WTA Rankings Update: Alex Eala Hits Career-High, Leylah Fernandez and Harriet Dart Climb While Victoria Mboko Drops
Alex Eala Reaches New High in WTA Rankings
Alex Eala stands out among several players affected by the latest update to the WTA rankings. She is preparing for the final tournament of her 2026 season at the Hong Kong Open, closing out what has been an impressive year for the young Filipina.
The 21-year-old has struggled since the US Open, most recently falling to Diana Shnaider in the Tokyo Open quarter-finals. Despite not advancing past the quarter-finals in her last seven WTA events, Eala has seen her ranking improve.
A Breakthrough Season and Steady Progress
Her breakthrough came in 2025, when she shocked the tennis world by reaching the Miami Open semi-finals and breaking into the top 100. This year, she claimed her first WTA title in Washington D.C. and reached the fourth round of Wimbledon for the first time.
Starting 2026 ranked outside the top 50, Eala climbed steadily to a career-best world number 18 after the US Open. She slipped one place to 19 before Tokyo but has now surged two spots to reach number 17, marking her highest ranking ever.
With the Hong Kong Open ahead, Eala could climb even more. She trails world number 16 Naomi Osaka by just 26 points, and overtaking her would improve Eala's position for next year’s Grand Slam draws.
Other Notable Movers in the WTA Rankings
The recent updates have also seen significant changes for other players. The Tokyo Open champion, Diana Shnaider, rose two places to world number 11. Yet it is runner-up Leylah Fernandez who enjoyed the biggest leap.
Fernandez has reached three finals since the US Open, including winning the Singapore Open. This success propelled her from outside the top 30 into the top 20. Now ranked 18th, she has achieved her highest standing since August 2022.
Meanwhile, British player Harriet Dart won her first WTA title in Guangzhou last week. Before this victory, Dart was outside the top 100. Her ranking jumped 31 places to world number 84, securing her direct entry into the Australian Open.
Rankings Declines: Victoria Mboko and Amanda Anisimova
Not all players experienced upward moves. Victoria Mboko dropped in the rankings due to injury setbacks since the grass court season. She missed the chance to defend her Hong Kong Open title, losing the 250 points she earned there last year. After reaching a career-high of world number nine earlier in 2026, Mboko fell five places to number 20.
Former top 10 player Amanda Anisimova also slipped five spots. Once ranked as high as number three this season, injuries have hampered her progress, leaving her at world number 22 now.
