Iga Swiatek isn’t the odds-on favourite to complete the season with the WTA’s No.1 rating, however the six-time main champion has a shot to surpass Aryna Sabalenka if she will proceed on her excessive trajectory down the stretch.
Swiatek, now 1577 factors behind Sabalenka within the Race to Riyadh standings, may choose up important factors this week in Beijing, the place Aryna Sabalenka is sitting out. The Pole can solely acquire factors over the subsequent few weeks, as she was sitting out her one month ban final yr and didn’t play between the US Open and the WTA Finals.
Sabalenka, in the meantime, will lose 215 factors from Beijing and is defending one other 1000 in Wuhan. Sabalenka and Swiatek earned 400 factors every ultimately yr’s WTA Finals.
Swiatek, driving excessive after kicking off her Asian swing with the title in Seoul, says she’s not likely involved in regards to the rating, however admits she is conscious of her present standing in relation to Sabalenka.
“I’d say it’s at all times one thing to be there within the again, but it surely’s not prefer it’s a principal focus,” she stated.
Swiatek believes one of the simplest ways ahead is to concentrate on successful matches slightly than a giant image rating state of affairs.
“I already know that interested by the rankings, it’s not a strategy to go, irrespective of when you’re No. 2 or irrespective of when you’re No. 1,” she stated. “It’s simply numbers. But it surely doesn’t change the truth that you’ll want to type of really feel the tennis and concentrate on the development on the courtroom, then the outcomes are going to come back after that.”
2024 was tough for Swiatek as a result of she was pressured to overlook the month attributable to her doping ban, which made it unimaginable to earn a 3rd consecutive year-end No.1 rating. In complete, she has held the No.1 rating for 125 weeks, seventh most all-time.
Sabalenka’s 57 weeks – and counting – is thirteenth most all-time.
“For positive it’s a special state of affairs than final yr once I wasn’t actually in a position to defend my No. 1, like earn it. So for positive I’m simply completely satisfied that I’m right here and I can compete and battle for it. However… my principal focus is extra tennis-related, how I need to play, how I really feel on courtroom.”
