When we last checked on these players, most were ranked outside of the top 50. True to form, most of them are now either close or solidly in the top 50. The one player we did not mention nine months ago was Emma Raducanu. However, nobody could have predicted her rise in December of 2020.

5. Daria Kasatkina

Daria was the veteran on this list. However, she is too good of a player to have been ranked outside the top 50 in 2020. As predicted, 2021 has brought her back to the player she was a couple of years back. She has posted solid results throughout the year, winning St. Petersburg and Melbourne, while also reaching finals in San Jose and Birmingham.

2020 Year-end Rank: #71
2021 Current Rank: #24

4. Marta Kostyuk

Marta has been slowly rising in 2021, posting some good results where they matter. She reached the semis in Abu Dhabi and Istanbul and made a short run at the French Open, where she lost in the round of 16 to Iga Swiatek. These results have been enough to earn this 19-year-old a decent ranking as she heads into 2022.

2020 Year-end Rank: #99
2021 Current Rank: #56

3. Leylah Fernandez

The most surprising out of all these players has been Leylah Fernandez. Her results in 2021 had been lackluster at best. However, she did manage to win Monterrey in the summer. However, aside from that, she managed a third-round appearance at the French Open. Of course, that all changed with her wonderful run at the US Open, where she ousted three top five players on her way to the final. It will be interesting to see if she can continue her momentum into the fall.

2020 Year-end Rank: #88
2021 Current Rank: #24

2. Coco Gauff

As predicted, Coco continues to be a rising star in the WTA. She now finds herself in the top 20 behind solid results. She reached the semis in Rome, won Palermo, reached the quarters at the French Open, and made a round of 16 appearance at Wimbledon. That’s enough to keep her in the top 20 the rest of the way. Look for Coco to continue posting solid results as she eyes the top 10 in 2022.

2020 Year-end Rank: #48
2021 Current Rank: #19

1. Iga Swiatek

The theme for Iga in 2021 has been to solidify her place in the top 10. She has been successful. Although unable to defend her French Open title, Iga posted two more tournament wins this year, at Adelaide and Rome. Winning in Rome was important because it is a premier event. The future looks bright for Iga.

2020 Year-end Rank: #17
2021 Current Rank: #8

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