We have highlighted in brackets how each player's official WTA ranking has changed in the last 12 months.
The Game-Changers: Reaching New Heights at the Top
These players made their mark among the WTA’s elite, achieving remarkable consistency and career-defining results.
Jasmine Paolini (Rank 30 → 4)
The Italian dynamo had a historic 2024, skyrocketing 26 places to a career-high No. 4 ranking. Key achievements included reaching two Grand Slam finals, securing a WTA 1000 title in Dubai, and becoming the first Italian woman to make the second week of all four Grand Slams in a single season—a testament to her exceptional consistency and growth. She finished the season playing a staring role in her country’s Billie Jean CUp win.
Qinwen Zheng (Rank 15 → 5)
Qinwen Zheng has had an incredible 2024, reaching her first Grand Slam final at the Australian Open and then winning Olympic gold in women’s singles at Paris 2024. This was a breakthrough moment for the 21-year-old Chinese star, cementing her position as one of the rising talents in tennis, looking set to be a household name for years to come.
Consistent Climbers: Dominating Across Events
This group showcased consistency across the calendar year, combining strong Grand Slam performances with success at key tournaments.
Emma Navarro (Rank 38 → 8)
Emma Navarro has truly risen in 2024, rising 30 rankings spots and securing her first WTA title at Hobart, where she fought through three intense three-set matches to claim the championship. Her progression at Grand Slams has been notable, with consistent improvements at each event - third round at Australian Open followed by a fourth-round finish at Roland-Garros, quarter final at Wimbledon and semi final at the US Open.
Diana Shnaider (Rank 60 → 13)
Diana Shnaider has had an exceptional breakthrough season in 2024, capturing four singles titles across all three surfaces: the hard courts of Hua Hin and Hong Kong, the grass of Bad Homburg, and the clay of Budapest. Known for her aggressive play, her heavy forehand and powerful defence have been central to her rapid rise to the Top 15. Shnaider's rise has marked her as one of the game's brightest young talents heading into 2025.
Anna Kalinskaya (Rank 77 → 14)
In 2024, Anna Kalinskaya had a breakout season, rising 63 places in the rankings. She reached her first Grand Slam quarterfinal at the Australian Open and made finals appearances in both Dubai and Berlin, demonstrating her aggressive baseline game and consistent form. Although still seeking her first WTA title, these strong performances propelled her into the Top 20.
The Comeback Stars: Bouncing Back in Style
After injury setbacks and/or a dip in form, these players returned stronger than ever, proving their resilience.
Danielle Collins (Rank 55 → 11)
Danielle Collins has had a standout 2024, despite underachieving at the Grand Slams, moving up 44 spots and securing her first WTA 1000 title at Miami while winning another title (impressively the week after Miami) in Charleston. Despite announcing 2024 to be her last year she has since reneged on this decision and will be looking to go one better than her best slam result reach the Final of 2022 Australian Open.
Paula Badosa (Rank 66 → 12)
Paula Badosa had an impressive return in 2024, capturing her first WTA title since early 2022 at the WTA 500 event in Washington. She also showcased her resilience with a strong run to the quarterfinals at the US Open, marking a remarkable comeback after an injury setback that had threatened her career. With her renewed form and confidence, Badosa is once again a force to be reckoned with on the tour. As long as she stays injury-free, she will undoubtedly be a contender for major titles in 2025.
Breakthrough Sensations: Surprising the Field
Emerging stars who turned heads with breakthrough performances, making deep runs and securing unexpected victories.
Dayana Yastremska (Rank 103 → 33)
Dayana Yastremska had a standout start to 2024, with a remarkable run to the Australian Open semifinals after coming through qualifying, becoming the first qualifier to reach this stage since 1978. However, she struggled to build on this success, finishing the season extremely poorly with seven consecutive losses. With many points to defend at the 2025 Australian Open, Yastremska faces a significant challenge to maintain her ranking, as her form dropped considerably after her breakthrough in Melbourne.
Rebecca Sramkova (Rank 129 → 43)
Rebecca Sramkova had an impressive finish to her 2024 season after breaking into the Top 100 for the first time at age 27 in May. She closed the year with remarkable form, winning 17 of her last 21 matches and reaching three finals. Sramkova secured her maiden WTA title at Hua Hin, just one week after losing her first final in Tunisia. As she heads into 2025, Sramkova will look to build on this momentum and continue climbing the rankings.
Lulu Sun (Rank 219 → 40)
In 2024, Lulu Sun had a breakout year, showcasing her potential, reaching new heights, including a remarkable run at Wimbledon, where she reached the quarterfinals, defeating top players such as Emma Raducanu and Zheng Qinwen - marking her as the first New Zealand woman to reach the Wimbledon quarterfinals in the Open Era. Additionally, Sun reached her first WTA final at the Monterrey Open and although she ended the year on a less successful note with multiple injuries, her performances marked her as a player to watch in the future.
Rising Prospects: Building Momentum for the Future
These players made significant strides in 2024, laying the groundwork for bigger achievements in 2025.
McCartney Kessler (Rank 231 → 68)
McCartney Kessler, a former University of Florida standout, had a breakout 2024 season following her WTA debut in January at the Auckland Open qualifying. She claimed her first WTA 250 title in Cleveland, defeating Beatriz Haddad Maia, shortly after winning her first ITF W100 title at Landisville. A late joiner to the tour, Kessler, now 25, will be eager to make big strides in the rankings in 2025.
Suzan Lamens (Rank 218 → 87)
Suzan Lamens has had a breakthrough year in 2024, securing titles at three levels: an ITF 75 indoor hard title in Trnava in March, a 125k WTA Challenger title on clay in Oeiras in April, and a WTA 250 title in Osaka, where she impressively came through qualifying. Known for her aggressive playing style, she recorded a series of strong victories, including wins over top players, which helped her rise into the Top 100.
Sonay Kartal (Rank 235 → 89)
Sonay Kartal had an impressive breakthrough in 2024, capturing her first WTA title at the Jasmin Open in Monastir, Tunisia, where she fought through qualifying rounds and defeated Rebecca Sramkova in the final. Her resilience and skill throughout the tournament underscored her potential, and this victory propelled her into the Top 100 for the first time. She continued her momentum by securing her sixth ITF title of the year at the Shrewsbury ITF 100 event. At 23, Kartal’s strong form positions her as a rising talent to watch on the WTA tour in 2025.
Renata Zarazua (Rank 165 → 60)
The veteran of the group - now 27, Renata Zarazua enjoyed a strong 2024 season, reaching new career highs and breaking into the top 100. She made her Grand Slam debut at the Australian Open and also had successful runs at Wimbledon and the US Open, including a notable victory over Caroline Garcia. Zarazua reached a career-high, breaking the top 100 for the first time in January and will be looking to replicate her success on the ITF tour on the WTA tour.
Moyuka Uchijima (Rank 181 → 55)
Moyuka Uchijima has enjoyed an impressive rise in 2024, highlighted by a 19-match win streak that included triumphs on both hard and clay courts. She claimed five ITF singles titles, including three at the W100 level, propelling her into the top 80. While she has yet to replicate this success at the WTA level, Uchijima marked a major milestone by making her first Grand Slam main draw appearance at Roland Garros, where she secured her first-ever Grand Slam match win.
Conclusion
The 2024 season saw an array of players rise through the ranks with remarkable performances. Whether through elite consistency, dramatic comebacks, or underdog breakthroughs, these players embody the dynamic nature of women’s tennis. As they head into 2025, the future of the WTA Tour looks brighter than ever.
