Ranking Watch | Chinese Contingent’s Overall Rise, Two Mother Players Appear in WTA Top 10 for the First Time

With the 2026 Australian Open ending last weekend, the latest rankings released this week show many shifts. Women’s singles winner Rybakina climbs back to world No. 3, men’s singles winner Alcaraz strengthens his hold on the top spot, and two mother players simultaneously enter the top ten for the first time in tennis history (Bencic, Svitolina). Lenna Chen, Vachero, Mboko, and Jovic have also reached career-best rankings.

Overall Ranking Improvement for the Chinese Team

Wang Xinyu

Wang Xinyu reached the round of 16 at this Australian Open, setting her best performance at Melbourne Park. Her world ranking climbed 13 spots this week to No. 33, just one place shy of her career-high No. 32. Zheng Qinwen, absent from the Australian Open, slipped one position to No. 26 and is expected to return next week at the WTA1000 Doha event. Yuan Yue’s ranking remained unchanged at No. 130 after a first-round exit, while Zhu Lin’s ranking rose 12 places to No. 152. Zhang Shuai dropped 7 spots to No. 82.

Wu Yibing

Shang Juncheng

Both Wu Yibing and Shang Juncheng advanced to the second round at this Australian Open, resulting in slight ranking gains. Wu Yibing rose 24 places to No. 144, just five spots behind China’s highest-ranked male player Bu Yunchaokete (No. 139). Shang Juncheng improved by 56 positions to No. 262. Zhou Yi claimed runner-up at last week’s Rancho Challenger, boosting his ranking by 18 spots to No. 220. Zhang Zhizhen moved up one place to No. 367 this week.

Djokovic Returns to Top Three

Djokovic

Djokovic reached his 38th Grand Slam final at this Australian Open but narrowly missed out on making history with a 25th Grand Slam title and 11th Australian Open crown. He defeated Sinner in the semifinals and reached a Grand Slam final for the first time since Wimbledon 2024 (where he also lost to Alcaraz). His world ranking rose one spot to No. 3, marking his return to the ATP top three for the first time since August 2024. Zverev dropped one place to No. 4.

Lenna Chen and Vachero Achieve Career-High Rankings

Lenna Chen

20-year-old American rising star Lenna Chen achieved her best Grand Slam result at this Australian Open by defeating Medvedev in straight sets in the fourth round, reaching her first Grand Slam quarterfinal. Her world ranking jumped 5 places this week to No. 24, marking a personal best. Riding the momentum from winning the Next Gen Finals at the end of last season, Lenna Chen is undoubtedly one of the most promising young talents in tennis this year.

Vachero (Photo: Li Jianyi)

Following his surprise victory at last year’s Shanghai Rolex Masters, Vachero’s world ranking surged into the Top 40. Over recent months, he has steadily established himself on the tour. This Australian Open marked his first career entry into a Grand Slam main draw based on ranking alone, where he earned his first Grand Slam main draw win and advanced to the round of 32 before losing to American top player Shelton in the third round. Vachero’s ranking rose 4 spots this week to No. 27, setting a new career high.

Rybakina Matches Career-High Ranking

Rybakina

After claiming her second Grand Slam title at this Australian Open, Rybakina’s ranking rose two places this week to No. 3, equaling her career-best ranking set in June 2023, currently trailing only

world No. 2 Swiatek by 368 points. Rybakina experienced a four-month dip outside the top ten around mid-2025 (falling as low as No. 13 in July), but strong performances at the end of last season and during the Australian swing have re-established her place among the elite.

Historic First! Two Mother Players in the World Top Ten

Bencic

After helping Switzerland reach the final at the season-opening United Cup, Bencic entered the top ten before the Australian Open, marking her first return to this elite group since becoming a mother. Although she exited in the second round at Melbourne Park, her ranking still rose one spot this week to No. 9.

Svitolina

At this Australian Open, Svitolina defeated two Top 10 players, Andreyeva and Gauff, to reach her fourth career Grand Slam semifinal, where she lost to world No. 1 Sabalenka. The Ukrainian star’s ranking climbed two places this week to No. 10, her first time back in the Top 10 since October 2021.

This is also the first time in women’s tennis history that two mother players have simultaneously ranked in the Top 10. Bencic and Svitolina become the fifth and sixth women, after Margaret Court, Goolagong, Clijsters, and Serena Williams, to enter the top ten as mothers.

Rising Stars Shine! Mboko, Jovic, and Ella Continue Climbing

Mboko (Photo: Visual China)

Canadian 19-year-old star Mboko reached the round of 16 in her first tournament of the year at the Australian Open. She defeated Danish player Tauson in the third round before falling to world No. 1 Sabalenka in the fourth. Mboko’s world ranking rose three places this week to No. 13, a career-high.

Jovic (Photo: Li Jianyi)

Ella (Photo: Visual China)

18-year-old American Jovic recorded her first career Top 10 victory at this Australian Open by beating Paolini and reached her first Grand Slam quarterfinal. Her ranking jumped seven spots this week, breaking into the Top 20 for the first time, and she remains the youngest player in the current women’s top 100. Filipino 20-year-old Ella, despite a first-round exit at this Australian Open, also achieved a career-high ranking this week, rising four places to No. 45.

Zeng Limei Becomes Indonesia’s Second Top 50 Player

Zeng Limei (Photo: Visual China)

Indonesian Chinese player Zeng Limei advanced to the second round at this Australian Open, securing her second Grand Slam main draw win following last year’s US Open. Her world ranking surged 12 spots this week to No. 47, marking her first entry into the Top 50 and making her Indonesia’s second female player in history to reach the Top 50 after Basuki in 1997. Last year at this time, Zeng was ranked only 395th worldwide. She had a strong previous season, including winning her first WTA title at the Chennai event last November.

(Written and edited by Wang Fei)