olga Danilovic	SRB	12.50	12.46
33	Anna Kalinskaya	RUS	12.34	12.43
34	Liudmila Samsonova	RUS	12.28	12.43
35	Peyton Stearns	USA	12.50	12.42
36	Taylor Townsend	USA	12.31	12.39
37	Katerina Siniakova	CZE	12.40	12.38
38	Elise Mertens	BEL	12.36	12.37
39	Anastasia Potapova	RUS	12.34	12.36
40	Linda Noskova	CZE	12.53	12.36

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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