Another year-end No.1 for Iga Swiatek? Martina Navratilova thinks so going into 2024: "At her best, she is better than anybody"
WTA
Martina
Navratilova made her predictions for the 2024 season and placed Iga Swiatek as
the world No. 1 for the third consecutive year.
The world
No. 1 didn't have the dominant season of 2022 but managed to finish the year
with six titles: a Grand Slam at the French Open, a WTA 1000 at the Shanghai
Open, the two WTA 500 events at the Qatar Open and Stuttgart Open, as well as
the WTA 250 Warsaw Open and the WTA Finals. Iga Swiatek lost the world No. 1
ranking after exiting the US Open quarterfinals and Aryna Sabalenka reached the
final.
Despite
indications at the end of the year that Sabalenka could finish as the best
player with eleven consecutive victories, seven of them against top-10
opponents, 18-times Grand Slam champion Martina Navratilova expressed in an
interview with the WTA that Iga Swiatek will likely dominate the tour again in
2024 and finish the year as the world No. 1 for the third consecutive year.
“That was
Iga showing that, at her best, she is better than anybody. I mean, in difficult
conditions, she just blew right through everybody. She gets into the points
better and knows how to close the deal. I’ll be honest … a few weeks ago, based
on what I was seeing, I didn’t think she’d finish 2024 at No.1 next year -- I
was picking Gauff.
“Now I
think maybe Gauff will pass Sabalenka for No.2. But I don’t know if either one
of them can get past Iga if she has a good offseason, stays healthy, stays
fresh.”
As of now,
Iga Swiatek has spent 77 weeks as the world No. 1, and she is poised to add
several more weeks to her tally at the beginning of the season. This places her
as the 10th tennis player with the most weeks at world No. 1 in history,
surpassing other former world No. 1 players currently active, such as Caroline
Wozniacki (71), Simona Halep (64), and Victoria Azarenka (51).
To climb
further in the rankings, she still needs another 21 weeks to match the American
Lindsay Davenport, who held the No. 1 spot for a total of 98 weeks between 1998
and 2006.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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