Arise Aryna Sabalenka as the Belarusian has clinched the WTA Year End No.1 ranking for 2024 after Iga Swiatek's round-robin defeat to Coco Gauff at the WTA Finals on Tuesday.
Sabalenka had a simple equation after winning her first two matches of the week. Swiatek's only chance of finishing the year at World No.1 was to win the title undefeated and for Sabalenka not to win another match.
Swiatek can still win the title but with her loss on Tuesday, she can't catch Sabalenka's points total anymore no matter what happens. So Sabalenka will end the season as World No.1 after only just taking Swiatek's spot. She did so only due to points penalty affecting both players for not playing a quota of tournaments.
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But Sabalenka still has that achievement and is just the second born in 1998 or later to do it after Swiatek. A two-time Grand Slam champion this year, she has that World No.1 ranking returned too.
She will return tomorrow trying to rubber stamp a group win with Elena Rybakina up next in a crunch clash and a top showdown despite the latter now being eliminated.
The only woman to win multiple Grand Slams this year, she has been imperious throughout and will aim to add the WTA Finals to her collection now.
WTA YEAR-END NO. 1s (since 1975) (compiled by Tennis.com)
8 times: Steffi Graf [1987-1990, 1993-1996]
7 times: Martina Navratilova [1978-1979, 1982-1986]
5 times: Chris Evert [1975-1977, 1980-1981]
5 times: Serena Williams [2002, 2009, 2013-2015]
4 times: Lindsay Davenport [1998, 2001, 2004-2005]
3 times: Monica Seles [1991-1992, 1995]
3 times: Martina Hingis [1997, 1999-2000]
3 times: Justine Henin [2003, 2006-2007]
3 times: Ashleigh Barty [2019-2021]
2 times: Caroline Wozniacki [2010-2011]
2 times: Simona Halep [2017-2018]
2 times: Iga Swiatek [2022-2023]
1 time: Jelena Jankovic [2008]
1 time: Victoria Azarenka [2012]
1 time: Angelique Kerber [2016]
1 time: Aryna Sabalenka [2024]
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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