Even though the 2026 season has only just begun, the WTA Tour has already delivered its share of storylines.

Aryna Sabalenka started strong with a title at the Brisbane International, while Iga Swiatek helped Poland lift the United Cup.

Elina Svitolina also got off to a good start, picking up a win in Auckland. Attention now shifts to the Adelaide and Hobart Internationals.

Those two tournaments are the last stops before players head over to Melbourne Park for next week’s Australian Open.

Coco Gauff moves up in the WTA rankings as Amanda Anisimova slides down

The WTA Tour has released its latest rankings, and there is a new top 10 order taking shape.

Sabalenka is still the world number one, with Swiatek right behind her, but Coco Gauff has climbed into third place.

She has swapped places with fellow American Amanda Anisimova, who now sits fourth, while Elena Rybakina holds steady at fifth.

Jessica Pegula remains in sixth. Jasmine Paolini and Mirra Andreeva have both moved up one place each to seventh and eighth.

Madison Keys slips two spots to ninth, and Belinda Bencic moves up to 10th after her MVP performance for Switzerland at the United Cup.

Belinda Bencic matches Serena Williams’ feat after United Cup success

Poland may have finally claimed the United Cup after two straight finals defeats, but it was Switzerland who captured the fans’ attention in Australia.

Veteran Stan Wawrinka made headlines with a strong start to his final season as a pro, but it was Bencic who truly stood out. She went undefeated across five ties and took home the tournament’s MVP award.

Bencic also collected 500 ranking points and became the first mother to break into the WTA top 10 since Serena Williams did it in 2021.

After giving birth to her daughter in April 2024, Bencic returned to tennis unranked later that October, finishing the year ranked outside the top 900.

It has been an impressive comeback for the former world number four, who now looks ahead to building on that momentum at the Australian Open.