The 2024 tennis season is nearing a close, with several players having made the most of the past 10 months with major moves up the rankings.
As the WTA Finals takes place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, here’s a look at the 10 women’s players with the biggest UTR Ratings improvement over the year.
The list features some of the top stars on the WTA this season, athletes to watch heading into 2025, as well as up-and-coming players making their way onto the pro tennis scene.
Their stories range from injury comebacks to breakthrough performances and recovering from setbacks to reach new highs.
Top 10 UTR Ratings Movers in 2024 WTA Season
Jule Niemeier – 11.37 to 12.17 (↑ 0.80)
Jule Niemeier, currently world No. 92, jumped the most in the UTR Ratings through the 2024 season.
The 25-year-old’s progression can be seen through her Grand Slam results: she lost in the second round of qualifying at the Australian Open, qualified for Roland Garros and exited in the first round, then reached the second round at Wimbledon as a direct main draw entrant, and finally made the round of 32 at the US Open.
Amanda Anisimova – 11.93 to 12.66 (↑ 0.73)
Returning to the tour in 2024 after taking a break through much of last season, former world No. 21 Amanda Anisimova was primed for a strong comeback.
Her UTR Rating boost is evidence of that – bouncing all the way up to 12.66, currently No. 17 on the list (she is No. 36 on the WTA Rankings). Her biggest result of the year was making the WTA 1000 final in Toronto.
Aleksandra Krunic – 11.07 to 11.76 (↑ 0.69)
A former Top 40 player back in 2018, the year she won her first and only WTA title, Aleksandra Krunic is finding her form again after rupturing her ACL in 2022.
In the WTA rankings, she’s moved up over 400 spots through the year to No. 283.
Nastasja Schunk – 10.72 to 11.37 (↑ 0.64)
Nastasja Schunk returned to pro tennis this season after a full year off due to shoulder surgery.
The 21-year-old, who reached a peak of No. 143 as an 18-year-old, dropped off the world rankings entirely and has built it back up to No. 305 after a solid year on the ITF circuit.
Maja Chwalinska – 11.34 to 11.95 (↑ 0.60)
With two ITF W75 titles and another two runner-up finishes to her name this season, Maja Chwalinska is climbing up the ranks.
The 23-year-old hit a high of No. 152 through 2024, improving upon her starting point of No. 349.
Angela Fita Boluda – 10.98 to 11.57 (↑ 0.59)
As the season nears its end, Angela Fita Boluda is reaching new career-highs with a world ranking of No. 240 on October 28. It’s her first time in the Top 250.
Zhang Shuai – 11.54 to 12.12 (↑ 0.57)
You have showed what is the sports spirit, what is the champion's attitude! Everyone knows your physical condition not fully energy ,but you still gave your best !!
— Shuai Zhang (@zhangshuai121) October 28, 2024
Thank you so much for sharing the court with you @K_Siniakova best luck to your another @WTAFinalsRiyadh pic.twitter.com/qlYIoiTOFB
A Top 25 player in 2022, Zhang Shuai has been one of the best stories on tour this year. Injuries in 2023 and a 24-match losing streak, the second-longest in WTA history, dropped her ranking all the way to No. 776 eight months ago.
But at the end of September, the 35-year-old earned her first win since February 2023 as a wild card at the China Open in Beijing, a WTA 1000 event.
She proceeded to become the lowest-ranked player to make the tournament’s quarterfinals at No. 595, including a win over world No. 8 Emma Navarro in the second round. She is now world No. 219.
Diana Shnaider – 12.03 to 12.58 (↑ 0.55)
The best season of her career has propelled 20-year-old Diana Shnaider above the 12.50 mark in the UTR Ratings and into the WTA Top 15, becoming one of the top players in women’s tennis.
She started the season outside the Top 100, and earned her first three WTA titles: 250 crowns in Thailand and Hungary and the 500-level title in Bad Homburg, Germany.
Shnaider's trajectory from North Carolina State to the top of the WTA is further proof that the college tennis to pro tennis pathway is stronger than ever.
Emma Navarro – 12.27 to 12.80 (↑ 0.52)
One of the breakout stars of 2024, Emma Navarro has entrenched herself in the WTA Top 10.
Her season has been highlighted by the US Open semifinals, Wimbledon quarterfinals, a WTA 250 title in Hobart, and WTA 1000 semifinal and quarterfinal appearances at Toronto and Indian Wells, respectively.
Navarro's UTR Rating of 12.80 has her at No. 9 on the list women's tennis rankings by UTR Rating list, while she has climbed from No. 38 to No. 8 in the WTA rankings.
Read More: Navarro's Shows Her WTA Status Ahead of 2024 US Open
Patricia Maria Tig – 11.09 to 11.61 (↑ 0.52)
Patricia Maria Tig is another player still finding her way post-injury.
Knocking on the door of the Top 50 in 2021, Tig started 2024 at world No. 431 and hit a 2024 high of No. 253 in October after a strong ITF season, including six ITF W15 finals in a row, four of which she won.
*UTR Ratings mover data is from January 1, 2024 to October 21, 2024.
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