Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek may need to watch out for this WTA player in 2026.
Sabalenka was crowned year-end number one for a second consecutive season in 2025, being rewarded for her victories at the US Open, Miami Open and the Madrid Open.
While she won the US Open, Sabalenka also lost in two major finals this year, with Madison Keys winning the Australian Open and Coco Gauff claiming French Open victory.
Iga Swiatek dominated the Wimbledon final, but the former coach of Serena Williams believes there is another player who will challenge for majors in 2026.
Rick Macci backs Mirra Andreeva as the ‘player to watch’ in 2026
That player is Mirra Andreeva, the 18-year-old who ended the 2025 season as the world number nine.
It has been a breakthrough season for Andreeva, who won Indian Wells and the Dubai Tennis Championships at back-to-back tournaments.
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The former coach of the Williams sisters, Rick Macci, has already been high on Andreeva, as he has continued to do in his latest social media post.
When speaking on X (formerly known as Twitter), Macci claimed that Andreeva has ‘Grand Slam written all over her’, and suggested she could be ranked in the top two in the WTA rankings at the end of the 2026 season.
“The player to watch in 2026 is Andreeva,” said Macci. “She has Grand Slam written all over her and is my pick to catch fire, have more maturity, desire, go higher, make others perspire and be one or two at the year end wire.”
Andreeva achieved her best Grand Slam result to date last year, when she reached the semifinals of the French Open.
| Grand Slams | Mirra Andreeva’s Win-loss Record | Mirra Andreeva’s Best Result |
| Australian Open | 6-2 (75%) | Fourth Round (2024 & 2025) |
| French Open | 11-3 (79%) | Semifinal (2024) |
| Wimbledon | 7-3 (70%) | Quarterfinal (2025) |
| US Open | 4-3 (57%) | Third Round (2025) |
Where is Mirra Andreeva playing ahead of the 2026 Australian Open?
Although she has won two WTA 1000 titles on hard courts this year, that is the surface where Andreeva has produced her worst Grand Slam results.
As Andreeva looks to improve her Australian Open record in 2026, she has confirmed her schedule ahead of the first major of the year.
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The first tournament Andreeva will play in 2026 will be at the Brisbane International, where she will be the sixth seed behind Sabalenka, Amanda Anisimova, Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula and Keys.
Andreeva will make her third appearance at the Brisbane International next year, achieving her best result in 2025 by reaching the semifinals.
The Russian is also entered into the Adelaide International, before she returns to Grand Slam tennis at the Australian Open.
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