2026 Return Leaders
If the serve is about taking free points, the return is about taking them back. In 2026, Carlos Alcaraz has overtaken Jannik Sinner at the top of the ATP return rating after Wimbledon — 162.8 to 162.2 — with teenage Spaniard Rafael Jódar holding third.
Data update (post-Wimbledon, 30 July 2026): Carlos Alcaraz (162.8) edges Jannik Sinner (162.2) at the top of the ATP return rating, with Rafael Jódar (160.8) third and Francisco Cerúndolo (158.5) 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 162.8 return rating, built on a tour-best 34.6% of first-return points won and 31.1% of return games won. Jannik Sinner (162.2) is a fraction behind — his 56.0% second-serve return points won the best in the top 10 — with Rafael Jódar (160.8) and Francisco Cerúndolo (158.5) next.
| Rank | Player | Return Rating | 1st Rtn Pts Won | 2nd Rtn Pts Won | Rtn Games Won | BP Conv |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carlos Alcaraz | 162.8 | 34.6% | 53.9% | 31.1% | 43.2% |
| 2 | Jannik Sinner | 162.2 | 33.0% | 56.0% | 31.0% | 42.2% |
| 3 | Rafael Jódar | 160.8 | 33.8% | 52.3% | 30.4% | 44.3% |
| 4 | Francisco Cerúndolo | 158.5 | 32.3% | 53.8% | 30.0% | 42.4% |
| 5 | Daniil Medvedev | 157.6 | 33.8% | 53.9% | 28.4% | 41.5% |
| 6 | Mariano Navone | 156.9 | 34.0% | 53.1% | 30.8% | 39.0% |
| 7 | Alex de Minaur | 154.8 | 31.3% | 54.4% | 27.1% | 42.0% |
| 8 | Sebastian Baez | 151.3 | 29.3% | 52.9% | 24.6% | 44.5% |
| 9 | Learner Tien | 151.1 | 30.8% | 52.4% | 25.1% | 42.8% |
| 10 | Corentin Moutet | 148.8 | 31.9% | 50.8% | 23.1% | 43.0% |
A few observations: Rafael Jódar remains the breakout name at 3rd — the 19-year-old Spaniard’s wildcard run to the Madrid quarter-finals first propelled him onto the leaderboard, and he has stayed there through the grass. Daniil Medvedev at 5th retains one of the best first-return marks in the field at 33.8%, and Corentin Moutet 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 42.2% from 43 matches, a fraction ahead of Sara Bejlek (42.1%) and Mirra Andreeva (41.4%).
| Rank | Player | 1st Rtn Pts Won % | Matches |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coco Gauff | 42.2% | 43 |
| 2 | Sara Bejlek | 42.1% | 26 |
| 3 | Mirra Andreeva | 41.4% | 48 |
| 4 | Iga Świątek | 40.9% | 35 |
| 5 | Anastasia Potapova | 40.7% | 34 |
| 6 | Daria Kasatkina | 40.5% | 23 |
| 7 | Marta Kostyuk | 40.3% | 33 |
| 8 | Caty Mcnally | 39.8% | 33 |
| 9 | Yuliia Starodubtseva | 39.8% | 23 |
| 10 | Emma Raducanu | 39.6% | 22 |
Second Return Points Won
The second serve is where returners do their most damage. Iga Świątek leads at 61.7% from 35 matches, with Marta Kostyuk and Belinda Bencic level on 61.1% just behind — Świątek’s number is the engine of her return game.
| Rank | Player | 2nd Rtn Pts Won % | Matches |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iga Świątek | 61.7% | 35 |
| 2 | Marta Kostyuk | 61.1% | 33 |
| 3 | Belinda Bencic | 61.1% | 32 |
| 4 | Amanda Anisimova | 60.7% | 25 |
| 5 | Kamilla Rakhimova | 60.0% | 19 |
| 6 | Daria Kasatkina | 58.8% | 23 |
| 7 | Camila Osorio | 58.6% | 25 |
| 8 | Daria Snigur | 58.6% | 20 |
| 9 | Elina Svitolina | 58.5% | 45 |
| 10 | Petra Marcinko | 58.5% | 25 |
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 47.3% over 35 matches, reclaiming the category from Marta Kostyuk (45.8%), with Coco Gauff third at 44.1%.
| Rank | Player | Return Games Won % | Matches |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iga Świątek | 47.3% | 35 |
| 2 | Marta Kostyuk | 45.8% | 33 |
| 3 | Coco Gauff | 44.1% | 43 |
| 4 | Mirra Andreeva | 43.5% | 48 |
| 5 | Sara Bejlek | 43.0% | 26 |
| 6 | Daria Kasatkina | 42.4% | 23 |
| 7 | Viktorija Golubic | 42.3% | 17 |
| 8 | Anastasia Potapova | 41.7% | 34 |
| 9 | Emma Raducanu | 41.5% | 22 |
| 10 | Elina Svitolina | 41.3% | 45 |
Return Points Won
Overall return points won combines first- and second-serve return performance into a single percentage. Iga Świątek leads at 48.7% over 35 matches, with Marta Kostyuk (47.9%) and Coco Gauff (47.4%) next — three very different routes to the same outcome.
| Rank | Player | Return Pts Won % | Matches |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iga Świątek | 48.7% | 35 |
| 2 | Marta Kostyuk | 47.9% | 33 |
| 3 | Coco Gauff | 47.4% | 43 |
| 4 | Mirra Andreeva | 47.2% | 48 |
| 5 | Sara Bejlek | 47.0% | 26 |
| 6 | Daria Kasatkina | 46.9% | 23 |
| 7 | Belinda Bencic | 46.7% | 32 |
| 8 | Iva Jovic | 46.1% | 43 |
| 9 | Anastasia Potapova | 46.1% | 34 |
| 10 | Elina Svitolina | 46.0% | 45 |
For the full picture across serve, return and under pressure, see the 2026 season leaders overview. ATP data is updated post-Wimbledon (30 July 2026) and covers a 52-week rolling window; WTA figures are 2026 season year-to-date, updated post-Wimbledon (30 July 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.
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