7. Linda Noskova
WTA Rank: 17
WTA Race: 15
Linda Noskova finds herself on this list purely because of her remarkable performance in Beijing. The Czech player has shown great promise early in her career, but it’s her ability to compete closely against some of the best players that stands out. If she can replicate even a fraction of the form she showed in Beijing, she’ll be among the best in the final stretch of the season, which is more than enough to place her here.
8. Elena Rybakina
WTA Rank: 9
WTA Race: 19
Elena Rybakina remains one of the better players on Tour, but her struggle with consistency defines her recent form. She showed a solid level in China, but not one that makes you think she’ll do something extraordinary in the final weeks of the season. As such, #8 seems appropriate for her right now.
9. Ekaterina Alexandrova
WTA Rank: 10
WTA Race: 10
Alexandrova is a tricky player who employs an aggressive style, which on any given day can cause problems for most opponents. Indoors is where she’s thrived throughout her career, so we’ll be keeping a close eye on her in the upcoming weeks. Her level in Asia looked solid, and if she continues that form, expect Alexandrova to make a strong push for the WTA Finals.
10. Mirra Andreeva
WTA Rank: 6
WTA Race: 7
Mirra Andreeva is one of the brightest stars in tennis, but her recent form has been shaky. She looked out of sorts during the Asian swing and made some concerning comments, essentially saying she was “over tennis.” It was a moment of weakness, and while she isn’t taking a break, her form has dipped. As a result, she’s ranked lower on this list for now.
Main Photo Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images
