Two months of competition offer plenty of excitement, and one of the main highlights of the women's circuit will be determining who finishes the season as the number 1 in the WTA rankings. While it is true that Aryna Sabalenka currently holds a certain lead, Iga Swiatek presents strong possibilities for a breakthrough.
There is still much at stake in women's tennis for the remainder of the season, with the battle for the top spot in the WTA rankings standing out as a highly anticipated aspect. Despite the absence of showdowns between Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek in Grand Slam finals, the rivalry between the Belarussian and the Polish player remains evident in the world rankings, as both strive to become the best player of the year.
First, it is important to provide context and establish the current situation. While Sabalenka holds a significant lead of 3,292 points in the WTA rankings, Swiatek only needs to defend 400 points for the remainder of the year, acquired in the last season's WTA Finals. On the other hand, the Belarussian must defend 1,615 points, with her triumph in Wuhan being the most notable result.

- Swiatek needs to accumulate over 2,077 points more than Sabalenka by the end of the year
An immediate shift in the official rankings is not expected, so analyzing the battle for the top spot from the WTA Race standings, which reflect the results of the current season, provides a clearer perspective. Sabalenka currently holds an advantage of 2,077 points, requiring Swiatek to achieve significant results. Despite the upcoming WTA 1000 tournaments in Beijing and Wuhan, as well as the 2025 WTA Finals offering 1,500 points to the winner, there is room for positional change, but Swiatek will need Sabalenka to face early eliminations.
If Swiatek decides to participate in the Seoul WTA 500, she will gain another opportunity to earn points and intensify the pressure on Aryna Sabalenka, who cannot afford any complacency if she aims to retain her leading position. It will be thrilling to witness how the two top-ranked players challenge each other week by week. Iga Swiatek understands that the figures could work in her favor, but she also acknowledges that success will not solely depend on her, as she faces a substantial gap to close.
This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Así será la lucha por el número 1 del ranking WTA entre Sabalenka y Swiatek

