RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — For the first time in her career, Aryna Sabalenka has secured the year-end No. 1 position in the women’s tennis rankings, thanks to Iga Swiatek’s recent loss in the WTA Finals. This historic achievement for the 26-year-old Belarusian became official on Tuesday when Swiatek was defeated by Coco Gauff with a score of 6-3, 6-4 at the season-ending tournament taking place in Saudi Arabia.
A year prior, Sabalenka briefly ascended to the top spot in the rankings in September but lost it after Swiatek emerged victorious at the WTA Finals. However, this year has proved different for Sabalenka, who surpassed Swiatek in October after the latter took a break from competition following the U.S. Open and appointed new coach Wim Fissette. In the ongoing round-robin play in Riyadh, Sabalenka boasts an impressive record of 2-0.
The Belarusian’s record for the season stands at 56 wins and 12 losses, highlighted by four tournament titles, inclusive of Grand Slam victories at both the Australian Open and the U.S. Open, raising her total to three major championships overall. Her first Grand Slam title came at the Australian Open in 2023.
Sabalenka’s game has long been characterized by a powerful and sometimes unpredictable serve, alongside intimidating groundstrokes, with her forehand registering the highest speeds among both male and female players at this year’s U.S. Open. Recently, she has been incorporating more finesse and variety into her play. “It’s really good to have these options in your pocket,” Sabalenka remarked after her victory over Jessica Pegula in the U.S. Open final. “Sometimes, if you don’t feel your best on the baseline, you can just go for a slice or a drop shot or come to the net. I’ve been always working on this variation on the court, and I’m really glad that I’m brave enough to use these tools.”
In addition to Sabalenka’s achievement, the WTA also announced that Katerina Siniakova will finish the year as the No. 1 ranked player in doubles. The Czech star previously held the top doubles ranking at the end of 2018, 2021, and 2022 as well.