No. 10. Ekaterina Alexandrova
How did the Czech reach into the top 10, and stayed there? Well, she keeps trucking, even when she can mess it up. However, she can charge and forget about the losses. She reached at the US Open, upsetting Jasmine Paolini and Elena Rybakina before she had to retire with an injury. In Berlin, she won it during the summer, knocking down Aryna Sabalenka. In the fall, she was hurt, so she couldn’t play. She can be a blast, just like when she won ’23 Wimbledon. That was a shocker, but her powerful backhand was phenomenal. Look, she can be mediocre, but she will persevere with some tremendous shots. If she is healthy in 2026, she can get into the top 5 and try to win a Slam once again. But maybe not.
No. 9. Mirra Andreeva
The 18-year-old player was tremendous during the first three months, winning Dubai and Indian Wells – which can be on some hot days – knocking off Rybakina, Iga Swiatek and Sabalenka, blasting her shots. But she began to skid, not all the time, yet here and there. She is young, so she has to learn to use more strokes. Still, the shots she has now are very heavy and superfast. When players are very young, the game can be complicated, but she can hang in there just like her coach, Conchita Martinez, who won Wimbledon. Andrea has a terrific backhand, and her forehand is darn good, but in the summer and the fall, she missed a lot. In 2026, if her serve is faster and is better on low volleys, then she will stay in the top 10.
No. 8. Jasmine Paolini
She was so consistent, extremely fast and improved a lot last year. Yes, she has been around a while, but the 29-year-old finally decided to be patient. When she had an opportunity, she can go into the lines. She went deep at times in tournaments in the first half, but in the fall she was so-so. She won in Rome, beating Coco Gauff. She advanced into the Cincinnati final but Swiatek outhit her. In the WTA Finals, she was there, but she did not win a set, perhaps she was drained. That was tough. In 2026, she can re-tool.
No. 7. Madison Keys
The veteran had not won a Grand Slam for 12 years, but at the 2025 Australian Open, she finally nailed it and won. She was always a huge hitter, with her strong forehand and backhand, but she isn’t that fast. Plus, she was mediocre at the net. A very nice person, she finally realized that if she was playing really well, then she can defeat anyone. She did on some hot days, bumping off Rybakina, Swiatek and Sabalenka. That was phenomenal. However, after that, she was OK, but not splashy. The 30-year -old gets hurt a lot, and it will continue year after year. If she is playing well, then she will have another shot to win her second Slam. At the 2026 Aussie Open? Maybe.
No. 6. Jessica Pegula
Years ago, the older American was very steady, but that was it. She couldn’t beat the top players. But she decided to clip her forehand, and use her strong backhand, going down the line and crosscourt. Her serve will never be able to generate a bunch of aces. Her net game has improved. She plays often and she grinds for a long time. This year, she reached the final in Miami, won Charleston and Germany, beating Swiatek. At the US Open, she reached the semis again, but Sabalenka outhit her 6-4 in the third. Pegula gave it all, but it wasn’t good enough. The terrific thing is that in the fall, she went to the WTA Finals, beating her good friend, Gauff, her doubles partner. But Sabalenka beat Pegula again, as did Rybakina, who won the event. It is possible that the 30-year-old Pegula can win a Slam someday, but that goal is getting more challenging by the year.