Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka may well finish the year as the number one player in the WTA rankings, depending on results in the China Open.
The 25-year-old claimed the top spot in the recently concluded US Open where she finished as the runner-up to America’s young tennis sensation Coco Gauff with a score of 2-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Sabalenka will finish the year as the number one player if she manages to perform better than the current world number two Poland’s Iga Swiatek in the ongoing China Open.
The eventual outcome can extend the Minsk-born’s lead at the top of the ladder to more than 1,500 points and that margin cannot be overturned with both players set to meet in the WTA Finals next month where there are only 1,500 maximum points available for any player.
Despite the defeat in the final of the fourth and final Grand Slam, Sabalenka will be extremely pleased with her overall performance in the big events this year where she played in the semifinal or beyond in all four Grand Slams.
Her maiden triumph in a major tournament came earlier this year as she won the Australian Open after beating Elena Rybakina in the final with a score of 4–6, 6–3, 6–4.
69 - Aryna Sabalenka is the second player to hit 750 (767) winners at WTA 1000 events in 2023, with Elena Rybakina leading on 824. Sabalenka is the only player with a winner-unforced error differential of +50 or higher, at +69. Precise. #ChinaOpen | @ChinaOpen @WTA @WTA_insider
