WTA Rankings Update: Aryna Sabalenka approaches 30 weeks as World No.1, Iga Swiatek closing in
The battle for the World No.1 in the WTA Rankings dominates this week’s WTA Rankings Update with a minimum of changes due to the current ongoing Indian Wells Open. More of a picture becomes clear next week but Aryna Sabalenka will approach another mark as World No.1.
That being World No.1 for 30 weeks. Albeit she has a fight on her hands to reach top 15 all time. That is currently held by Angelique Kerber so would require Sabalenka to be World No.1 for another five weeks at least.
She is safe for now though and likely will be for a while. Swiatek has to defend Indian Wells. But also to her advantage, Swiatek also thrives on clay and will be under pressure to defend various title. Albeit the pair both reached Rome and Madrid finals, so any early slip ups in the next few weeks could be punished.
Coco Gauff also lurks but in reality likely won’t be a factor due to her current form unless she has an unexpected Sunshine Double after her poor early displays. Iga Swiatek for reference sits nearly 100 weeks ahead of Sabalenka all time.
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On the current Live Ranking thus far, the gap drops. Sabalenka sits on 9021 points currently while Swiatek if she went out next round would drop 880 points so would sit on 7,105. The only player in the top five who actually gains right now is Jessica Pegula.
She is currently due to gain 110 points and will hope to be on Gauff’s coattails soon given their respective form. Zheng Qinwen in reaching the Last Sixteen has usurped Emma Navarro currently once more but that section which also features MIrra Andreeva is very much too close to call. Karolina Muchova also could feasibly overtake Diana Shnaider soon.
No matter what, Muchova will likely be the next player to reach the top 10 again. Having not played till the middle of last year, she has the clay and grass to come which she didn’t play last year. So while others have to defend she can only gain. An intriguing few weeks await.