2026 Return Leaders
If the serve is about taking free points, the return is about taking them back. In 2026, Carlos Alcaraz holds the top of the ATP return rating at 160.6 after the US Open, a tenth of a point clear of Daniel Merida, with Jannik Sinner third.
Data update (post-US Open, 14 September 2026): Carlos Alcaraz (160.6) edges Daniel Merida (160.5) at the top of the ATP return rating, with Jannik Sinner (159.2) third and Rafael Jódar (158.6) fourth. The WTA return figures below are 2026 season year-to-date (minimum 10 matches).
ATP Return Leaders 2026
The ATP Return Rating aggregates four metrics: first- and second-serve return points won, return games won, and break points converted. A high rating means a player is consistently dangerous on the opponent’s serve across all four dimensions — not just a baseline grinder who wins long rallies, but someone who actively creates pressure from the moment the ball is in play.
Carlos Alcaraz leads with a 160.6 return rating, built on a tour-best 34.4% of first-return points won and 30.0% of return games won, also a field best. Daniel Merida (160.5) is a tenth of a point behind, and Jannik Sinner (159.2) is third with the best second-serve return figure in the game at 54.6%.
| Rank | Player | Return Rating | 1st Rtn Pts Won | 2nd Rtn Pts Won | Rtn Games Won |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carlos Alcaraz | 160.6 | 34.4% | 53.5% | 30.0% |
| 2 | Daniel Merida | 160.5 | 32.0% | 54.1% | 29.6% |
| 3 | Jannik Sinner | 159.2 | 33.4% | 54.6% | 29.9% |
| 4 | Rafael Jódar | 158.6 | 33.1% | 51.8% | 29.7% |
| 5 | Daniil Medvedev | 158.5 | 34.0% | 53.4% | 28.3% |
| 6 | Luca Van Assche | 155.2 | 31.3% | 52.9% | 28.4% |
| 7 | Francisco Cerúndolo | 154.5 | 31.7% | 53.4% | 29.4% |
| 8 | Learner Tien | 153.2 | 31.1% | 52.9% | 26.3% |
| 9 | Alex de Minaur | 152.5 | 31.2% | 53.9% | 26.4% |
| 10 | Ignacio Buse | 152.3 | 30.6% | 50.3% | 25.5% |
A few observations: Rafael Jódar sits 4th, the 19-year-old Spaniard having held a top-five place since his wildcard run to the Madrid quarter-finals. Daniil Medvedev at 5th retains one of the best first-return marks in the field at 34.0%, and Ignacio Buse completes the top 10.
WTA Return Leaders 2026
On the WTA, the return leaderboards are headed by Iga Świątek, Coco Gauff and Marta Kostyuk across the sub-categories. Świątek tops return games won, return points won and second-return points won outright, while Gauff owns the first-return category.
First Return Points Won
Winning points off the opponent’s first serve is the hardest task in tennis. The server has full control and typically aims for pace, placement or both. Coco Gauff leads the WTA at 41.9% from 59 matches, a fraction ahead of Iga Świątek (41.0%) and Sara Bejlek (40.9%).
| Rank | Player | 1st Rtn Pts Won % | Matches |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coco Gauff | 41.9% | 59 |
| 2 | Iga Świątek | 41.0% | 50 |
| 3 | Sara Bejlek | 40.9% | 35 |
| 4 | Mirra Andreeva | 40.6% | 58 |
| 5 | Marta Kostyuk | 40.5% | 44 |
| 6 | Caty Mcnally | 40.3% | 43 |
| 7 | Anastasia Potapova | 39.7% | 44 |
| 8 | Emma Raducanu | 39.6% | 22 |
| 9 | Daria Kasatkina | 39.4% | 28 |
| 10 | Iva Jovic | 39.3% | 51 |
Second Return Points Won
The second serve is where returners do their most damage. Iga Świątek leads at 60.8% from 50 matches, with Belinda Bencic (59.7%) next and Elina Svitolina and Marta Kostyuk level on 59.6%. Świątek’s number is the engine of her return game.
| Rank | Player | 2nd Rtn Pts Won % | Matches |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iga Świątek | 60.8% | 50 |
| 2 | Belinda Bencic | 59.7% | 37 |
| 3 | Elina Svitolina | 59.6% | 56 |
| 4 | Marta Kostyuk | 59.6% | 44 |
| 5 | Amanda Anisimova | 59.5% | 34 |
| 6 | Kamilla Rakhimova | 59.3% | 27 |
| 7 | Peyton Stearns | 58.3% | 36 |
| 8 | Mirra Andreeva | 58.1% | 58 |
| 9 | Tereza Valentova | 58.1% | 31 |
| 10 | Emma Raducanu | 58.1% | 22 |
Return Games Won
Return games won is the most direct measure of a player’s ability to break serve. It captures how often a return game becomes a point on the board. Iga Świątek leads at 47.4% over 50 matches, holding the category ahead of Marta Kostyuk (44.7%), with Coco Gauff third at 43.7%.
| Rank | Player | Return Games Won % | Matches |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iga Świątek | 47.4% | 50 |
| 2 | Marta Kostyuk | 44.7% | 44 |
| 3 | Coco Gauff | 43.7% | 59 |
| 4 | Mirra Andreeva | 43.0% | 58 |
| 5 | Elina Svitolina | 42.8% | 56 |
| 6 | Emma Raducanu | 41.5% | 22 |
| 7 | Iva Jovic | 40.9% | 51 |
| 8 | Amanda Anisimova | 40.8% | 34 |
| 9 | Viktorija Golubic | 40.5% | 24 |
| 10 | Caty Mcnally | 40.5% | 43 |
Return Points Won
Overall return points won combines first- and second-serve return performance into a single percentage. Iga Świątek leads at 48.5% over 50 matches, with Marta Kostyuk (47.5%) and Coco Gauff (47.4%) next. Three very different routes to the same outcome.
| Rank | Player | Return Pts Won % | Matches |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iga Świątek | 48.5% | 50 |
| 2 | Marta Kostyuk | 47.5% | 44 |
| 3 | Coco Gauff | 47.4% | 59 |
| 4 | Mirra Andreeva | 47.1% | 58 |
| 5 | Elina Svitolina | 46.9% | 56 |
| 6 | Amanda Anisimova | 46.1% | 34 |
| 7 | Belinda Bencic | 46.0% | 37 |
| 8 | Iva Jovic | 46.0% | 51 |
| 9 | Daria Kasatkina | 46.0% | 28 |
| 10 | Emma Raducanu | 46.0% | 22 |
For the full picture across serve, return and under pressure, see the 2026 season leaders overview. ATP data is updated post-US Open (14 September 2026) and covers a 52-week rolling window; WTA figures are 2026 season year-to-date, updated 14 September 2026; percentage stats require a minimum of 10 matches. Sources: atptour.com and wtatennis.com.
Companion leaderboards: 2026 Serve Leaders and 2026 Under Pressure Leaders.
More tennis numbers, records and all-time leaderboards in our tennis stats hub.
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