In a stunning turn of events, US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka has ascended to the top of the WTA rankings, marking the end of Iga Swiatek’s impressive 11-month reign. This rise comes not long after Sabalenka successfully defended her Australian Open title in January. This is the second time the Belarusian has claimed the number one spot, having previously held it for eight weeks between September and November 2023.
Interestingly, neither player competed last week. Swiatek, hailing from Poland, has dropped to second place due to a points penalty for not participating in the required six WTA 500 events. The 23-year-old, who recently appointed a new co-coach, has only taken part in two of these tournaments and has been sidelined since her early exit at the US Open in September, choosing to skip the Asian leg of the tour due to fatigue.
At one point this season, Swiatek held a commanding lead of over 4,000 points after clinching five titles in just the first half of the year. However, Sabalenka, 26, steadily closed the gap in the latter part of the season, making her mark with victories in Cincinnati and Wuhan, alongside her triumph at Flushing Meadows.
Looking ahead, the next opportunity for Swiatek to reclaim her number one status lies in the season-ending WTA Finals scheduled for next month in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
About the author