Aryna Sabalenka's victory at the 2024 Australian Open, along with her triumph at the Wuhan Open, catapulted her back to the top of the WTA rankings, overtaking Iga Swiatek to regain her World No.1 spot. With the WTA Finals just around the corner, the race for the top position is heating up, but Sabalenka's stellar 2024 season puts the 26-year-old in a strong position.
Sabalenka's year has been nothing short of remarkable, starting with the defense of her Australian Open title. She went on to secure her long-sought US Open title, further solidifying her dominance with victories at the Cincinnati and Wuhan Opens. Despite these achievements, her season had its share of setbacks. Sabalenka was forced to withdraw from Wimbledon due to a shoulder injury, following a personal tragedy earlier in the year when her boyfriend passed away in March.
Meanwhile, Iga Swiatek, the reigning French Open champion, has faced her own challenges. WTA players are required to participate in six WTA 500 events, but Swiatek's decision to skip the tour's Asian swing due to fatigue meant she only managed to play in two such tournaments this season. This led to penalties that saw her drop just below Sabalenka in the rankings.
Sabalenka had previously held the World No.1 spot for eight weeks last year before being overtaken by Swiatek. With 9,706 points to Swiatek’s 9,665 ahead of the WTA Finals, Sabalenka is keen to extend her stay at the top. The Finals, set to take place from November 2 to 9, offer 1,500 points, making the competition between the two players for the No.1 spot even more intense. The stage is set for an exciting conclusion to the season with the world's best vying for supremacy.
