Skip to main content
  • Shop
  • Newsletters
  • WTA Apps
Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube

About WTA's Privacy and Cookie Policies

We use cookies to provide our services and for analytics and marketing. To find out more about our use of cookies and how you can disable them, please see our Privacy Policy. By continuing to browse our website, you agree to our use of cookies. Click here to find out more info.

Logo for the Women's Tennis Association Go back to the home page
  • Tournaments
  • Scores
  • Rankings
    • Players
    • Head to Head
    • Doubles
    • Coaches
    • News
    • Videos
    • Photos
    • WTA Insider
    • Netflix
    • WTA Finals
  • Stats
    • About the WTA
    • Original 9
    • Health
    • WTA For The Game
    • WTA Foundation
    • WTA Cookbook
    • WTA Apps
    • Broadcast
  • Tournaments
  • Scores
  • Rankings
  • News
  • Videos
  • Tournaments
  • Scores
  • Rankings
    • Players
    • Head to Head
    • Doubles
    • Coaches
    • News
    • Videos
    • Photos
    • WTA Insider
    • Netflix
    • WTA Finals
  • Stats
    • About the WTA
    • Original 9
    • Health
    • WTA For The Game
    • WTA Foundation
    • WTA Cookbook
    • WTA Apps
    • Broadcast
2021 in Review December 5, 2021

Photos: The lowest-ranked players to upset a Top 10 opponent in 2021

Take a look at the 10 players who had the lowest rankings (and in one case, no ranking) when they posted a Top 10 victory this season.

01 /10
Unranked Olivia Gadecki upset World No.4 Sofia Kenin 2-6, 7-6(4), 6-4 in the second round of the Phillip Island Trophy in February. The Aussie became the first unranked teenager to defeat a Top 10 player in 24 years.

Photo by Tennis Australia/Natasha Morello

02 /10
World No.292 Anastasia Gasanova stunned No.6 Karolina Pliskova 6-2, 6-4 in the Abu Dhabi second round during the first week of the season. It was Gasanova's first match against a Top 100 player.

Photo by Getty Images

03 /10
World No.115 Beatriz Haddad Maia shocked No.3 Karolina Pliskova in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells 6-3, 7-5. It was the second Top 5 victory of the Brazilian's career.

Photo by Jimmie48/WTA

04 /10
World No.113 Vera Zvonareva upset No.10 Petra Kvitova in the second round in Rome 6-4, 3-6, 6-4. It was the first Top 10 win for former World No.2 Zvonareva since 2018.

Photo by Jimmie48/WTA

05 /10
World No.100 Aliaksandra Sasnovich advanced past No.8 Serena Williams in the first round of Wimbledon when the seven-time champion Williams retired in the opening set with a leg injury.

Photo by Jimmie48/WTA

06 /10
World No.94 Kaia Kanepi ended the 15-match winning streak of No.7 Aryna Sabalenka in the second round of the Gippsland Trophy 6-1, 2-6, 6-1. Kanepi would advance all the way to the final.

Photo by Getty Images

07 /10
World No.85 Tamara Zidansek outlasted No.7 Bianca Andreescu 6-7(1), 7-6(6), 9-7 in 3 hours and 20 minutes in the first round of Roland Garros. Zidansek would go on to reach her first Grand Slam semifinal in Paris.

Photo by Jimmie48/WTA

08 /10
World No.82 Madison Brengle needed just 45 minutes to upset No.6 Sofia Kenin 6-2, 6-4 in the second round of Wimbledon. It was Brengle's fourth career Top 10 victory.

Photo by Jimmie48/WTA

09 /10
World No.79 Lauren Davis notched a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 upset of No.4 Sofia Kenin in the second round of the Volvo Car Open in Charleston. Davis needed two-and-a-half hours to collect the third Top 5 win of her career.

Photo by Volvo Car Open/Chris Smith

10 /10
World No.76 Jil Teichmann grabbed two Top 10 wins en route to the Western & Southern Open final in Cincinnati. She beat No.2 Naomi Osaka in the third round and No.4 Karolina Pliskova in the semifinals.

Photo by Jimmie48/WTA

Latest News

  • 'It's time to move on': US Open champ Gauff back to work in Beijing

    2023 Beijing
  • Jabeur to face first-time finalist Shnaider for Ningbo title

    2023 Ningbo
  • Beijing draw: Sabalena, Swiatek top field; Rybakina, Zheng to meet

    2023 Beijing
  • From 'Daughter of China' to World No.1, Sabalenka's Beijing return

    2023 Beijing
  • Beijing 2023: Dates, draws, prize money and what you need to know

    2023 Beijing
  • Pegula, Sakkari charge into Tokyo semifinals

    2023 Tokyo

Sign Up to the WTA Newsletter

Get official communications from the WTA delivered straight to your e-mail! We’ll keep you informed on all you need to know, including news, players, tournaments, features, competitions, offers and more.

Your data will be used in accordance with the WTA Privacy Policy and ATP Privacy Policy.

Title Partner

  • Hologic

Global Partners

  • Morgan Stanley
  • SAP
  • Whoop
  • Modern Health

Follow WTA on Social

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Weibo
Logo for Women's Tennis Association
  • About the WTA
  • Management Team
  • WTA Tour Board of Directors
  • WTA Ventures Board of Directors
  • Partnership Opportunities
  • Job Opportunities
  • WTA Rules
  • Player Development
  • Anti-Doping
  • Official Guide
  • Press Center
  • WTA Insider Podcast
  • WTA For The Game

Affiliates

  • International Tennis Federation
  • ATP Tour
  • US Open Series
  • Billie Jean King Cup
  • International Tennis Hall of Fame
  • Women's Sports Foundation
  • World TeamTennis
  • International Tennis Integrity Agency
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Notice
  • Accessibility Help
  • Social Media Policy
  • Official Partners
  • Contact
  • Newsletters
  • WTA Apps
© 2023 WTA TOUR, INC. | WTA AND THE WTA LOGO ARE TRADEMARKS OF THE WTA TOUR, INC.