This season's Asian swing is delivering upsets, comebacks, and career milestones, as players like Qinwen Zheng, Coco Gauff, and Mirra Andreeva redrew the WTA rankings in a single week.
The 2026 China Open Rearranges the WTA Rankings
The biggest mover though was Zheng, who won the 2026 China Open on home soil — something no Chinese player had pulled off in the event's 32-year history. Her sixth career title vaulted her from No. 54 to No. 23 in the overall tour standings. And that jump is even more impressive considering an elbow injury last July had her sitting at No. 160 as recently as June.
On the other side of the net, 19-year-old Andreeva didn't leave Beijing with the trophy but did leave at No. 3. She became the youngest to reach that mark since Maria Sharapova did it at 17 in early 2005. Andreeva's now reached five finals in 2026, as many as Aryna Sabalenka, Jessica Pegula, and current No. 1 Elena Rybakina.
While both Zheng and Andreeva found success in Asia, Gauff had a tougher time during her overseas stretch. Elise Mertens finally beat the three-time Grand Slam champion after five straight losses, then rode that momentum to the semifinals, jumping five spots to No. 14.
What's Left of the 2026 Asian Swing
Away from the 2026 China Open, Alexandra Eala skipped Beijing to represent the Philippines at the Asian Games, where she won bronze for her country. She heads into the rest of the swing at No. 18 in the WTA rankings.
The rest of the Asian swing rolls on through early November, with this week's Wuhan Open leading to stops in Ningbo, Tokyo, and Guangzhou.
