Ranking movers: Gibson makes top 100 debut after Indian Wells fairytale

Talia Gibson was Australia’s biggest riser as she earned the coveted milestone, while Rinky Hijikata was rewarded for a career-best win.


Tuesday 17 March 2026
Liam Petterson
Melbourne, Australia
Untitled design - 1

Women's singles

The Californian desert will forever have a place in Talia Gibson’s heart after an epic run at Indian Wells earned her a place in the top 100 for the first time.

The 21-year-old defeated four top-50 opponents on her way to the quarterfinals, including world No.7 Jasmine Paolini.

Gibson was rewarded with a whopping 44-place rise in the WTA singles rankings, from No.112 to No.68.

MORE: Gibson extends magical run to first WTA 1000 quarterfinal at Indian Wells

“It feels really amazing,” she told tennis.com.au after cracking the coveted top 100. “It's been a goal of mine for so long and I feel like I've been pretty close in the rankings for quite a while now.

“I was really hoping that I was going to be able to do it this year and I think to be able to do it so early on the year and it was so unexpected … I'm just filled with so much joy.”

 

Ajla Tomljanovic also moved up the rankings after making the third round in California, which included an impressive win over world No.30 Wang Xinyu.

She jumped up four places to world No.81.

Aussie top 10
PlayerRankingMove
Maya JointNo.31-2
Daria KasatkinaNo.64-4
Talia GibsonNo.68+44
Kimberly BirrellNo.70-1
Ajla TomljanovicNo.81+4
Priscilla HonNo.137-11
Maddison InglisNo.139-7
Emerson JonesNo.147-2
Taylah PrestonNo.1490
Olivia GadeckiNo.182-2

Men's singles

Rinky Hijikata was Australia’s headline act on the men’s side at Indian Wells.

The 25-year-old notched the biggest win of his career over world No.10 Alexander Bublik on his way to the fourth round.

The run earned him an ATP ranking rise of 19 places and a top 100 rebirth for the first time since July 2025.

MORE: Hijikata stuns Bublik for first top-10 win

Adam Walton was also on the move, gaining six places to No.85 after earning a first-round win at Indian Wells and then making the semifinals at the Cap Cana Challenger.

Aussie top 10
PlayerRankingMove
Alex de MinaurNo.60
Alexei PopyrinNo.47-2
James DuckworthNo.80+3
Adam WaltonNo.85+6
Aleksander VukicNo.93-4
Rinky HijikataNo.98+19
Tristan SchoolkateNo.114+4
Jordan ThompsonNo.121-5
Christopher O'ConnellNo.130-3
Dane SweenyNo.132
-1

Women's doubles

Storm Hunter advanced one spot to re-enter the top 20 for the first time since she returned from major injury in February 2025.

Ellen Perez isn’t far behind, jumping four spots to No.22 after making the Indian Wells quarterfinals with Demi Schuurs.

Meanwhile, Gabriella Da Silva Fick made the biggest leap among the Australian women’s doubles top 10, rising 18 places to a career-best rank of No.248.

Aussie top 10
PlayerRankingMove
Storm HunterNo.20+1
Ellen PerezNo.22+4
Maya JointNo.35-1
Olivia GadeckiNo.73+1
Kimberly BirrellNo.980
Talia GibsonNo.114-4
Priscilla HonNo.146-3
Petra HuleNo.198+3
Alexandra OsborneNo.223+4
Gabriella Da Silva FickNo.248+18

Men's doubles

Marc Polmans advanced two spots to a career-best world No.59 thanks to a semifinal berth at the Phoenix Challenger.

It’s been a great start to the year for the 28-year-old, who won two Brisbane Challenger doubles titles and made the Australian Open doubles final.

Jason Kubler, Polmans’ doubles teammate at AO 2026, also rose two spots to world No.75, while Matthew Romios rose one place to No.78.

Aussie top 10
PlayerRankingMove
John-Patrick SmithNo.56-12
Marc PolmansNo.59+2
John PeersNo.61-2
Rinky HijikataNo.620
Matthew EbdenNo.73-4
Jason KublerNo.75+2
Matthew RomiosNo.78+1
Jordan ThompsonNo.106-40
Blake BayldonNo.112-1
Patrick HarperNo.139
-5

Save over 60% off a 12-month subscription and have access to the ATP, WTA, Australian Pro Tour & Junior Nationals with beIN SPORTS.