WTA Finals 2023: Who Finishes as the Year End no.1? Decoding Likely Scenarios Involving Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka

The WTA Finals have always managed to excite the fans who get to witness the top eight singles-ranked players on the women’s circuit. The ongoing edition of the season-ending championship is no different, as there were some highly competitive matches in the group-stage fixtures in Cancun. Now, the big stage is set up for the semifinals, which are also underway and will feature the current top-two-ranked players, Iga Świątek and Aryna Sabalenka.

While they will be squaring off against each other on the hard courts, the WTA superstars will also have the massive opportunity in their hands to finish the season as the number one on the tour. Here are some scenarios of how Swiatek and Sabalenka could pull off this achievement in Cancun.

How can Aryna Sabalenka defend her world No. 1 stature?

Ever since enjoying a title-winning run at the Australian Open, the Belarusian tennis star has quickly become a leading figure in the tennis circuit. On top of pulling off a major triumph on the court, Aryna Sabalenka has won two more singles titles at the Madrid Open and Adelaide International. Later, the reigning Grand Slam champion went on to attain the world No. 1 rankings after securing a runner-up finish at the US Open.

As the top seed, Sabalenka entered the round-robin event in Cancun and breezed past Maria Sakkari in the first group stage match. But in her second encounter against Jessica Pegula, the Belarusian was defeated by the American in straight sets. Sabalenka later made amends by outshining Elena Rybakina, and now she just needs one semifinal win against Swiatek to defend her current world No. 1 stature on the tour.

How can Iga Świątek reclaim her position as the top-ranked player?

The Pole enjoyed the majority of this season as the world No. 1 player before her Belarusian colleague dethroned her. Now, with five singles titles under her belt this season, the ‘Queen of the Clay’ is the second seed in the WTA Finals. Iga Świątek’s first victory at the round-robin event came against Markéta Vondroušová, who also conceded a bagel in a straight-set defeat, 7-6, 6-0.

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Later, the 4-time singles Grand Slam champion also swept aside the likes of Coco Gauff and Ons Jabeur and extended her winning streak in Cancun. Now, in order to reclaim her throne as the top-ranked player, Świątek will lock horns with Sabalenka in a must-win match. But that’s not all; in addition to prevailing in the semifinals, the Pole will also have to win the championship match of the event.

Who do you think will be the top-ranked player on the women’s tour after the hard-court event in Cancun? Let us know in the comments section.

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