WTA Rankings: Bencic surges, Krueger nabs career-high
Belinda Bencic is on the way back up the rankings, after sealing her ninth career title in Abu Dhabi over the weekend. See which other WTA players are on the rise in this week’s rankings
Not all the big names were in action this week on the WTA Tour, but there were plenty of big moves in the rankings. Scroll down as we look at the biggest movers and shakers from the week that was on the WTA Tour.
Bencic re-enters top-100 (+92)
Belinda Bencic gave birth to her baby girl Bella just 10 months ago, in April of last year. To say that the Swiss is thriving – and rising rapidly – since her return to the tour would be a dramatic understatement.
Bencic took the Abu Dhabi title over the weekend, completing a title run that included an eye-catching win over Elena Rybakina in the semi-finals. Additonally, she defeated former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova, Veronika Kudermeva and Rebecca Sramkova before rallying from a set down to take out American Ashlyn Krueger in the final.
Bencic clinches her ninth career title, and her first as a mother, and rises a whopping 92 spots in the rankings to No 65 (from 157). Just over three months ago, in early November, Bencic was just beginning her comeback and ranked 1213. Now the runway is clear for a move back into the top-20 and beyond for the 27-year-old former world No 4.
Krueger climbs to career-high No 40 (+11)
Add 20-year-old American Ashlyn Krueger to the list of young Americans who could be top-20 players in the not too distant future. The 6’1″ Texas native – they say everything is bigger in Texas – reached the final at Abu Dhabi and gave Bencic a run for her money while there. She rises from No 51 to No 40, a career-high.
Krueger, a Dallas, Texas native, is now the sixth highest-ranked American.
Teichmann back in top-100 (+17)
Jill Teichmann won the 125K title in Mumbai and the former world No 21 has climbed back inside the top-100 for the first time since June of 2023.
Bronzetti on the rise (+16)
Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti couldn’t get past Anastasia Potapova in Sunday’s Transylvania Open final, but the 26-year-old did climb back up near the top-50. She jumps from No 72 to No 56. By reaching her first final since 2023, the Italian is just 10 spots shy of her previous career-high.
Pegula back to top 5, Keys Career-high
Elena Rybakina dropped two spots to No 7, after failing to defend her title in Abu Dhabi. She was replaced by American Jessica Pegula, who jumped from No 6 to No 5. As a result, 2025 Australian Open jumps to a career-high of No 6.