Coco Gauff’s 2026 Australian Open journey ended in disappointment, and the fallout has now been reflected in the latest WTA rankings. Despite reaching the QF, the American star has slipped down the rankings ladder following her exit in Melbourne.

Gauff entered the tournament as world number 3 but struggled to counter Elina Svitolina’s dominant performance in the last eight. The Ukrainian delivered a commanding 6-1, 6-2 victory, abruptly halting Gauff’s campaign and setting off a ripple effect in the updated rankings list.

Following the conclusion of the Australian Open, the WTA confirmed that Gauff has dropped two spots to World No. 5, marking the first time in 16 months that she has fallen outside the top four. Meanwhile, Amanda Anisimova held onto the No. 4 position, and newly crowned Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina climbed two places to claim the No. 3 ranking. Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek continue to occupy the top two positions without any change.

The rankings shift could significantly impact Coco Gauff’s upcoming schedule. With the Middle East swing approaching, her new standing might present a tougher path in both the Doha and Dubai Masters 1000 events. While a strong showing could help her climb back up, she is likely to face top-tier opponents much earlier in the draws.

However, there is a silver lining for the American. Gauff carries minimal ranking pressure heading into these tournaments after early exits in both Doha and Dubai last season. In contrast, Anisimova faces a tougher task as she defends 1,000 ranking points from her Qatar Open triumph, with only 257 points currently separating her from Gauff.

Following the Middle East swing, Gauff will shift her focus to the highly anticipated Sunshine Swing in the United States, competing at Indian Wells and the Miami Open. Fortunately for the 21-year-old, she does not have significant points to defend during these tournaments, offering her an excellent opportunity to regain lost ground.

This is not the first time Gauff has navigated a rankings setback. After failing to defend her 2024 US Open title and exiting in the Round of 16, she dropped to World No. 6, marking one of the sharpest declines of her career. Yet, the American quickly bounced back, climbing to world no. 4 within a month and finishing the season ranked third globally.

Throughout most of the 2025 season, Coco Gauff maintained that momentum, even briefly reaching World No. 2 during the clay and early grass phases. Given her history of resilience, the latest rankings dip may simply be another temporary hurdle as she prepares for the demanding stretch of tournaments ahead.

Coco Gauff’s ex-coach has already made a bold ranking prediction for her in 2026

Coco Gauff’s Australian Open campaign may have ended in disappointment, but her former coach, Brad Gilbert, had already made a confident prediction about her future before the tournament setback. The veteran coach believes the American star has a strong chance of reaching the summit of women’s tennis in 2026.

Speaking during a January 14 episode of The Big T Podcast, Gilbert assessed Gauff’s growth and consistency at the top level. Having coached the 21-year-old during her breakthrough 2023 US Open triumph, Gilbert expressed firm belief in her ability to eventually become World No. 1.

“At 21 years old, three consecutive years at three in the world, I think there’s a chance it’s going to happen this year,” said Gilbert. He further added, “I will put it at 97.91% chance of happening over her career. But I think there is a good chance that it will happen in ‘26. I’m going to say 51.39% [it happens in 2026].”

Gilbert also explained that Gauff’s climb to the top would depend heavily on her performance during crucial stretches of the season. “But she’s going to need, potentially, to make a little bit of hay,” he said, referencing tournaments where she had previously struggled, including Doha, Dubai, Indian Wells, and Miami.

While Gilbert made these remarks before the Australian Open, Gauff’s Melbourne campaign later presented a new challenge. The American entered the tournament as World No. 3 but suffered a heavy quarterfinal loss to Elina Svitolina, winning just three games in the one-sided contest.

Reflecting on that defeat during a later conversation with CNN, Gilbert highlighted areas where Coco Gauff could improve, particularly her serve. “One word that describes Coco incredibly for her age, her whole career, is she’s resilient,” said Gilbert. “And a lot of times (after) a loss, she’s able to figure things out and move forward. Normally, in a match, she doesn’t lose (by) a score like that, but I thought that her opponent played very well in slower conditions indoors.”

Gilbert also noted that Gauff could have adopted a more aggressive approach behind her serve. “I thought maybe she was a little too spinny on her serve… she had zero aces to five double faults, but she won a low percentage of first serve points and second serve points, so I would have liked to have seen her be a little more aggressive on her serve.”

Despite the tough defeat, Gilbert suggested that setbacks often serve as important learning moments. Although her Australian Open exit may have temporarily complicated her ranking push, Gilbert’s earlier prediction underlines the belief many still have in Coco Gauff’s long-term potential. Given her history of bouncing back stronger from difficult losses, the race toward World No. 1 remains very much within reach for the young American.

Written by

Sayantan Roy

Sayantan Roy is a seasoned tennis journalist at EssentiallyTennis. He brings a deep tactical understanding to his coverage, breaking down head-to-head records, match dynamics, and on-court strategies with precision. For more than two years, Sayantan has been a key member of the Live Events desk, delivering real-time insights and data-backed predictions for the platform’s Matchday Preview section. His analytical approach has sparked editorial debates and drawn recognition from respected tennis voices, including commentator and analyst Olly_Tennis. Combining his experience in writing with a passion for insightful sports journalism, Sayantan’s work serves as a trusted reference point for tennis fans around the world.

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