The European clay court season on the Hologic WTA Tour began last week. Jelena Ostapenko won her ninth career title at the WTA 500 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart. Elina Svitolina secured her 18th title at the WTA 250 Open Rouen Capfinances Métropole event.
Ostapenko began 2025 ranked No. 17 but dropped to No. 37 in February. She rebounded by reaching the Doha final and continued her comeback in Stuttgart. Her Stuttgart victory included wins over World No. 2 Iga Swiatek and World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. This is Ostapenko`s second clay court title and her first since winning Roland Garros in 2017.
This week, she re-enters the Top 20, moving up six places to No. 18.
Interestingly, Ostapenko has an unbeaten record against Top 10 players this year (4-0) but a losing record against players outside the Top 10 (8-9).
For Svitolina, the Rouen title is her second since returning from maternity leave, both on French clay, following Strasbourg 2023. Svitolina, with an 18-4 record in finals, rises one position to No. 17.
Danilovic Achieves New Career High as Rouen Finalist
Olga Danilovic first entered the Top 100 in September 2018 at 17 years old after winning the Moscow River Cup. After five weeks, she dropped out and needed another five years to return.
The last 12 months have been Danilovic`s most consistent. She reached the fourth round of her first two Grand Slams, won her second title in Guangzhou last October, and reached her fourth tour-level final in Rouen last week.
This Rouen run extended Danilovic`s winning streak to nine matches before losing to Svitolina in the final. She climbs five places to a career-high No. 34 this week.
Navarro Returns to Top 10, Rybakina Exits
Emma Navarro is back in the Top 10 after a three-week absence. The American rises one spot to No. 10 after reaching the second round in Stuttgart.
Navarro and Elena Rybakina swap positions. Rybakina, who did not defend her Stuttgart title, falls to No. 11, exiting the Top 10 for the first time since January 2023.
Seidel and Rakotomanga Rajaonah Make Progress at Home
Two players born in 2005 achieved significant results at home last week. In Stuttgart, 20-year-old German Ella Seidel, as a lucky loser, reached the second round. Seidel climbs 13 places to a career-high No. 111.
Two weeks prior, Varvara Gracheva was the only Frenchwoman in the Top 100. Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah`s performance in Rouen offered hope. The 19-year-old French player qualified for her WTA main draw debut and reached the quarterfinals.
Rakotomanga Rajaonah jumps 45 places from No. 291 to a career-high No. 245. The next highest-ranked French teenager is Astrid Lew Yan Foon at No. 490.
Other Notable Ranking Movements
Mayar Sherif, +11 to No. 50: Sherif won the Madrid ITF W100, returning to the Top 50.
Katie Volynets, +10 to No. 70: Reached the final of the WTA 125 in Oeiras.
Dalma Galfi, +28 to No. 121: Won the Oeiras WTA 125 title.
Jana Fett, +24 to No. 129: Achieved a Top 20 victory in Stuttgart.
Jessika Ponchet, +11 to No. 135: Reached her first WTA quarterfinal in Rouen.
Iryna Shymanovich, +29 to No. 174: Won an ITF title in Zephyrhills.
Tessah Andrianjafitrimo, +33 to No. 208: Reached the final of the Calvi ITF W75.
Sofia Costoulas, +48 to No. 212: Won the Calvi ITF W75 title.
Julia Grabher, +56 to No. 238: Won the Koper ITF W75 title.
Camilla Rosatello, +37 to No. 251: Qualified in Rouen and won a Top 100 match.
Caty McNally, +37 to No. 287: Re-entered the Top 300 after reaching the final in Zephyrhills.
Ekaterine Gorgodze, +60: Reached the final of the Koper ITF W75.
Rupert Caldwell