Świątek has 1209 points over Sabalenka now. Having defeated Sabalenka in SF at RG and Cincinnati, Muchová deprived Sabalenka of *at least* additional 755 points (520 + 235) It’s wild how a player not competing for No.1 can affect the whole thing 😅
Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka set to battle neck-and-neck for world No. 1 spot at US Open
Tennis NewsMonday, 21 August 2023 at 13:14
Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka are set to battle it out for world No. 1 across their respective matches at the US Open. Here's how the Belarusian No. 2 could take the top spot from the Polish player.
Sabalenka currently sits 1,209 points behind Swiatek, who is entering her 73rd week as world No. 1. According to the official WTA rankings which were updated today, Monday, August 21, Swiatek has 9,995 points compared to Sabalenka's 8,746.
However, both have points to gain and lose at the last Grand Slam of the year in Flushing Meadows. As the reigning champion, Swiatek needs to defend 2,000 points at the tournament, while Sabalenka is hoping to at least maintain her 780 points from reaching the semi-finals of last year's major.
Sabalenka's previous chances
The 25-year-old has had two big chances to overtake Swiatek in the last month. The most notable of these was at Wimbledon last month, when the 22-year-old crashed out in her quarter-final match against Elina Svitolina.
This meant that all Sabalenka had to do was reach the final to take the top spot, and she came agonizingly close before losing to Ons Jabeur in the semi-finals 7-6(5), 4-6, 3-6.
Sabalenka then had a second chance to usurp Swiatek at the Canadian Open last week, but this was reliant on the four-time Grand Slam champion not reaching the quarter-finals, which she succeeded in doing.
At the US Open, however, Sabalenka has another clear opportunity to take the No. 1 position for the first time in her career. This is because if the two players are defeated in the same round, the points will work out in a way that sees the Belarusian overtake Swiatek. Therefore, the Polish player needs to make sure she does at least one better than her rival at the major.
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