Elina Svitolina has emerged as one of the biggest gainers in the latest WTA rankings update after capturing the 2026 Italian Open title with a stunning run in Rome.
The Ukrainian tennis star climbed three places to World No. 7 following her third career Italian Open triumph, marking her return to the upper tier of women’s tennis ahead of the French Open.
Svitolina defeated Coco Gauff in a hard-fought final to secure her 20th WTA singles title and first WTA 1000 crown since 2018. During her impressive campaign, she also registered victories over top-ranked players including Elena Rybakina and Iga Swiatek.
The 31-year-old’s resurgence has been one of the major stories of the season. Since returning to the tour after maternity leave, Svitolina has steadily rebuilt her form and consistency, once again establishing herself among the top contenders in women’s tennis.
The Italian Open also triggered significant movement across the WTA rankings landscape. Elena Rybakina continued to close the gap on World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, while several players gained momentum heading into Roland Garros following strong clay-court performances in Rome.
Svitolina’s title-winning run has now positioned her among the favourites for the upcoming French Open, especially after becoming the oldest player since 1990 to defeat three top-five opponents in a single WTA 1000 tournament.
With confidence soaring and her ranking rising rapidly once again, Svitolina appears ready to challenge for more major honours during the remainder of the 2026 season.
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