WTA Rankings Update: Alex Eala Hits New Career High, Leylah Fernandez and Harriet Dart Climb, Victoria Mboko Drops
Alex Eala is among the players affected by the newest WTA rankings update. The Filipina, gearing up for the final event of her 2026 season at the Hong Kong Open, has experienced an interesting shift in her standing despite recent results.
Since the US Open, Eala has struggled to reach semi-finals, falling short in her last seven WTA events. Her latest match saw her exit in the Tokyo Open quarter-finals against Diana Shnaider. Yet, contrary to expectations, her ranking received a boost.
Eala's breakout year began in 2025 when she stunned many by reaching the Miami Open semi-finals and breaking into the top 100 for the first time. This wasn’t a one-off, as she secured her first WTA title in Washington D.C. and advanced to the fourth round at Wimbledon this year.
Starting 2026 outside the top 50, Eala climbed steadily, reaching a career-high world number 18 after the US Open. She slipped to number 19 before Tokyo but now jumps two spots to a new best at world number 17. This places her just 26 points shy of world number 16, Naomi Osaka. A strong showing at the Hong Kong Open could push Eala even higher, improving her positioning for next year's Grand Slam draws.
Ranking Changes for Fernandez, Dart, and Mboko
The latest rankings also highlight other notable movers. At the Tokyo Open, winner Diana Shnaider rose two places to world number 11. Runner-up Leylah Fernandez enjoyed the biggest leap, climbing five spots to world number 18—her highest since August 2022. Fernandez has reached three finals since the US Open, including winning the Singapore Open.
Meanwhile, British player Harriet Dart made a significant jump following her first WTA title win in Guangzhou. Previously outside the top 100, Dart surged 31 places to world number 84, securing direct entry into the Australian Open.
On the downside, Victoria Mboko has slipped after being sidelined with injury since the grass court season. Unable to defend her Hong Kong Open title, she lost the 250 points from last year. Once ranked as high as world number 9 earlier this year, Mboko now falls five places to number 20.
Another former top 10 player dropping five spots is two-time Grand Slam finalist Amanda Anisimova. After a stellar 2025, Anisimova’s progress stalled due to a wrist injury. Starting the year ranked number 3, she currently stands at world number 22.
Summary of Key Ranking Movements
- Alex Eala: Climbs to world number 17
- Leylah Fernandez: Rises five spots to world number 18
- Harriet Dart: Jumps 31 places to world number 84
- Diana Shnaider: Moves up two places to world number 11
- Victoria Mboko: Drops five places to world number 20
- Amanda Anisimova: Falls five places to world number 22
