WTA Rankings Update: Alex Eala Hits Career High, Fernandez and Dart Climb While Mboko Drops

Alex Eala Advances to New Career-High in WTA Rankings

Alex Eala is among the players affected by the latest Women’s Tennis Association rankings update. Preparing for her final tournament of the 2026 season at the Hong Kong Open, Eala has experienced a mixed run after a breakthrough year.

The 21-year-old Filipina's recent results haven’t matched her earlier success this season. She fell to Diana Shnaider in the quarter-finals of the Tokyo Open, marking her seventh consecutive event without reaching a semi-final. Despite this, Eala moved up in the rankings.

Her 2025 season put her on the map with a surprise run to the Miami Open semi-finals and entry into the top 100 for the first time. This year, she claimed her maiden WTA title in Washington D.C. and reached the fourth round at Wimbledon, her best Grand Slam performance.

Starting 2026 outside the top 50, Eala climbed to world number 18 after the US Open but slipped one spot before Tokyo. Following her recent performance, she jumped two places to a new career-high ranking of world number 17.

She enters the Hong Kong Open just 26 points shy of world number 16 Naomi Osaka, aiming to surpass her and improve her seeding for next year's Grand Slams.

Fernandez and Dart Rise, Mboko Faces Ranking Drop

Other notable movements have taken place across the WTA rankings. At the Tokyo Open, where Diana Shnaider won the title, runner-up Leylah Fernandez enjoyed the most significant rise.

Fernandez reached three finals since the US Open and claimed the Singapore Open title. Her progress pushed her five spots up to world number 18, her highest rank since August 2022.

Meanwhile, British player Harriet Dart secured her first WTA title in Guangzhou last week. Previously outside the top 100, Dart surged 31 positions to world number 84, guaranteeing her direct entry into the Australian Open.

On the downside, Victoria Mboko slipped due to injury struggles that kept her out since the grass-court season. Unable to defend her Hong Kong Open title, Mboko lost the 250 ranking points from last year. Once ranked as high as world number 9 earlier this year, she has now fallen five spots to number 20.

Another former top 10 player dropping five places this week is two-time Grand Slam finalist Amanda Anisimova. After a strong 2025 season, the American has faced setbacks with a wrist injury, falling from world number 3 at the start of 2026 to number 22 now.

Latest WTA Ranking Changes Summary

• Alex Eala: Climbed from 19 to career-high 17
• Leylah Fernandez: Rose 5 spots to 18
• Harriet Dart: Jumped 31 places to 84
• Victoria Mboko: Dropped 5 spots to 20
• Amanda Anisimova: Fell 5 places to 22
• Diana Shnaider: Moved up 2 spots to 11