Ranking Movers: Birrell surges after big week in Austin

Kimberly Birrell rose significantly this week following strong singles and doubles campaigns in Texas.


Tuesday 03 March 2026
Jackson Mansell
Austin, United States

Women’s singles

Kimberly Birrell has charged back into the top 70 for the first time since June last year after advancing to her second WTA semifinal of 2026 in Austin

Birrell became the second Australian in tournament history to reach the final four, which lifted her 11 places to world No.69, nine places shy of her career-high mark.

Her quarterfinal opponent, Ajla Tomljanovic, was the other Australian to have achieved the feat in 2025. 

Priscilla Hon also enjoyed a rankings jump after she progressed to the final 16 in Merida, Mexico. The lucky loser improved 10 places after beating local Renata Zarazua in the first round. 

READ: Hon prevails against Zarazua in Merida

Aussie top 10
PlayerRankingMove
Maya JointNo.290
Daria KasatkinaNo.60-2
Kimberly BirrellNo.69+11
Ajla TomljanovicNo.85-11
Talia GibsonNo.112-2
Priscilla HonNo.126+10
Maddison InglisNo.132-5
Emerson JonesNo.145+1
Taylah PrestonNo.149+1
Olivia GadeckiNo.1800

Women’s doubles

Storm Hunter’s Austin triumph with Taylor Townsend sees her on the verge of rejoining the top 20 for the first time since returning from her Achilles rupture in February 2025.

MORE: Hunter reigns supreme in Austin

Hunter’s 10th WTA doubles title helped her improve to world No.21 to reclaim the mantle as Australia’s highest-ranked women’s doubles player. 

 

Meanwhile, Birrell entered the WTA doubles top 100 for the first time after reaching the Austin quarterfinals alongside American Caty McNally. She climbed 12 places to world No.98.

Aussie top 10
PlayerRankingMove
Storm HunterNo.21+4
Ellen PerezNo.26-2
Maya JointNo.34-1
Olivia GadeckiNo.74-1
Kimberly BirrellNo.98+12
Talia GibsonNo.110-1
Priscilla HonNo.143+2
Petra HuleNo.201-1
Alexandra OsborneNo.2270
Elena MicicNo.241-16

Men’s singles

Alexei Popyrin continues to improve his ranking after gaining some form in the Middle East swing. 

The 26-year-old recorded his biggest win of the season in Dubai this week, defeating world No.56 Kamil Majchrzak 3-6 6-4 7-5 in their opening-round clash. 

Popyrin increased his ranking two places to world No.45 ahead of a return to Indian Wells. 

Aussie top 10
PlayerRankingMove
Alex de MinaurNo.60
Alexei PopyrinNo.45+2
James DuckworthNo.830
Aleksandar VukicNo.89+2
Adam WaltonNo.91-4
Jordan ThompsonNo.116-3
Rinky HijikataNo.117-2
Tristan SchoolkateNo.118-10
Chris O'ConnellNo.127-22
Dane SweenyNo.131
+2

Men’s doubles

Matthew Romios boosted his ranking to within 10 spots of his career-high mark after reaching the doubles final of the ATP 250 tournament in Santiago, Chile with Uruguayan Ariel Behar. The Victorian’s first career ATP doubles final lifted him back to world No.79.

Marc Polmans and Rinky Hijikata both shifted up two places, while Patrick Harper re-entered the Australian top 10.  

Aussie top 10
PlayerRankingMove
John-Patrick SmithNo.44-4
John PeersNo.59-3
Marc PolmansNo.61+2
Rinky HijikataNo.62+2
Jordan ThompsonNo.660
Matt EbdenNo.69+1
Jason KublerNo.77-2
Matthew RomiosNo.79+2
Blake BayldonNo.111-6
Patrick HarperNo.134
+1

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