Persistence pays off: Alexandrova breaks into Top 10 at almost 31

Ekaterina Alexandrova is this week’s standout mover in the WTA rankings, climbing one spot from No. 11 to enter the Top 10 for the first time, a milestone few achieve so late in their careers.

Ekaterina AlexandrovaAt 30 years and 11 months old, Alexandrova becomes the third-oldest player to debut in the Top 10, trailing only Roberta Vinci, who reached it at 33 in February 2016, and Betty Stove, who was 31 when she entered the elite rankings in October 1976.

Alexandrova’s rise following the Wuhan Open, where she reached the third round, is the result of a remarkable year filled with breakthrough performances and consistent results. She captured her first WTA 500 title in Linz, contested finals…