Aryna Sabalenka suddenly hot on the heels of Iga Swiatek in World No.1 battle after US Open glory
WTA
After lifting the trophy at Flushing Meadows, Aryna Sabalenka returns to revive the fight for the World No.1 spot, currently in the hands of Polish Iga Swiatek.
Winning the US Open 2024 meant for the Belarusian to deduct a good amount of points from the two-time Roland Garros champion, who has been leading the ranking for almost two years aside from Sabalenka's brief period at the top.
Points and Ranking
When the rankings are updated early next week, Iga Swiatek will have 10885 points while Aryna Sabalenka will have a total of 8716 points.
Seen in this way there is still a significant margin in favor of the Polish player. It should be noted that these points correspond to the last 52 weeks.
If we take as a reference what happened only in 2024 we will have a better picture of the situation:
Iga Swiatek has scored 8275 points and her Belarusian counterpart 7876. That is, they are barely 409 points apart, which makes sense, as Sabalenka has won two major titles in 2024: the Australian Open and the brand new US Open. The Pole maintained her hegemony on the Paris clay, Roland Garros being her only major trophy of the season;
Upcoming challenges
As the season progresses, important tournaments remain, such as the WTA Finals and the Billie Jean King Cup, where both players will compete. Swiatek is the defending champion of the WTA Finals, which adds pressure to Sabalenka, who is seeking her first title in this event.
The battle for the world No. 1 ranking intensifies, with Sabalenka showing an impressive performance on fast courts, stalking Swiatek. The next phase of the season will be decisive for both players, as every point counts in their quest for the lead in the WTA rankings.
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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