Qinwen Zheng headlines seven players in top 50 celebrating career-high rankings

Zheng Qinwen of China waves after defeating Anna Kalinskaya of Russia in their quarterfinal match at the Australian Open tennis championships at Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

Qinwen Zheng will headline the seven players in the WTA top 50 that will mark new career-high rankings on Monday.

The Chinese No 1 could start next week as high as world No 6 if she wins the Australian Open final against Aryna Sabalenka over the weekend.

Qinwen is already assured of a new career-high with a climb to at least No 7 in the world locked in thanks to her run to the final.

Her opponent in the final is the world No 2 Sabalenka, who has ensured that she will retain her placing even if she fails to defend her Australian Open crown.

Qinwen will displace current No 6 Ons Jabeur if she can win her maiden Grand Slam crown in Melbourne.

The Chinese star is the only player in the top 20 to achieve a new career-high through her efforts in the second week of the Australian Open.

Australian Open propels WTA prospects to new heights

American up-and-comer Emma Navarro is the next highest-ranked player that will break new ground in the rankings on Monday.

Navarro is set to reach the heights of world No 23 for the first time in her career after a run to the third round in Melbourne.

The outing in Melbourne, was Navarro’s best return from a Grand Slam to date.

Italy’s Jasmine Paolini is set to move up to the status of world No 24 after she reached the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career.

Paolini had not previously reached the third round in a Grand Slam and held a 4-17 record at Majors.

The Italian surpasses the mark of world No 29 she reached on 23 October 2023 after her run to the Jasmin Open final.

Last eight runs grant rankings climb

Losing Australian Open quarter-finalists Marta Kostyuk and Linda Noskova are also set to climb to new high-water marks in their professional careers..

Kostyuk cracks the top 30 for the first time in her career as she rises to become the new world No 28 after getting to the Australian Open quarter-finals.

The Ukranian’s previous best effort at a Grand Slam was a run to the fourth round in the 2021 French Open.

Kostyuk upset 25th seed Elise Mertens early on during her Australian Open titlt and played some impressive tennis.

Noskova joins four other Czech compatriots in the top 30 after her career-best Grand Slam performance in Melbourne.

Noskova will be the new world No 30 when the rankings update on Monday 29 January 2024.

Teenaged sensation Mirra Andreeva has secured the world No 35 rankings to rise 11 places from what was a new career-best No 46.

Australian Open quarter-finalist Anna Kalinskaya rounds out the players in the top 50 achieving their best rating on the WTA Rankings.