WTA Rankings 2026: Path to World No. 1

Women’s tennis faces an exciting season, with the duopoly between Aryna Sabalenka e Iga Swiatek firmly threatened by many other players who have already tasted the honeys of sporadic glory and who have reasons to think that they can maintain the regularity pulse of the two best in the world. Will there be more than two candidates for number 1 in the WTA ranking in 2026?

Four different Grand Slam champions in 2025, various protagonists in WTA 1000 events, young promises on the rise, talents of undoubted category achieving success, but in the end, Aryna Sabalenka e Iga Swiatek They remain established in the first two positions of the ranking WTA. The Belarusian starts 2026 as number 1but knowing that he will have to fight as hard as he can if he wants to maintain that privileged position for many weeks.

Sabalenka and Swiatek could see their dominance in the WTA rankings threatened by several rising tennis players

And there are reasons to think that the struggle could expand. The way in which Elena Rybakina the season ended and the constant improvement of a Cori Gauff whose new service mechanics can lead to a leap in quality in their tennis, suggest that both can achieve that degree of regularity that, until now, is elusive for anyone not named Iga or Aryna. Furthermore, we must take into account the evident upward trend of Amanda Anisimovawhose consolidation among the best in 2025 was astonishing, and the young Mirra Andreevawhich will be presented in the new year with renewed enthusiasm and ambition after the hard lessons learned last year.

We must never ignore what other members of the top-10 like Pegula, Paolini or Keys can do, although if there is a woman who could completely revolutionize the circuit, it is Naomi Osaka. The Japanese gave unequivocal signs of slowly rediscovering her best version and starting from 16th place in the rankings, she will seek to be a protagonist in major tournaments and threaten the dominance of Swiatek and Sabalenka. Another candidate for a big leap in level could be Emma Raducanuand even the very young Iva Jovicalthough as real alternatives to number 1, you can barely count on the fingers of one hand the women who are.

will begin Aryna Sabalenka the season with a substantial advantage over Iga Swiatek in it ranking WTAspecifically 2,312 points. It is true that she defends 1,800 points in the first two events of the year, while the Pole barely defends 1,005, so she has room to close the gap. The following months of the season, with special attention to clay, could be decisive in seeing a replacement at the top of the ranking WTA. In short, a very interesting year with many unknowns to be resolved in the fight for the number 1.

This is the WTA ranking before the start of the season in 2026