“I love seeing her in the draw”: Sabalenka regrets Swiatek’s absence in Wuhan, eyes final showdown for World No. 1
Aryna Sabalenka has sent a message to Iga Swiatek amidst their intense competition for the World No. 1 ranking. Swiatek’s withdrawal from the Wuhan Open has jeopardized her chances of finishing the season atop the rankings, especially with Sabalenka’s remarkable performance, which includes 16 wins in her last 17 matches and titles at the Cincinnati Open and US Open. This turn of events heightens the stakes as both players vie for the top spot.
The race for the year-end No. 1 ranking is intensifying, with only two players qualified so far and just 70 points separating them. Swiatek’s choice to skip the Asian swing, following recent changes to her team, has negatively impacted her position. Her upcoming challenge will be the WTA Finals, where she will need to defend her title to secure her chances of finishing the season at the top.
At one point, Swiatek held a commanding lead of over 4,000 points in the rankings, largely due to her impressive performances during the clay swing, where she claimed four WTA 1000 titles and the French Open. However, Sabalenka has significantly closed the gap since then. Since the end of the clay season, Swiatek’s record has been a modest 9-3 across Wimbledon, Cincinnati, and the US Open, allowing Sabalenka to capitalize on her momentum in the race for the No. 1 ranking.
Swiatek currently leads with 8,285 points in the Race, while Sabalenka follows closely with 8,211 points. As Sabalenka advances to the Round of 16 in Wuhan, she has the opportunity to overtake Swiatek if she reaches the quarterfinals, which would boost her to 8,306 points. To achieve this, she must defeat Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva. Despite her competitive edge, the three-time Grand Slam champion expressed disappointment over Swiatek’s absence from the tournament, saying, “I mean, I love having this competition, and I love seeing her in the draw.”
