Coco Gauff is currently ranked third in the world.
The two-time Grand Slam champion has never been world number one, reaching a career-high of second.
As we head into the Australian Open, Gauff trails world number two Iga Swiatek by 1,905 points and world number one Aryna Sabalenka by 4,567 points.
Where will Coco Gauff be ranked at the end of the 2026 season?
Gauff certainly has work to do if she wants to close that gap and ascend to the top of the WTA rankings this year…
During the latest episode of ‘The Big T Podcast‘, Gauff’s former coach, Brad Gilbert, rated her chances of becoming world number one in 2026.
Brad Gilbert gives Coco Gauff a 51% chance of becoming world number one this year
“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.
Coco Gauff’s year-end rankings
- 2018 – 875
- 2019 – 68
- 2020 – 48
- 2021 – 22
- 2022 – 7
- 2023 – 3
- 2024 – 3
- 2025 – 3
“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 then laid out Gauff’s route to the world number one ranking.
“But she’s going to need, potentially, to make a little bit of hay,” he said.
“She played really poorly last year at Doha, Dubai, Indian Wells, and Miami.
Points Coco Gauff earned in Doha, Dubai, Indian Wells, and Miami in 2025
| Tournament | Result | Points earned |
| 2025 Qatar Open | Lost in 2R to Marta Kostyuk | 65 |
| 2025 Dubai Tennis Championships | Lost in 2R to McCartney Kessler | 65 |
| 2025 Indian Wells | Lost in 4R to Belinda Bencic | 120 |
| 2025 Miami Open | Lost in 4R to Magda Linette | 120 |
| Total | – | 370 |
“I think if she can have a good run there, maybe it will happen in the clay-court season.”
Gauff earned 370 points during that period last year, far fewer than the two players ranked above her.
- Aryna Sabalenka -1,835 points
- Iga Swiatek – 1,210 points
- Coco Gauff – 370 points
Gilbert thinks Gauff can become world number one in 2026, but is almost certain that she will do so at some point in her career.
But did his podcast co-hosts, CoCo Vandeweghe and Danielle Collins, agree?
“I’m going to go 95%,” said Collins.
Who is the greatest women’s tennis player of all time?
“I think it’s just a matter of time before she becomes the world number one.”
“I think it’s going to be a 70% chance,” added Vandeweghe.
“Mainly because at some point, [Aryna] Sabalenka’s going to retire, [Elena] Rybakina’s going to retire, and [Iga] Swiatek is going to retire.
“Those three are going to constantly be Coco’s nemesis throughout her whole career, and Coco has age on her side; she’s the youngest of that group, so she’s going to last the longest and be able to get it.”
Only time will tell if and when Gauff becomes world number one…
She would certainly aid her chances of usurping Swiatek and Sabalenka with a deep run at the Australian Open.
Who will Coco Gauff play at the Australian Open?
Gauff has been drawn against Uzbekistan’s Kamilla Rakhimova in the first round of the 2026 Australian Open.
They have met once before, at the 2025 China Open, where Gauff won in straight sets, 6-4, 6-0.
If she is to advance, she could play one of her biggest idols, Venus Williams, in round two.
It was against Williams that Gauff truly broke through, at Wimbledon six years ago.
15-year-old Gauff defeated Williams 6-4, 6-4, picking up the biggest win of her professional career.
Gauff would be expected to make light work of Williams, a woman 24 years her senior, should they face off Down Under in 2026.
Things will only get harder from there on, though…
Also placed in ‘Section 3’ of the draw are Alexandra Eala, Marketa Vondrousova, and Emma Navarro, all dangerous players in their own right.
Then, in the quarterfinals, she could play the likes of Elina Svitolina, Barbora Krejcikova, Maria Sakkari, and Mirra Andreeva.
Who has the most difficult Australian Open draw?
It’s in the semifinals that Gauff could really struggle, though, having been placed in the same half of the draw as world number one, Sabalenka.
And in the final, she could meet her other big rival, Swiatek.
It remains to be seen how far Gauff will go in Melbourne, but you certainly won’t want to miss any of the action.
The 2026 Australian Open is scheduled to begin on Sunday, January 18.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
