Who is defending most WTA Ranking points during Wimbledon with collapses imminent

Hours remain until the start of Wimbledon, and WTA players are gearing up for an uncertain tournament with many points at stake. The 2023 champion Marketa Vondrousova and runner-up Ons Jabeur face the highest risk of losing points if they fail to replicate last year's campaign.

Defending these points over the coming weeks will be crucial for them, as Vondrousova and Jabeur strive to maintain their positions in the top 10. They are not alone in facing significant point defense challenges; players like Aryna Sabalenka and Elina Svitolina are also under pressure to deliver strong performances.

Back in 2023, Marketa Vondrousova surprised everyone by winning her first Grand Slam title without even being seeded. She defeated Ons Jabeur, who was in her second consecutive final at the All England Club but fell just short once again of claiming her first Grand Slam title.

In addition to the trophy, Vondrousova earned 2,000 ranking points that have helped her remain in the top 10 over the past year. However, she is now preparing to potentially lose those points if she fails to defend her crown. Without her Wimbledon points, Vondrousova would drop to world No. 15, while Jabeur would slide to 14th, discounting the 1,300 points she earned as the 2023 runner-up.

The 2023 semifinalists Aryna Sabalenka and Elina Svitolina are defending a total of 780 points. Sabalenka, who fell to Jabeur in three sets, is now the third seed after Coco Gauff surpassed her in the WTA rankings a couple of weeks ago following the French Open.

Gauff hardly has points to defend at SW19, and if Sabalenka fails to at least repeat last year's semifinal run, she risks losing further ground to the American, who is currently ranked second in the world. Meanwhile, Elena Rybakina (No. 4) could close the gap if she improves on her quarterfinal performance from 2023.

As for Svitolina, she was the surprise package in the semifinals last year, and the points she earned at Wimbledon now constitute nearly 40% of her total points over the last 52 weeks. A first-round defeat would likely drop her out of the top 40 and potentially lower, depending on tournament results.

Finally, the remaining players who reached the quarterfinals last year are defending 430 points, a significant amount, especially for those outside the top 10. Both Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina defended quarterfinal appearances last year. For Swiatek, even a first-round exit won't threaten her world No. 1 position, so her focus will likely be on contending for the title.

Rybakina, too, is safe from losing positions with a early loss, given her substantial lead over her pursuer, Pegula, who defends the same number of points as Rybakina and Swiatek.

By the other hand, the points are crucial for American Madison Keys, who has struggled with injuries over the past year. The quarterfinal points from the 2023 Wimbledon have been instrumental in keeping her in high rankings and seeded in major tournaments.