‎WTA Shock: Coco Gauff Silences Critics as Aryna Sabalenka Takes Year-End No.1 — What Happened Will Surprise You ‎👇👇 ‎ ‎

WTA Shock: Coco Gauff Silences Critics as Aryna Sabalenka Takes Year-End No.1 — What Happened Will Surprise You

WTA Rankings: Sabalenka All But Seals Year-End No. 1 as Gauff Claims U.S. Top Spot and Wuhan Title
Coco Gauff walked away from the 2025 Wuhan Open with more than just a trophy she also locked up the American year-end No. 1 ranking. Meanwhile, Aryna Sabalenka has done enough to virtually guarantee her status as the WTA’s year-end world No. 1.

Gauff’s position as the top-ranked U.S. woman came under serious threat after Amanda Anisimova’s impressive title run at the China Open. With only a few events left this season, the race for No. 3 and national bragging rights was suddenly wide open.

But fortune and form aligned for Gauff. Anisimova was forced to withdraw from Wuhan due to a calf injury, and Gauff seized the opportunity, powering through the draw and defeating close friend and fellow American Jessica Pegula 6–4, 7–5 in the final. The victory marked her second title of 2025, following her French Open triumph in June.

The win gives Gauff a comfortable buffer of roughly 1,900 points over Anisimova, a margin large enough to secure the world No. 3 ranking even after she surrenders 1,300 points at the upcoming WTA Finals.

Anisimova, who has no ranking points left to defend this season, had initially entered the Ningbo Open in hopes of closing the gap, but later withdrew from the WTA 500 event.

At the top of the standings, Sabalenka remains No. 1 ahead of Iga Świątek. The Belarusian’s title defense in Wuhan ended in the semifinals at the hands of Pegula, costing her 610 points. However, with Świątek exiting in the quarterfinals, Sabalenka extended her advantage to 1,632 points heading into the WTA Finals.
With only 1,500 points available at the season-ending event, Sabalenka is all but assured to finish as year-end No. 1 for the second straight season though one small caveat remains.

Both Sabalenka and Świątek have not met the WTA’s minimum participation requirement for WTA 500 events this year, a rule that could see ranking penalties applied. The tour has yet to confirm whether any deductions will be made.

Pegula’s run to the Wuhan final pushed her up one spot to No. 5, giving her an outside chance to overtake Anisimova before the season ends. The top 10 also welcomed a new face, with Ekaterina Alexandrova breaking in for the first time.