IgA Swiatek is not a favorite of disputes to complete the season with WTA’s No.1 rankings, but the six-time sample has a stroke to overcome Aryna Sabalenka if it can continue on its high trajectory below the stretch.
Swiate, now 1577 points after Sabalenka in the race for Riyadh ranking, could get important points this week in Beijing, where Aryna Sabalenka is lowered. Pole can only win points in the coming weeks, as she was sitting in her ban a month last year and did not play between US Open and Finals WTA.
Sabalenka, meanwhile, will lose 215 points from Beijing and is defending another 1,000 in Wuhan. Sabalenka and Swiatek won 400 points each in last year’s WTA final.
Swiate, riding up after began her Asian swinging with the title in Seoul, says she is not really worried about the ranking, but admits she is aware of her current status about sabalenka.
“I would say it’s always something to be there in the back, but it’s not a main focus,” she said.
Swiatek believes that the best way forward is to focus on winning matches than a big rank scenario.
“I already know that thinking about the ranking is not a way to go, whether you are No. 2 or no matter if you are No. 1,” she said. “They are just numbers. But it doesn’t change the fact that you need to feel tennis and focus on improving the court, then the results will come after that.”
2024 was difficult for Swiatek because she was forced to lose the month due to her detention of doping, which made it impossible to gain a third consecutive ranking of No.1. In total, it has held ranking No.1 for 125 weeks, more seventh all the time.
57 Sabalenka weeks and counting-is the 13th more versatile.
“It is probably another situation from last year when I was not able to defend my number 1, how to win. So I am simply happy to be here and can compete and fight for it.
