Pegula Has A Chance to Overtake Swiatek as No.2 in Madrid

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday April 25, 2025

World No.3 Jessica Pegula is enjoying her time as the top-ranked American woman these days, with Coco Gauff and Madison Keys riding shotgun with her inside the Top-5 as the No.4-and No.5, respectively.

“I honestly think we are just really happy that all three of us are in the Top-5,” Pegula said of the trio. “Of course we want to be [the No.1 American], I think that’s the main goal, but we’re just happy that we are all right there, competing, going after the biggest titles against the biggest players on the world stage.”

But a bigger milestone lies in wait for the 2024 US Open finalist this week in Madrid, as she could supplant Iga Swiatek inside the Top-2.

Pegula prevails 💪@JPegula defeats Lys 6-2, 6-2 in the second round and becomes the player with the most wins so far this season.#MMOPEN pic.twitter.com/FlHAmXfFEN

— wta (@WTA) April 25, 2025

Pegula, who took out Eva Lys 6-2 6-2 to set a third-round clash with Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima, could pass Swiatek if the Pole tumbles early in Madrid. Even if she doesn’t, the current win leader on the WTA Tour in 2025 might have more opportunities in the next two months, as Swiatek is defending 4,000 points between now and the end of Roland-Garros, while Pegula isn’t defending any due to the fact that she missed the European clay-court swing due to injury.

Pegula is 175 points behind Swiatek in the current live rankings. Here are the scenarios that involve Swiatek the No.2 ranking, per the WTA Tour. Swiatek has ranked inside the Top-2 every week since March 21, 2022.

If Swiatek loses in …

Round of 32: Pegula passes with semifinals and Gauff passes with final
Round of 16: Pegula passes with semifinals and Gauff passes with final
Quarterfinals: Pegula passes with final and Gauff passes with final
Semifinals: Pegula passes with final and Gauff passes with title
If Swiatek reaches the final, Pegula can still pass her, but only by winning the title.