WTA Rankings Recap, 2024: Sabalenka Soars, Queenwen Climbs

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday November 12, 2024

A implausible WTA season got here to a detailed over the weekend, and a brand new year-end No.1 has been topped. Aryna Sabalenka sits atop the WTA rankings for the primary time, whereas the year-end high 5 has just a few acquainted faces and some surprises.

Listed below are a few of the notable names and milestones as we take inventory of the WTA rankings one final time.

Within the Aryna

It was a 12 months of triumph for Aryna Sabalenka, who added two main titles to her trophy haul, and handed Iga Swiatek to complete a season because the year-end No.1 for the primary time. Can she run the desk in 2025?

Queenwen Profession-Excessive and High-5 Debut

Little question about it: China has one other megastar. And her identify is Queenwen. Zheng Qinwen made historical past on the Olympics this 12 months, successful gold, but in addition reached a serious closing on the Australian Open, and performed the ultimate match on the WTA Finals, and her post-Wimbledon energy play took her to a year-end end contained in the High-5.

Boomshki. Zheng’s the primary Chinese language participant to carry a High-5 rating since Li Na.

Paolini Energy

The largest breakout story of 2024 got here from Italy, the place Jasmine Paolini, who owned a 4-16 document on the majors previous to 2024, went 18-4 on the majors and reached the ultimate at Roland-Garros and Wimbledon. She finishes the season at No.4, tied for the best rating ever among the many Italian girls with the good Francesca Schiavone.

Barbora Enters the Chat

She received Wimbledon. That just about says all of it, however Barbora Krejcikova, now a two-time main champion (and a sure Corridor of Famer), additionally climbed again up the rankings in 2024 with a stable run on the WTA Finals. She finishes the season at No.10.

Emma! (no not that one)

There have been three gamers who made their High-10 debuts in 2024. You’ve heard about Zheng and Paolini already, however don’t neglect American Emma Navarro, who received 45 matches and have become a fixture on the Grand Slams as properly, reaching the quarterfinal at Wimbledon and the semis on the US Open. She rose from 38 this time final 12 months all the way in which to a year-end rating of eight – spectacular stuff from the 23-year-old.

High-20 Breakthroughs

Along with Zheng, Paolini and Navarro, there have been three different gamers who cracked the High-20 for the primary time in 2024: Diana Shnaider, Anna Kalinskaya and Mirra Andreeva. Shnaider completed at No.12, Kalinskaya No.14 and Andreeva No.16. Maybe they’ll be coming into the High-10 in 2025!

Younger at Coronary heart

Gauff (20) is the youngest participant within the High 10 (unreal that she continues to be 20!), whereas Andreeva (17) is the youngest participant within the High 20. Andreeva and Linda Noskova (19, ranked No.26) are the one youngsters that completed the season contained in the WTA’s High 100.

Surging Stars

The largest surges contained in the High 100 got here from just a few acquainted names.

Naomi Osaka finishes the 12 months at No. 59. She was ranked 831 on the Australian Open. Surprisingly, the very best match she performed in 2024 was truly a loss to Iga Swiatek at Roland-Garros. She was unimaginable in that contest – the Naomi of outdated – till she let it slip away. Search for Osaka to proceed her regular climb subsequent season. That champion’s pedigree is simply getting dusted off.

Emma Raducanu jumped 227 spots from 285 this time final 12 months to No.58, whereas Amanda Anisimova rose from 359 to No.36. Ajla Tomljanovic powered from 464 to No.85, and Caroline Wozniacki jumped from 236 to No.72.