The Middle East Swing Begins with Surprising Champions
The recent WTA Tour event, Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open 500, kicked off the Middle East swing, marking a repeat victory for a player ranked outside the Top 100. Last year, Belinda Bencic, unseeded at No. 157, celebrated her comeback with a wild card win, while this year, No. 101 Sara Bejlek secured her first title after coming through the qualifiers.
Celebrating her 20th birthday on January 31, Bejlek won her opening qualifying match in Abu Dhabi. After eight days filled with seven victories—including her first two Top 20 wins over Clara Tauson and Ekaterina Alexandrova—she emerged as the champion. Bejlek is notable for being the first qualifier to win a WTA 500 title since Tatjana Maria last year.
Ascending 63 spots to her debut in the Top 50 at No. 38, Bejlek’s leap reflects her significant progress, becoming the first player to jump from outside the Top 100 into the Top 50 in one move since Amanda Anisimova in August 2024. Having first broken into the Top 200 as a 16-year-old in 2022, her trajectory has accelerated this past year.
Oliynykova and Baptiste Shine with New Highs
Oliynykova, like Bejlek, is making waves following an impressive showing in last year’s expanded WTA 125 circuit. After winning three WTA 125 titles, she recently reached the semifinals in Cluj-Napoca during her second WTA main draw, securing her first Top 50 victory. Despite a gripping two-hour match with Emma Raducanu in the semifinals, she is quickly gaining recognition.
Meanwhile, Hailey Baptiste achieved her first career semifinal in Abu Dhabi, marked by her victories over Emma Navarro and Liudmila Samsonova, resulting in a 17-place rise to No. 39.
Cirstea and Boulter Celebrate Wins
Winners of last week’s WTA 250 events, Sorana Cirstea and Katie Boulter both captured their fourth career titles. Cirstea, at 35, claimed her first title on home soil without losing a single set and climbed five spots to No. 31. Boulter’s win in Ostrava marks her return to the Top 100 with a noteworthy 36-place uplift to No. 84.
Emerging Talent and Notable Rankings
Mananchaya Sawangkaew, after a back injury, returned strong with a WTA 125 title, propelling her 24 spots to No. 212. Lilli Tagger, the runner-up in Mumbai, is also making strides with a new career-high ranking of No. 115 after an impressive nine-match winning streak.
Key Rankings Movements
Notable ranking shifts include Ekaterina Alexandrova moving to No. 10 after a strong showing in Abu Dhabi. Other players making significant advancements are: Alexandra Eala (+5 to No. 40), Sonay Kartal (+11 to No. 50), Simona Waltert (+13 to No. 81), and Daria Snigur (+21 to No. 123). The recent weeks led to promising gains for rising stars, further illustrating the competitive spirit within women’s tennis.
