WTA Rankings Update: Iga Swiatek starts 123rd week as World No.1 as Sabalenka and Pegula circle

Despite the China Open still continuing, the WTA Rankings as ever have been altered for the week ahead with Iga Swiatek starting her 123rd week as World No.1.

Albeit the sharks are circling with Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula set to breathe down her neck in the coming months. Swiatek sits atop the WTA Rankings with 10,885 points. Last week she surpassed Ash Barty at No.7 in the all-time list of weeks spent at World No.1.

She now only trails Steffi Graf, Martina Navratilova, Serena Williams, Chris Evert, Martina Hingis and Monica Seles in that department. But not defending her China Open crown could prove vital. She will drop 1,000 points next Monday and if Sabalenka wins the title this week, she will end up only 200 shy of Swiatek's amount.

Jessica Pegula also could find herself in the battle albeit it is less likely even if she wins this week as she would near 7,000 points. Jasmine Paolini could reach a new career high as a legacy of Elena Rybakina not playing at the moment.

Barbora Krejcikova further down sits potentially ready to be usurped with Daria Kasatkina and Beatriz Haddad Maia on the verge of the top 10.