In a year marked by several comebacks, Naomi Osaka, Emma Raducanu, Paula Badosa, and Amanda Anisimova closed the season on a positive note and threaten to climb even higher in 2025. As the WTA season wraps up, let’s take a look at some of the most remarkable ranking surges.
While Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, and Zheng Qinwen stole the spotlight in 2024, several seasoned players regained their footing in the rankings, hinting at a promising return to top-tier tennis in 2025.
Naomi Osaka
The former World No. 1 spent a significant time away from the court. After winning her fourth Grand Slam at the 2021 US Open, her results declined, leading to a break due to mental health challenges. She later announced her pregnancy and extended her hiatus until the start of this season, beginning the year ranked World No. 833.
Osaka had a solid 22-18 record in 2024, peaking at World No. 58 and finishing the year ranked No. 60. She reached the quarterfinals at the Dubai Duty-Free Tennis Championships and the fourth round at the China Open, securing victories over top-20 players like Daria Kasatkina, Ons Jabeur, Jelena Ostapenko, and Elina Svitolina. One of her standout moments was pushing Iga Swiatek to the brink at Roland Garros, where she squandered a match point against arguably the best clay-court player of the past two decades.
Emma Raducanu
Raducanu’s meteoric rise to win the 2021 US Open catapulted her into tennis stardom, but injuries and inconsistency prevented her from returning to a final since. After undergoing surgeries in 2023 to resolve physical issues, the 22-year-old began 2024 ranked outside the top 300. Despite a limited schedule, she climbed to World No. 54, finishing at No. 59.