Amid Coco Gauff’s Misery, Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek Register the Greatest Frontrunner Record in WTA History

It’s not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves! And, today we’re going to talk about two of the brightest stars of the tennis world who currently have their destiny in their own racquets. It’s time for the battle of the number two spot in the women’s singles ranking. Ever since the 2023 Australian Open, Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka have held the top two spots in the women’s single ranking. Coco Gauff has come in touching distance of grabbing the second spots multiple times. But the ‘Tiger’ was pretty much reluctant to change her cave.

In Madrid, the equations were something like if Coco Gauff lost her opening second-round match, Sabalenka needed to reach the SF of the Madrid Open to keep her lead intact. But if the American made it to the QF, then the Belarusian had to reach the finals of the tournament and if Gauff reached SF, Sabalenka had to win the tournament. However, in the end, Coco Gauff was knocked out of the tournament and Aryna Sabalenka made it to the finals. But in the middle of these miseries for 20-year-old American, Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek created a new historic feat. They are now the only players with the most number of consecutive weeks (68) as the WTA Top 2.

Coco Gauff will have plenty of points to defend after the Wimbledon Championships this year. So if she doesn’t get to the number 2 spot by then, Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka could then easily build a significant lead in the WTA Rankings. Currently, Aryna Sabalenka sits at the number 2 spot with 7498 points, while Coco Gauff is at number 3 with 7313 points. So, there is a gap of 185 points between the two. Even in the Italian Open, there are a lot of permutations and combinations for these two tennis stars.

There are multiple scenarios for Coco Gauff to reach the number 2 in Rome itself. But for that, she needs to reach the final. Suppose Aryna Sabalenka loses in the semi-final, then Coco Gauff needs to make it to the finals to become the new world number 2. And, if the Belarusian tennis star reaches the finals, then the American young gun needs to outclass her in the finals to retain the second-best spot in the women’s ranking. But how does Coco Gauff look at these equations surrounding the WTA Rankings?

“I’ve never been like a really rankings-based person” – Coco Gauff

Coco Gauff is least bothered by all these things. She wants to fully concentrate on improving her games and winning titles. During an interview, Coco Gauff said, “I’ve never been like a really rankings-based person. Being number two would be really cool and an honor. But I focus more on like tournament wins. And at the end of the day, I want to get as many trophies as I can in my cabinet.”

However, she loves looking at the top of the mountain though!  She further went on to add, “The rankings will come with that so I’m not really focused on number two. I think number one would be really special. But honestly between two or three it’s kind of the same for me.”

We have seen Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka snubbing the number three previously to call out the ‘Big 3’ players in women’s tennis. But can Coco Gauff prove them wrong by becoming the new world number 2? But before that, can she reach the finals of the Italian Open? Share your thoughts in the comment box.