On October 21, Aryna Sabalenka, the 2024 US Open champion, reclaimed the No. 1 spot in the WTA rankings, ending Iga Świątek’s 11-month reign. In the latest rankings released this past Monday, Sabalenka surpassed Świątek by 41 points, recovering from a 69-point deficit from the previous week, despite neither player competing last week. Despite her recent ascent to the top of the WTA rankings, Aryna Sabalenka’s position is far from secure, according to Russian player Natalia Vikhlanteva.

The WTA Finals will take place in Riyadh from November 2nd to 9th. In addition to Iga Świątek and Aryna Sabalenka, the tournament will feature Coco Gauff, Jasmin Paolini, Jelena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, Qinwen Zheng, and Barbora Krejcikova. Vikhlanteva said, “Sabalenka has a great chance to end the year as the number one racket in the world, but Świątek, even though she is already tired of the season, will not give it to her for free,” in an interview with metaratings.by.

The Russian player further claimed that a key factor in Świątek’s chances of snatching the spot yet again is her recent coaching change. After parting ways with Tomasz Wiktorowski, Świątek’s decision to partner with Wim Fissette, an experienced coach who has worked with top players in the past, is seen as a strategic move. “Iga broke up with her coach, this news came to light recently. However, I think that Wim Fissette is a specialist who will lead her to even greater victories. Świątek always builds a team in the best possible way. And he suits Iga. I don’t think that changing the coach will be a problem for her now. We’ll see if Aryna will be able to maintain the first place in the WTA ranking at the end of the year,” said Vikhlanteva.

The WTA Finals, scheduled to begin on November 2, will be a decisive event in determining the final rankings for 2024. Sabalenka enters the tournament with an edge, but Świątek still has a chance to reclaim the top spot. For that to happen, Świątek will need to score 1,047 points more than Sabalenka. The scenario is clear: If Sabalenka wins two matches at the Finals and Świątek loses even one, the Pole will no longer be able to surpass the Belarusian.

Can Swiatek replicate last year’s perfect run?

The WTA Finals this year will be a different experience for Iga Swiatek, who enters the tournament as a former world No. 1. In Cancun last year, Swiatek went undefeated to capture her first WTA Finals title, reclaiming the No.1 ranking in the season’s final match. Can she repeat the feat?

This year, Świątek seems less concerned about immediately regaining the top spot. By skipping the Asian swing, she allowed Sabalenka to overtake her; instead focusing on a strategic shift with her new coach, Wim Fissette. This decision emphasizes her long-term ambitions, beyond just rankings, as she looks to further refine her game and aim for bigger victories.

However, if Świątek performs exceptionally well and Sabalenka falters, the rankings could shift once again. “We’ll see if Aryna will be able to maintain the first place in the WTA ranking at the end of the year,” as Vikhlanteva puts it.