(We have highlighted in brackets how each player's official WTA ranking has changed in the last 12 months.)
Top-10 Players Facing Major Setbacks
These players ranked in the Top 10 at the start of the year, had disappointing seasons marked by injuries, inconsistency, or a drop in form.
Maria Sakkari (9 → 32):
Maria Sakkari's 2024 season has been a challenging one, marked by a significant drop in her form and ranking. Starting the year in the Top 10, Sakkari faced a series of setbacks, including disappointing losses at major tournaments like the Australian Open and the French Open, and a first-round exit at Wimbledon and US Open. Her only highlight was a runner-up finish at Indian Wells, where she lost to Iga Świątek in the final. Her form worsened as the season progressed, and she ended the year early due to a shoulder injury.
Ons Jabeur (6 → 42):
Ons Jabeur's 2024 season was a challenging one, falling short of the lofty expectations set by her remarkable performances in previous years, including three Grand SlaOm finals over the last two seasons. She struggled particularly on hard courts, managing only a 2-6 record and enduring a difficult five-match losing streak from February to April. Her season came to an early end before the US Open due to a shoulder injury, cutting short any hopes of a late-year resurgence. For Jabeur, 2024 was a year of setbacks, but it also sets the stage for a potential comeback in 2025.
Marketa Vondrousova (7 → 39):
Marketa Vondrousova's 2024 season was a disappointment following her 2023 Wimbledon triumph, as she struggled with inconsistency and injury setbacks. A promising run to the French Open quarterfinals showed flashes of her potential, but her Wimbledon title defense ended with a lackluster first-round exit. With no finals appearances, just one unsuccessful semifinal, and her season cut short by injury, 2024 proved to be a frustrating and unfulfilled year for the Czech star.
Players Battling Injury and Mental Health Issues
These players struggled with physical or mental health challenges, which led to underwhelming performances and a drop in the rankings.
Caroline Garcia (20 → 51):
Caroline Garcia's 2024 season was marred by anxiety, injury setbacks, and disappointing performances in major tournaments. She won only three matches across the four Grand Slams, failing to make it past the second round in any of them. Her overall record stood at 17 wins and 17 losses. Facing both mental and physical challenges, Garcia decided to end her season early, opting to focus on recovery and mental well-being. Now 31, it remains to be seen what version of Caroline Garcia we will see in 2025.
Sorana Cirstea (26 → 70):
Sorana Cirstea's 2024 season fell short of expectations, marred by inconsistency and an injury that cut her campaign short after Wimbledon, leaving her with a 12-16 record. Though there were glimpses of her talent, she struggled to deliver significant results, with early exits in key tournaments undermining her efforts. Without deep runs or title contention, her ranking stagnated, marking a frustrating and disappointing year for the Romanian veteran.
Lesia Tsurenko (31 → 118):
Lesia Tsurenko's 2024 season was marred by injuries, inconsistency, and early exits in key tournaments. She finished the year with a 17-23 record, with the majority of her victories coming in qualifiers and lower-tier events, contributing to a steep decline in her ranking. At 35, avoiding the physio room and finding consistent form will be essential for any hope of a resurgence in 2025.
Rising Stars Struggling to Break Through
These younger players or those still establishing themselves at the top level faced struggles in 2024, resulting in disappointing seasons.
Alycia Parks (47 → 112):
Alycia Parks endured a difficult 2024 season, marked by inconsistency and early exits, with her ranking and confidence suffering as a result. Despite her powerful serve and some strong performances in 2023, she began with a rough stretch of 13 consecutive match losses from January to May — 12 of them in straight sets — Parks struggled to find her form. While she showed some promise from June onward, her success was limited to the WTA 125 Challenger circuit, where she reached three finals, winning two titles.
Rebeka Masarova (65 → 149):
The veteran of this group, now 25, Rebeka Masarova's 2024 season was marked by inconsistent performances and limited success at the top level - she secured only only five wins at the main-draw level. She did show promise in qualifying and smaller events with her run to the 125k Challenger final in Spain in April the standout moment. To regain momentum in 2025, Masarova will need to address these consistency issues to achieve deeper tournament runs and improve her position on the WTA tour.
Linda Fruhvirtova (89 → 201):
After a promising 2023 campaign, Linda Fruhvirtova faced a significantly underwhelming 2024 season. She closed the year terribly, losing 10 of her last 11 matches, which led to a sharp drop in her ranking, now outside the top 200. The 19-year-old will now have to focus on the lower levels of the tour to rebuild both her confidence and her ranking.
Veterans Struggling to Maintain Top-Level Form
These seasoned players, who have had solid careers, struggled to keep up with the demands of the tour in 2024.
Anhelina Kalinina (27 → 57):
Anhelina Kalinina's 2024 season fell below expectations, with a 22-24 record and inconsistency hampering her progress. While she reached three semifinals, her frequent early exits at major tournaments and a poor end to the season—losing five of her last six matches—highlighted her struggles. Still searching for her first title at 27, Kalinina's stagnating ranking underscored a disappointing year for the Ukrainian player.
Sofia Kenin (34 → 86):
Sofia Kenin's 2024 season was marked by significant struggles. She endured a rough start, suffering nine consecutive losses from January to May, which deeply affected her ranking and confidence. Despite this, she finished the year with some encouraging results, including notable victories over Daria Kasatkina and Katie Boulter, which helped her reach the final in Tokyo. However, by the end of the year, she finished just outside the Top 80, ranked 86th. This will likely require her to qualify for major WTA events in 2025 as she aims to regain her form and return to her previous level.
Petra Martic (40 → 123):
At 33, Petra Martic's 2024 season hinted that age might be impacting her competitive edge. She won only 18 of her 41 matches, with most victories coming in qualifying rounds or at lower-tier events rather than the main WTA tour. This inconsistent form has seen her ranking slip far outside the Top 100, a significant drop from her career-high ranking of No. 13. To regain her position as a regular on the WTA tour, Martic will need to overcome both physical challenges and strong competition from younger players, requiring a focused effort to rebuild confidence and consistency.
Martina Trevisan (42 → 126):
Martina Trevisan endured a disappointing 2024 season, winning only 22 of her 54 matches played at all levels. Her year was hampered by early-round losses, and although she found some success on the 125k Challenger circuit even claiming a title in Bastad, her struggles at higher levels limited her progress. Looking ahead to 2025, Trevisan will need to address these issues to regain her form and confidence on the main tour..
Tamara Korpatsch (73 → 185):
Tamara Korpatsch endured a woeful 2024 season, securing just 12 wins from 45 matches across all levels. With her ranking plummeting she now finds herself on the brink of the top 200. If she hopes to return to the top 100, she’ll likely need to focus on lower-tier events to rebuild her confidence and form. At 29, it remains uncertain whether Korpatsch can regain the momentum needed to break through at the WTA level once again.
Conclusion
Several WTA stars saw their rankings drop in 2024 due to injuries, mental health struggles, and inconsistent performances. These players now face the challenge of rebuilding in 2025, either by focusing on recovery or re-establishing their consistency. The upcoming season will be a pivotal one for them, with hopes of bouncing back and competing at the highest level once again.
