Australian Open Week 1 WTA Rankings Winners & Losers: Iga Swiatek chasing No 1, Olga Danilovic & Eva Lys surge

Ewan West
Olga Danilovic, Iga Swiatek and Eva Lys at the Australian Open
Olga Danilovic, Iga Swiatek and Eva Lys at the Australian Open

The first week of the 2025 Australian Open is complete, and there have been some intriguing results and stories in the women’s draw.

The top four players in the world — Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff and Jasmine Paolini — have all made it to the last 16 unscathed. Some players, meanwhile, are set to reach new career-high rankings.

WTA Top 20 at start of Australian Open

1. Aryna Sabalenka – 9,656 points
2. Iga Swiatek, Poland – 8,120
3. Coco Gauff, United States – 6,888
4. Jasmine Paolini, Italy – 5,399
5. Zheng Qinwen, China – 5,325
6. Jessica Pegula, United States – 4,801
7. Elena Rybakina, Kazakhstan – 4,723
8. Emma Navarro, United States – 3,409
9. Barbora Krejcikova, Czech Republic – 3,214
10. Daria Kasatkina – 3,151
11. Danielle Collins, United States – 3,147
12. Paula Badosa, Spain – 2,958
13. Diana Shnaider – 2,895
14. Madison Keys, United States – 2,680
15. Mirra Andreeva – 2,665
16. Anna Kalinskaya – 2,637
17. Beatriz Hadid Maia, Brazil – 2,554
18. Marta Kostyuk, Ukraine – 2,364
19. Donna Vekic, Croatia – 2,228
20. Karolina Muchova, Czech Republic – 2,079

World No 2 Swiatek has already gained 110 points, having fallen in the third round at last year’s Australian Open, taking her points total to 8,230.

As a result, the Pole is 334 points above defending champion and world No 1 Sabalenka — who is defending the maximum 2,000 points — in the live rankings.

If either Sabalenka or Swiatek wins the title, they will occupy top spot after the tournament. If Swiatek reaches the semi-finals, Sabalenka would need to reach the final to avoid being leapfrogged.

Potential ranking points for Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek.
Potential ranking points for Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek.

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Live WTA Top 20 after Week 1 of Australian Open

1. Iga Swiatek, Poland – 8,230 points (+1)
2. Aryna Sabalenka – 7,896 (-1)
3. Coco Gauff, United States – 6,348
4. Jasmine Paolini, Italy – 5,289
5. Elena Rybakina, Kazakhstan – 4,893 (+2)
6. Jessica Pegula, United States – 4,861
7. Zheng Qinwen, China – 4,095  (-2)
8. Emma Navarro, United States – 3,519
9. Daria Kasatkina – 3,321 (+1)
10. Danielle Collins, United States – 3,207 (+1)
11. Paula Badosa, Spain – 3,068 (+1)
12. Diana Shnaider – 3,015 (+1)
13. Madison Keys, United States – 2,920 (+1)
14. Barbora Krejcikova, Czech Republic – 2,783 (-5)
15. Mirra Andreeva – 2,665
16. Beatriz Hadid Maia, Brazil – 2,554
17. Donna Vekic, Croatia – 2,458 (+2)
18. Anna Kalinskaya – 2,207 (-2)
19. Karolina Muchova, Czech Republic – 2,149 (+1)
20. Yulia Putintseva, Kazakhstan 2,137 (+3)

Zheng Qinwen was ranked fifth before the tournament, but she has slipped to seventh in the live rankings after her shock second round loss to Laura Siegemund.

The 22-year-old Chinese star will drop 1,230 points as she was a runner-up at the Melbourne Grand Slam in 2024.

Donna Vekic is up two places to a projected new career-high ranking of world No 17 after her run to the fourth round, while Yulia Putintseva is set to break into the top 20 for the first time after making the third round.

Selected Big Winners

Olga Danilovic has made a 14-place surge to a projected new career-high spot of 41st in the live rankings on the back of her second career Grand Slam last 16 run. The 23-year-old Serbian is yet to drop a set and stunned Jessica Pegula in the third round.

Former world No 9 Veronika Kudermetova started the tournament ranked 75th, and as things stand, she has climbed 24 places to No 51 having made the fourth round.

Jacqueline Cristian is up 21 positions from 82nd to 61st for reaching the third round.

23-year-old German Eva Lys, who entered the tournament as a lucky loser, has soared 37 spots to a projected new career-high of 91st for her surprise last 16 run.

Former world No 4 Belinda Bencic, who is continuing her comeback after the birth of her daughter, has jumped 138 places to world No 156 having reached the second week.

Selected Big Losers

Linda Noskova, a quarter-finalist at last year’s event, has slipped from 28th to 38th in the live rankings after her first round exit.

Dayana Yastremska, who made the semi-finals as a qualifier in 2024, has suffered a 39-place drop from 33rd to 72nd after falling in the third round.

Former world No 1 and 2018 Australian Open winner Caroline Wozniacki is down from 72nd to 83rd having pulled out of the tournament.

Sloane Stephens, a former world No 3 and US Open champion, is projected to drop outside of the top 100 — from 81st to 104th — after her opening round exit.

Alycia Parks, who has been ranked as high as 40th, has dropped 22 spots from 68th to 90th after losing in qualifying.

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