WTA Rankings: Rapidly rising Andreeva hits new career high, Swiatek loses ground

Mirra Andreeva, the freshly-crowned Queen of the desert, has broken back into the top 10 for just the second time in her career, surging up five places to sit at a new career high of sixth in the WTA rankings.

Prior to Dubai, the teenage Russian sat 14th in the world. But having won her two maiden 1000-level titles back-to-back with her exploits in the Middle East followed by her stunning run to the title in Indian Wells, Andreeva has powered her way up eight places and is now knocking on the door of the top 5.

Meanwhile, world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka has opened up a massive gap between herself and second-placed Iga Swiatek. As defending champion, the Pole’s semi-final exit came with an expensive loss of 610 ranking points. Sabalenka, on the other hand, improved on a disappointing third-round finish in 2024 to return to the final in Indian Wells. As such, she earned 530 points, meaning a huge 1140 point gulf opening up between the top two over the past fortnight.

bencic’s remarkable comeback continues with another ranking surge

A relatively early exit for Coco Gauff at the hands of Belinda Bencic also meant dropped points for the American, but she held steady at third in the world despite fourth-placed Jessica Pegula gaining ground on her compatriot.

Bencic, in the midst of an immensely impressive return to action having given birth to her daughter last April, continued her consistent march back up the WTA rankings. After another fine showing in Indian Wells, the Swiss jumped 20 places to move back into the world’s top 50 and sit at No 45.

Just one place below Bencic is the top 100’s third biggest mover of the week. 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin leaps 27 places up to 46th after a productive Middle East swing and a third-round finish in California.

Colombian talent Emiliana Arango deserves a special mention. The 24-year-old is by far the biggest mover in the top 100, leaping a massive 54 places sit at 79th in the world.

Maria Sakkari, on the other hand, pays the price for an early Indian Wells exit, having reached the final last season. The Greek drops a damaging 22 places to sit outside the top 50 at 51st in the world.

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova is another to suffer a rankings dip, also plummeting 22 places having missed this year’s tournament, while 2021 Indian Wells champion Paula Badosa – another to have missed the tournament due to injury – drops out of the top 10 to sit at 11th in the world.

There will be the potential for plenty more movement over the coming fortnight as the WTA now turns its attention to the second instalment of the prestigious ‘Sunshine Double’ in Miami, with another 1000 points on offer for the champion.

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