Aryna Sabalenka’s return to the top spot in the WTA rankings has set up an intense battle for year-end World No. 1, with the upcoming WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia likely to decide the outcome. Sabalenka has had a stellar season, defending her Australian Open title, clinching the US Open, and securing wins in Cincinnati and Wuhan. She currently holds 9,706 ranking points, just ahead of Iga Swiatek’s 9,665.
Swiatek, the French Open champion, skipped the WTA’s Asian swing due to fatigue, which has impacted her points tally, as players are required to compete in six WTA 500 events. Swiatek’s absence from multiple tournaments allowed Sabalenka to regain the No. 1 ranking.
The upcoming WTA Finals in Riyadh, scheduled for November 2nd-9th, will be played on hard courts and could be decisive, with 1,500 points on offer. The event will feature the top eight singles players and doubles teams, making it a thrilling finale to the season.
