By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Monday October 18, 2021
Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur makes a historic Top-10 debut in Monday’s WTA rankings, at No.8, to become the first Arab player – male or female – to ever crack the Top-10.
Jabeur’s rise is remarkable, but it might not be the most stunning this week. That’s because Spain’s Paula Badosa, crowned the Indian Wells women’s singles champion on Sunday, has vaulted past Jabeur in the Race to Gaudalajara standings. The 23-year-old Spaniard, who owns a 10-3 record against the Top-20 in 2021, moves up 11 spots in the Race to No.8.
Badosa and Jabeur, who ranks ninth in the race, both passed Naomi Osaka last week, but neither is a lock with four spots still left to be claimed. If Ash Barty ends up skipping the WTA Finals, both would currently be in position to qualify, but there is more tennis to play over the next two weeks.
Here are the current WTA Race to Guadalajara Standings:
1. Barty, 6411
2. Sabalenka, 4669
3. Krejcikova, 4518
4. Pliskova, 4036
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5. Swiatek, 3226
6. Sakkari, 3157
7. Muguruza, 3150
8. Badosa, 3112
9. Jabeur 3020
10. Osaka, 2771
11. Svitolina, 2501
12. Pegula, 2500
13. Pavlyuchenkova, 2449
14. Mertens, 2447
15. Kontaveit, 2441
The WTA Moscow draw is crowded this week with eight Top-20 players, including Garbiñe Muguruza, currently No.7 in the race and Maria Sakkari, currently No.6.
Jabeur is the No.5 seed at Kremlin Cup, and will face Ekaterina Alexandrova in the opening round.
The WTA Finals will take place from November 10 to November 17.
Muguruza Back in Top-5, Sakkari to Career-High 7
Spain’s Muguruza returns to the Top-5 for the first time since July of 2018. The former World No.1 owns a 37-15 record on the season and is slated to face either Irina Bara or Tereza Martincova in the second round at Kremlin Cup in Moscow.
Sakkari rises two spots to No.7 and will face either Anna Kalinskaya in the second round at Moscow.
Here’s the full Kremlin Cup draw updated with today’s first-round results.
This Week's Top Rankings Risers
Badosa, who rises from 27 to 13 is the biggest riser inside the Top-50. Jabeur jumped six spot from 14 to 8, while Victoria Azarenka, the Indian Wells runner-up, climbs from 32 to 26.