Iga Swiatek leads Olympic Games race ahead of long-term leader Coco Gauff after Doha triumph

World number one Iga Swiatek is now leading the race for Olympic leaders after an impressive outing in Doha.

The 22-year-old had a difficult beginning to her 2024 season where she was knocked out of the Australian Open after losing in the third round to Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic with a score of 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Swiatek made a grand comeback as she won the WTA 1000 event in Doha— the Qatar Open — after beating Elena Rybakina in the final in straight sets with a score of 7-6, 6-2.

With that win, the Polish tennis star is now leading the Olympic Leaders race, overtaking America’s Coco Gauff. With that win, Swiatek’s total points tally to 5,900.

Gauff, who was previously leading the table, lost the top spot after suffering a surprising defeat in the Qatar Open to Katerina Siniakova in the second round in straight sets with a score of 6-2, 6-4. After that result, the 19-year-old’s rating points tally in the race currently stands at 5,775.

The current world number two Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka is placed in the third spot with 5,755 points. The 25-year-old had a fabulous start to her 2024 season as she lifted the Australian Open after defeating China’s Zheng Qinwen in the final in straight sets with a score of 6-3, 6-2.