Ranking Movers: Walton, Birrell rise after Roland Garros heroics

Adam Walton and Kimberly Birrell lead the biggest ranking risers after their top-10 victories in Paris.


Tuesday 09 June 2026
Jackson Mansell
Paris, France

Men’s singles

Adam Walton’s biggest career triumph at Roland Garros saw him ascend six places in the ATP rankings this week.

Walton's five-set upset of sixth seed Daniil Medvedev comes ahead of his next Grand Slam outing at Wimbledon, which begins in less than three weeks.

> READ: Walton secures mammoth victory over Medvedev

The 27-year-old rose to world No.91 and is now Australia’s fourth-highest-ranked men’s singles player as the grasscourt swing begins.  

Following his Roland Garros success, Walton travelled to Tyler, United States and secured his fifth ATP Challenger crown, winning 10 consecutive sets to emerge victorious.

 

Meanwhile, Alex de Minaur equalled his career-high ranking of world No.6 after advancing to the third round at Roland Garros for the second time.

AUSSIE TOP 10
PlayerRankingMove
Alex de MinaurNo.6+1
James DuckworthNo.79+3
Alexei PopyrinNo.90-29
Adam WaltonNo.91+6
Aleksandar VukicNo.100-4
Rinky HijikataNo.106-8
Tristan SchoolkateNo.1230
Dane SweenyNo.132-1
Jordan ThompsonNo.152-3
Chris O'ConnellNo.156-1

Women’s singles

Kimberly Birrell’s maiden Roland Garros victory against world No.5 Jessica Pegula was not only a significant career milestone, but it also helped improve her ranking.

The Queenslander moved up nine spots to world No.74, her highest ranking in three months.  

> MORE: Brilliant Birrell downs Pegula

Storm Hunter continued on her upward trajectory, rising to her best ranking since January 2025. It followed her first qualifying triumph at Roland Garros in three years, which came against compatriot Tahlia Kokkinis.    

AUSSIE TOP 10
PlayerRankingMove
Maya JointNo.53-1
Talia GibsonNo.63-5
Daria KasatkinaNo.66-13
Kimberly BirrellNo.74+9
Ajla TomljanovicNo.109-9
Taylah PrestonNo.126+1
Emerson JonesNo.133+3
Priscilla HonNo.146-3
Maddison InglisNo.151-10
Storm HunterNo.187+6

Women’s doubles

Ellen Perez was Australia’s best-performing doubles player at Roland Garros, advancing to the quarterfinals with Dutchwoman Demi Schuurs. She moved up one spot to world No.21.

 

Meanwhile, Talia Gibson kickstarted her grasscourt season in the best possible way, winning the Birmingham 125 doubles crown with Indonesian Janice Tjen. After capturing the biggest title of her career, Gibson climbed 14 places to world No.114.

Alexandra Osborne also hoisted silverware this week, resulting in a significant rankings rise. The 31-year-old won an ITF W100 trophy in Sumter, United States to improve to a career-high ranking of world No.143.

Elsewhere, Elena Micic edged closer to the Australian top 10 after winning an ITF W50 hardcourt title in Portugal. She improved to world No.234 after moving up 21 places.

AUSSIE TOP 10
PlayerRankingMove
Storm HunterNo.19+1
Ellen PerezNo.21+1
Maya JointNo.39-1
Olivia GadeckiNo.77+1
Kimberly BirrellNo.103-8
Talia GibsonNo.114+14
Alexandra OsborneNo.143+25
Priscilla HonNo.144+2
Tenika McgiffinNo.194-3
Gabriella Da Silva-FickNo.214+5

Men’s doubles

Marc Polmans remains atop the Australian men’s doubles rankings, entering the ATP grasscourt swing at his career-high ranking of world No.38. He pairs this week with Portugal’s Nuno Borges in 's-Hertogenbosch.

Despite a rankings drop, John Peers was among Australia’s best performers last week, reaching the Birmingham Challenger semifinals.

In other results, Thomas Fancutt won his fourth doubles title in the space of six tournaments after winning an ITF M25 crown in Caltanissetta, Italy.

Partnering alongside Kiwi Ajeet Rai, the duo did not drop a set, as Fancutt claimed his 35th career title.    

AUSSIE TOP 10
PlayerRankingMove
Marc PolmansNo.380
John-Patrick SmithNo.61-7
Rinky HijikataNo.64-2
Jason KublerNo.72-4
John PeersNo.77-14
Matthew RomiosNo.95-1
Blake BayldonNo.125-13
Patrick HarperNo.143-2
Matt EbdenNo.146-56
Jordan ThompsonNo.155-4

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