It is a landmark week as far as the WTA rankings are concerned. For the first time since 2003, three American women are ranked in the Top 5 at the same time.
Before this week, it was Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula who regularly featured in that top tier as World No. 3 and World No. 4 respectively.
But they are now joined by the newest debutant in the Top 5, the newly crowned Australian Open champion Madison Keys. The 30-year-old won her first Grand Slam at the end of January to rise into the Top 10.
Although Keys hasn’t played since departing Melbourne, missing key events in the Middle East swing and the start of the North American hard-court swing this spring, she wasn’t defending any points in the first two months of the season.
That, coupled with some of her rivals dropping points in a crucial stretch in February has allowed Keys to fortuitously climb the rankings without lifting her racket by at least two spots in the last two weeks.
Keys Climbs Above Paolini Who Vacated the Dubai Title
Jasmine Paolini dropped out of the Top 5 after surrendering her Dubai title (lost in the third round to Sofia Kenin), which made up much of her points tally. Paolini’s loss is Keys’ gain. It will be a double celebration just a week after turning 30 because fifth is a new personal best ranking for Keys.
The last time three American women were ranked in the Top 5 simultaneously was on November 3rd, 2003 when Serena Williams, Lindsay Davenport, and Jennifer Capriati occupied the 3rd, 4th and 5th spots in the rankings.
But it didn’t remain that way for long because Capriati dropped to sixth after a week. If Keys fails to recover in time to play in Indian Wells and Miami next month, then she might lose her spot in the top 5.
The biggest mover inside the WTA Top 10 is the 17-year-old Russian sensation Mirra Andreeva. She vaults from 14th to a new career-high ranking of World No. 9. Andreeva captured her biggest career title in Dubai this past week. She is also the youngest WTA 1000 champion since this tournament category was introduced in 2009.
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
