WTA rankings update: Elena Rybakina reaches career-high, Coco Gauff drops out of top-5, Iga Swiatek stays on top
Italian Open 2023 champion Elena Rybakina has reached a new career high while Coco Gauff has dropped out of the Iga Swiatek-led WTA rankings, which were updated on Monday.
Rybakina, who has been a on steady rise up the rankings ladder, was bolstered by another stellar week. She raced to a second trophy of the season and a second at the WTA 1000 level in Rome on Sunday.
The Kazakh fought past a competitive roster en route to lifting the Italian Open trophy. She took out the likes of Iga Swiatek (quarterfinal) and Anhelina Kalinina (final), albeit via retirements, and also got the better of Jelena Ostapenko in the semis.
The win is particularly significant for Rybakina, who hadn't had a big result on clay until last week.
Elena Rybakina's victory saw her rise up to No. 4 with 5,090 ranking points, racing past Caroline Garcia and Coco Gauff who sit at 5,025 and 4,305 points respectively.
Despite failing to defend her title in Rome, Iga Swiatek continues to hold her grip over the top spot with 8,940 points. But she faces a tough task ahead, needing to defend another 2,000 ranking points at the French Open.
Coco Gauff, meanwhile, found herself dropping out of the top 5 after failing to put up a strong showing at the Italian Open. She lost in the second round to Marie Bouzkova.
Much like Swiatek, the American risks dropping a bunch of ranking points at the upcoming French Open. A first-round exit in Paris will have Gauff drop 1,300 of her current 4,305 ranking points. That would mean a top 10 exit for the youngster.
Kalinina, who rediscovered her love for claycourts to make her first WTA 1000 final in Rome, also reached a career-high of No. 25. She raked in 590 ranking points to jump 22 spots and finish the week at 1,657 points.
Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina close in on Iga Swiatek in WTA rankings
Despite making a second-round exit at the Italian Open, Aryna Sabalenka closed in on Iga Swiatek. The Belarusian, at 7,541 points, is only 2,200-odd ranking points behind the Pole.
Elena Rybakina, meanwhile, has also joined Swiatek, Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula (No. 3 at 5,205) in the 5,000-point club.
Other big moves in the WTA rankings include Paula Badosa (+6 to No. 20) returning to the top 30. Marie Bouzkova (+6 to No. 32), Petra Martic (-9 to No. 37) Karolina Muchova (+10 to No. 42) and Jasmine Paolini (+13 to No. 52) also had some major jumps.