In tennis, timing is everything. One misstep, one off day, and momentum can shift overnight. Polish superstar Iga Swiatek has been the indomitable force who has dominated the headlines ever since her 2025 Wimbledon triumph. She won titles in Cincinnati and then in Seoul as well. Owing to her incredible form, she started her Wuhan Open campaign as a favorite. She won her first two matches in straight sets, but surprisingly, in the QF she went down to Jasmine Paolini by a 6-1,6-2 margin. But now the question is: Did this shocking exit secure the world number one spot for Aryna Sabalenka?

Yes indeed! Before this match, Swiatek had a 6-0 record against Paolini. But now this surprising defeat has cleared the path for Sabalenka to stake her claim as the season’s dominant force. Aryna Sabalenka replaced Iga Swiatek at the top of the rankings on October 21, 2024. Reacting to the loss of her crown, the Pole once said, “When I lost the No.1 to Aryna for a couple of weeks, I was kind of devastated.” This time, she had the chance to throw up a major challenge towards the Belarusian, but…

As things stand, Sabalenka will most likely end the season on the highest note for the second consecutive year. Unbelievable consistency from the ‘Tigress’! If we take a look at the Live Rankings, Sabalenka currently sits at the top spot with 10,400 points, while Swiatek is in‌ second place with just 8,768 points. So, that’s a clear gap of 1,632 points. Now, if we shift our focus to the WTA Live Race, here Sabalenka has just passed the 10,000-point mark with her SF run in Wuhan, while Swiatek has just 8,368 points.

Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek may not feature again in regular WTA action after the Wuhan Open. They’ll be seen again in action at the season-ending WTA Finals, which will kickstart in Saudi Arabia from November 1 to November 8. In the past two seasons, we saw the year-end number one ranking getting decided at the WTA Finals. But this year, it won’t be the same case. Because a player can win a maximum of 1,500 points at the WTA Finals, and for that, they have to win the tournament undefeated.

So, even if we assume Swiatek wins the title this year, she will still be 132 points behind Sabalenka. However, there will not be any official confirmation about the Belarusian’s back-to-back year-end number one just yet, as the Pole could still choose to enter one of the remaining regular events, and on top of that, there could be a few deductions since both these players haven’t played the required number of WTA 500 tournaments this year.

However, despite all these factors, Sabalenka’s lead will keep her ahead of Swiatek in this year-end battle. Now, let’s take a glimpse at their performance in this season.

Both these players have won one Grand Slam title each this season. Swiatek did it at Wimbledon, while Sabalenka successfully defended her title at the US Open. 

But let me tell you, this isn’t just a numbers game. It’s a story of timing, resilience, and seizing opportunity. Aryna Sabalenka’s ascent reflects a season-long narrative: when others falter, the prepared thrive. Wuhan also seems to be a defining moment, but can she win the title here this time? Let’s check what Sabalenka said after her QF win against the former world number 3, Elena Rybakina.

What did Aryna Sabalenka say after her dominating performance against Elena Rybakina?

Aryna Sabalenka now has an almost 80% win record against the Top 10 players since August 2024. She recently took down the world number 9, Elena Rybakina, by 6-3, 6-3 in the QF of the Wuhan Open. As a result of this incredible victory, she will now fight for a spot in the final against America’s Jessica Pegula in the semis.

This was the first time Sabalenka defeated Rybakina in straight sets. Yes, that’s how close this matchup has been over the years. While sharing her thoughts about this epic battle, which lasted for around 1 hour and 25 minutes, Sabalenka said, “We have a really huge history against each other. Always great battles, always push me to the limit to get the win.” This win takes her H2H record to 8-5 against Rybakina, and with that, she now also has a perfect record of 20-0 at the Wuhan Open. Can the three-time champion get the better of Pegula in the next match?

But her extraordinary performance in this season has caught the eyes of several tennis bigwigs. For example, during a conversation on Tennis Channel, American former pro Tracy Austin admitted that she thinks Aryna Sabalenka has had a better season than Iga Swiatek. 

“Sabalenka’s won four titles, so she’s won more than Swiatek. Swiatek has won three, kind of come at the end of the year. Also, four other finals have gone deeper in the majors; she has been the most successful player, most wins, and I think that’s why it was so important for her to cap it off with that US Open title,” said Austin. Do you also think Aryna Sabalenka deserves to retain her number one crown, especially after her incredible performances in the 2025 season?

Written by

Sayantan Roy

Sayantan Roy is a seasoned tennis journalist at EssentiallySports. He brings a deep tactical understanding to his coverage, breaking down head-to-head records, match dynamics, and on-court strategies with precision. For more than two years, Sayantan has been a key member of the Live Events desk, delivering real-time insights and data-backed predictions for the platform’s Matchday Preview section. His analytical approach has sparked editorial debates and drawn recognition from respected tennis voices, including commentator and analyst Olly_Tennis. Combining his experience in writing with a passion for insightful sports journalism, Sayantan’s work serves as a trusted reference point for tennis fans around the world.

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Edited by

Shrabana Sengupta