Sabalenka and Swiatek set for second sudden penalty ahead of battle for World No.1 at WTA Finals

Thursday, 24 October 2024 at 12:00

Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek bizarrely faced a penalty this week which saw the Belarusian claim the World No.1 spot despite not being expected to or even playing.

With both not playing their mandatory amount of tournaments, it was thrust on to their rankings with a second penalty also coming as well as last year's WTA Finals points also coming off. They have to drop one more result as they didn't meet the criteria on mandatory events.

Albeit it is slightly bizarre as Swiatek should've only lost 1500 points but instead it is 1695 from her actual ranking. Sabalenka should've only lost 625 but instead is heading into Riyadh with 695 gone. It also opens a whole different debate when it comes to scheduling.

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Both players especially Sabalenka have played a lot in 2024 and have taken breaks at certain junctures mostly in winning Grand Slams for Sabalenka. But both have decided not to play certain tournaments as a result and have been punished as a result.

This penalty too means that Sabalenka goes into Riyadh after only just taking top spot with a hefty 1,046 point advantage on Swiatek meaning that the latter has to defend her title in order to have a chance at Year End. Sabalenka though can secure it though without that happening. An unbeaten 3-0 record in the round robin would seal her fate. Even if Sabalenka wins only one or two, she will be guaranteed it if she reaches the final.

If Swiatek suffers an early loss though, Sabalenka will not have to reach the semi-finals. If Swiatek loses one round robin match, Sabalenka needs to win two to end 2024 as World No.1. If Swiatek loses two, Sabalenka can seal it with a single win.

But this new decision opens a can of worms which perhaps will be debated going into Riyadh about a new rule affecting a rule that removes the likelihood of it being dictated by actual ranking.

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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