Birrell, Preston Climb Rankings Before Home Grand Slam

Morgan Winslow

ago 2 hours

Birrell, Preston Climb Rankings Before Home Grand Slam

Kimberly Birrell and Taylah Preston have recently made significant strides in their rankings as they prepare for the upcoming Australian Open 2026. Their performances at their respective lead-up tournaments have been notable, showcasing their potential on the WTA circuit.

Birrell and Preston Climb Rankings

Birrell reached the semifinals of the Adelaide International, marking her first WTA 500 semifinal appearance. This achievement propelled her into the top 100 rankings, positioning her at world No. 76. The 27-year-old secured impressive victories over top-50 competitors, including Anastasia Potapova and Jaqueline Cristian, reaffirming her comeback after a successful run in Brisbane last year.

Meanwhile, 20-year-old Taylah Preston also celebrated a career milestone by advancing to her first WTA semifinal in Hobart. Her notable victories over Emma Raducanu and Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, both top-ranked players, catapulted her ranking to world No. 161, marking a substantial climb as she heads into the Australian Open.

Aussie Women’s Singles Rankings

Maya Joint: No. 31 (+1)
Daria Kasatkina: No. 43 (+5)
Kimberly Birrell: No. 76 (+31)
Ajla Tomljanovic: No. 78 (-2)
Talia Gibson: No. 119 (0)
Priscilla Hon: No. 121 (0)
Emerson Jones: No. 153 (+2)
Astra Sharma: No. 157 (0)
Taylah Preston: No. 161 (+43)
Maddison Inglis: No. 168 (-1)

Men’s Singles Updates

Aleksandar Vukic also excelled, ascending to world No. 78 after reaching the quarterfinals in Adelaide. The 29-year-old secured victories against Jacob Fearnley and even toppled Stefanos Tsitsipas before falling to Tommy Paul in the last eight.

Alex de Minaur maintains his status as the top Australian player, ranked No. 6 globally. He is close to breaking into the ATP top five, trailing Lorenzo Musetti by just 25 points.

Aussie Men’s Singles Rankings

Alex de Minaur: No. 6 (0)
Alexei Popyrin: No. 50 (0)
Aleksandar Vukic: No. 78 (+9)
Adam Walton: No. 81 (-2)
James Duckworth: No. 88 (-2)
Tristan Schoolkate: No. 98 (-1)
Jordan Thompson: No. 111 (+10)
Rinky Hijikata: No. 114 (+1)
Chris O’Connell: No. 118 (0)
Alex Bolt: No. 171 (+10)

Women’s and Men’s Doubles Rankings

The landscape for Australian doubles is also promising, with major players like Ellen Perez, Storm Hunter, and Olivia Gadecki featuring in the top 100. Perez is poised to make her mark as part of the eighth-seeded team with Dutchwoman Demi Schuurs at the Australian Open.

Additionally, six Australian men’s doubles teams, including John Peers and Rinky Hijikata, are set to compete, each holding a ranking within the top 100.