This is how the fight for the number 1 spot of the WTA ranking will be in 2026

Diego Jiménez Rubio | 31 Dec 2025 | 20.15

Fight for number 1 spot in the WTA ranking in 2026. Photo: gettyimages

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Women's tennis faces an exciting season, with the duopoly between Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek firmly challenged by many other players who have already tasted the occasional glory and have arguments to believe they can maintain the regularity pace of the top two in the world. Will there be more than two candidates for the WTA ranking number 1 in 2026?

Four different Grand Slam champions in 2025, varied protagonists in WTA 1000 events, rising young promises, talents of undeniable quality achieving success, but in the end, Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek remain entrenched in the top two positions of the WTA ranking. The Belarusian starts 2026 as the number 1, but knowing she will have to fight hard if she wants to maintain that privileged position for many weeks.

Sabalenka and Swiatek could see their dominance in the WTA ranking threatened by several rising players

There are reasons to believe that the competition could expand. The way Elena Rybakina ended the season and the constant improvement of Cori Gauff, whose new service mechanics could lead to a quality leap in her game, suggest that both can achieve that level of consistency that, until now, has been elusive for anyone not named Iga or Aryna. Additionally, the evident upward trend of Amanda Anisimova, whose consolidation among the best in 2025 was remarkable, and of the young Mirra Andreeva, who will enter the new year with renewed hopes and ambition after the tough lessons learned last season.

One must not overlook what other top-10 members like Pegula, Paolini, or Keys, could achieve, but if there is a woman who could completely revolutionize the circuit, it is Naomi Osaka. The Japanese showed clear signs of gradually rediscovering her best form and starting from 16th place in the rankings, she will seek to be a key player in major tournaments and threaten the dominance of Swiatek and Sabalenka. Another candidate for a significant leap could be Emma Raducanu, and even the very young Iva Jovic, although as real alternatives to the number 1, there are hardly a handful of women who fit that bill.

Aryna Sabalenka will start the season with a substantial advantage over Iga Swiatek in the WTA ranking, specifically 2,312 points. While she defends 1800 points in the first two events of the year, the Polish player barely defends 1,005, giving her room to close the gap. The following months of the season, with special emphasis on clay courts, could be crucial to witnessing a change at the top of the WTA ranking. In conclusion, a very interesting year with many mysteries to be solved in the battle for the number 1.