Elina Svitolina has climbed to No. 7 in the WTA rankings, equaling Serena Williams' best position since becoming a mother. This marks her highest ranking since returning to the tour after motherhood. The Ukrainian's strong 2026 season has propelled her back into the elite top 10.
Svitolina reached No. 7 this week, tying Williams, who hit that mark in 2021 after giving birth to her daughter Olympia in 2017. Williams' return featured four Grand Slam finals, including Wimbledon and the US Open in 2018 and 2019, along with semifinals at the 2020 US Open and 2021 Australian Open. She also won the Auckland title in 2020 before stepping away in 2022. Svitolina's resurgence mirrors that resilience. After winning the 2023 Internationaux de Strasbourg title ranked No. 508—her first as a mother and the lowest-ranked champion since Kim Clijsters in 2009—she has dominated in 2026. Highlights include an Auckland title, Australian Open semifinal, Dubai WTA 1000 final, and Indian Wells semifinal. She became the first player this year to win 20 matches after her Miami opener, rising from No. 12 to No. 10 post-Melbourne. Kim Clijsters remains the benchmark, winning three Grand Slams post-2008 motherhood and reaching No. 1 in 2011. Belinda Bencic, back after her 2024 child, hit No. 9 in February 2026 but sits at No. 12 now. Svitolina reacted to rumors of Williams' possible return with surprise: “Oh, really? Wow. I didn’t hear that.” She added, “Well, I think it would be amazing for the sport, definitely. She’s such a great champion and achieved so much... an inspiration for women around the world.” The Ukrainian, who beat Williams at the 2016 Rio Olympics, eyes further gains on clay.
