By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Monday, March 3, 2025
Exciting events in Merida, Mexico, and Austin, Texas have sparked unexpected results and notable movements in this week’s ATP rankings. Check out which players are making headlines…
Navarro Soars to Career-High No. 8
Emma Navarro dominated the final against Colombia’s Emiliana Arango on Sunday, delivering a stunning double-bagel performance and catapulting herself to No. 8 in the rankings, her all-time best position. This victory marks her second and most significant career title, with just 15 games dropped during the tournament.
Remarkably, she becomes the fifth player on the WTA tour to achieve a double-bagel win in a final since the year 2000.
Arango Climbs 53 Spots to No. 80
It was a tough day for Arango, but reaching her first WTA final from qualifying is an impressive feat. She jumps an astonishing 53 places to debut in the Top 100 this week, a significant milestone for her career.
Avenesyan Advances to No. 39
22-year-old Russian player Elina Avenesyan has also made strides, moving up six spots to a career-high No. 39 after an impressive semifinal showing in Merida.
Kessler Continues Her Ascent
American tennis star McCartney Kessler is on a steady trajectory upward, following her runner-up finish in Austin, which saw her face off against the eventual champion, Jessica Pegula. Having secured her second WTA title earlier this year in Hobart, Kessler now boasts a commendable 14-6 record for the season.
She made her Top 100 debut last August after clinching her first title in Cleveland, a stark contrast to starting 2024 outside the Top 200.
Joint and Zonmez Reach New Heights
Turkey’s Zeynep Zonmez achieves a career milestone at No. 77 while Australia’s Maya Joint ascends to No. 85. Zonmez made headlines by reaching the quarterfinals in Merida, where she previously won her maiden WTA title last year. Joint, now one of the two teenagers inside the WTA Top 100 (alongside Mirra Andreeva), also made it to the quarterfinals in Merida.
