Belarus’
Aryna Sabalenka is in a pole position to finish the
year as the number one ranked player in the
WTA rankings. The 26-year-old
is arguably one of the best players currently playing in women’s tennis in the
singles category, along with the likes of Poland’s
Iga Swiatek.
Sabalenka has recently become the world number one in WTA
rankings, overtaking Swiatek as the latter did not participate in the China and
the Wuhan Open. The Minsk-born star will next participate in the
WTA Finals,
which will be played for the first time in Saudi Arabia this year.
As things stand, the three-time Grand Slam winner will
finish the year as the number-one ranked player if she manages to win three of
her round-robin matches. Therefore, even if Swiatek wins the competition, she
would hope that the Belarus’ tennis star will at least lose one of her matches
in the group stage. Sabalenka has had an exceptional year at the highest level
where she won two out of the four Grand Slams. She first lifted the Australian
Open for the second time in her career after beating China’s Zheng Qinwen in
straight sets with a score of 6-3, 6-2.
She then lifted the US Open as well
after beating America’s Jessica Pegula in the final in straight sets with a
score of 7-5, 7-5. Sabalenka’s most recent appearance came in the Wuhan Open where
she lifted the title after beating America’s Coco Gauff in the final with a
score of 6-3, 5-7, 6-3. On the other hand, Swiatek finished the year winning one
out of the four Grand Slams. She lifted the French Open for the fourth time
after beating Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in the final in straight sets with a
score of 6-2, 6-1. Swiatek also went on to win a bronze medal for her country
in the Paris Olympics. She defeated Slovakia’s Anna Karolina Schmiedlova in the
third-place encounter in straight sets with a score of 6-2, 6-1.