Mirra Andreeva becomes youngest WTA top 5 player since Maria Sharapova after Wimbledon

Mirra Andreeva has officially etched her name into tennis history.

The 18-year-old Russian sensation has broken into the WTA’s Top 5 for the first time in her career following an impressive quarterfinal run at Wimbledon, making her the youngest player to achieve the feat since Maria Sharapova did it over two decades ago.

Andreeva, who turned 18 in April, climbs from No. 7 to No. 5 in the updated rankings, building on a remarkably consistent season at the majors.

The Russian's result at SW19 marks her second consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinal and third in her last six Slam appearances. Her consistency and maturity on court continue to turn heads, and with every match, she looks more and more like the next major champion-in-waiting.

Her milestone achievement mirrors that of Sharapova, who was just 17 when she cracked the Top 5 in November 2004 after winning the WTA Finals. Sharapova would later rise to world No. 1 in 2005 and enjoy a 21-week reign at the top of the rankings during her storied career. Now, comparisons between the two Russian prodigies are hard to avoid.

While Andreeva’s meteoric rise dominates headlines, she’s not the only player making waves in the rankings.

Amanda Anisimova, who reached her first Grand Slam final at Wimbledon this year, has also achieved a career-best ranking. The American jumps from No. 12 to No. 7, securing her debut in the Top 10. Once hailed as one of the brightest young talents in the game after reaching the 2019 Roland Garros semifinals at age 17, Anisimova’s career took a pause in 2023 as she stepped away from tennis to focus on her mental health.

Her return to the sport in 2024 has been nothing short of remarkable. After winning her first WTA 1000 title at the Qatar Open earlier this season, she’s continued to climb the ranks, and her performance at Wimbledon proved she is back among the elite.

With her new Top 10 status, Anisimova joins fellow Americans Coco Gauff (No. 2), Jessica Pegula (No. 4), and Madison Keys (No. 8), marking a dominant showing for the United States in women’s tennis.

Elsewhere in the WTA rankings, several more players are celebrating major milestones. Denmark’s Clara Tauson cracks the Top 20 for the first time, jumping from No. 22 to No. 19 after reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon.

Former Top 5 player Belinda Bencic returns to the Top 20 for the first time since becoming a mother, leaping from No. 35 to No. 20 following a semifinal run in London.

Additionally, American Hailey Baptiste makes her Top 50 debut at No. 48 after a career-best third-round showing, while Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro climbs to No. 50 after also reaching the fourth round. Germany’s Tatjana Maria, another mother on tour, breaks into the Top 40 for the first time in her career, rising to No. 36 after a title at Queen’s and a runner-up finish in Newport.

On the ATP side, rising stars are making moves of their own. Italy’s Flavio Cobolli makes his Top 20 debut at No. 19 after reaching the Wimbledon quarterfinals.

American Alex Michelsen enters the Top 30 for the first time at No. 30, and the Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca breaks into the Top 50 at No. 48 after an impressive third-round performance at The Championships.

With the rankings heating up and youth leading the charge, the post-Wimbledon tennis landscape is as exciting as ever. But among the many storylines, Mirra Andreeva’s historic leap into the Top 5 stands tallest, a glimpse into what could be a golden new era for women’s tennis.