Coco Gauff’s Ranking Update
Coco Gauff’s reign as the top-ranked American player in the WTA standings has come to an end, as she has dropped to No. 4 following the latest updates. Gauff, now participating in the 2026 United Cup, began her campaign by leading Team USA in both singles and doubles matches against Argentina. Her contributions were crucial, particularly after fellow teammate Taylor Fritz suffered an unexpected defeat to Sebastian Baez.
Performance in the United Cup
Despite facing a setback in her own match against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro from Spain, Gauff partnered with Christian Harrison to secure a vital doubles win, ensuring America’s advancement to the quarterfinals.
Having only participated in the United Cup for the first time in the previous year, Gauff played an instrumental role in helping the United States clinch its second title. Her positive experience and the thrill of competition motivated her to return for the 2026 edition. It is important to note that the early start of the United Cup on December 27, 2024, means Gauff has already lost ranking points associated with last year’s victory, directly affecting her current position.
New Rankings and Competition
With Gauff now ranked No. 4, Amanda Anisimova has taken over as the new highest-ranked American player, moving ahead of Gauff after an impressive 2025 season that saw her reach two Grand Slam finals and secure two WTA 1000 titles, culminating with qualification for the WTA Finals. Anisimova’s raw power and potential have led many to speculate about her future as the world No. 1.
Gauff, only trailing Anisimova by a narrow 14 points, has an opportunity to reclaim her previous position in the rankings next week. How she performs in the United Cup compared to Anisimova’s results at the upcoming 2026 Brisbane International will be pivotal in determining who holds the higher ranking post-tournament.
Other Notable Rankings Movements
The recent WTA rankings have also revealed significant movements among other players. Notably, Ons Jabeur suffered a significant drop, plummeting 20 spots to No. 95. This decline comes after she ended her 2025 season prematurely and announced her pregnancy shortly thereafter. Although she plans to return to the court post-birth utilizing a protected ranking, her current position is likely to decline further.
Meanwhile, Linda Noskova has achieved a career-high ranking of No. 12, surpassing Clara Tauson, thanks to a stellar performance throughout 2025. Noskova is now setting her sights on breaking into the Top 10 this year. Additionally, Daria Kasatkina’s decline continues as she slips to No. 40, having struggled throughout 2025 and ultimately choosing to end her season earlier due to stress.
