The Next Two Matches Could Determine Who Will Claim The Year-End No. 1 ranking.
As the WTA Finals heat up in Riyadh, the
coveted year-end World No. 1 ranking
has become a thrilling contest between
two powerhouses—Aryna Sabalenka and
Iga Swiatek. Both athletes are locked in a
tight battle to end 2024 atop the world
rankings, with just a few critical matches
left to decide the victor.
Sabalenka Leads the Charge.
Sabalenka has shown dominant form
early in the WTA Finals. With two
straight-set victories, she has earned 400
valuable ranking points, bringing her
total to 9,416. These wins have positioned
her closer than ever to the year-end No. 1
title. Her next challenge is against the
formidable Elena Rybakina, and another
win could secure her place at the top if
Swiatek fails to triumph in her own
upcoming matches.
Swiatek’s Resilience and Path to No. 1.
Iga Swiatek, meanwhile, started her
campaign with a gritty 4-6, 7-5, 6-2
comeback win over Barbora Krejcikova,
pushing her overall points to 8,170.
Swiatek now faces Coco Gauff in her next
match—a must-win if she hopes to keep
her chances alive. Even if Swiatek wins
her upcoming matches, Sabalenka
remains in the lead; the Pole would need
a flawless run and a Sabalenka stumble
to reclaim the year-end title.
A Rivalry Years in the Making.
The rivalry intensified at the 2023 US
Open, where Sabalenka rose to the World
No. 1 spot after reaching the final.
However, Swiatek quickly reclaimed her
throne by defeating Sabalenka in the
semifinals of the 2023 WTA Finals,
eventually dominating the final against
Jessica Pegula to finish the season as the
top-ranked player for a second year in a
row.
Now, Swiatek aims to reclaim that top
spot in 2024, but Sabalenka has the
upper hand. For Swiatek to take the title,
she must win all remaining matches,
hoping Sabalenka falters. With
everything on the line, the next two
matches could determine who will claim
the year-end No. 1 ranking.
