Aryna Sabalenka Clinches Number 1 Spot in Women’s Tennis Rankings

Everyone is free to believe it. Or not. In front of the press, Aryna Sabalenka swore that she had gone to bed before the end of the match between Iga Swiatek and Jelena Ostapenko, Sunday evening at the US Open. “I forced myself not to look at the score, I just had to go to bed, she said. I know that if I had seen the result, it would have been very hard to sleep.” And for good reason: thanks to the defeat of the Polish (3-6, 6-3, 6-1), the Belarusian is mathematically guaranteed to become, next Monday, the 29th player in history to occupy the number 1 chair. world.

It was therefore when she got out of bed that she learned of her future status as patroness of the women’s circuit. A consecration, obviously, even if this objective has not obsessed him for years. “It was really step by step: first top 100, then top 50, top 30, top 10, top 5,” the 1.82m right-hander listed. I don’t know when I started to telling myself that maybe I had a chance to become world No. 1. I knew that a lot of work had to be done for that. I was not mentally ready, because to be No. 1, you have to be consistent in tournaments.”

Mastery then fall: how Swiatek cracked against Ostapenko

A click and a lot of regularity

This is precisely what she has managed to do this season. Ideally launched on January 1, winning the Adelaide 1 tournament without conceding a single set, Sabalenka above all, a few days later, won the Australian Open. Her first Major title, behind which she had been chasing for so many years. “Aryna was looking for a click and she got it in Melbourne,” said Justine Henin, Eurosport consultant. In the process, the Minskoise offered herself another title (the WTA 1000 in Madrid) and showed undeniable regularity over the tournaments. A fortiori in Grand Slam, since she reached the semis at Roland-Garros and Wimbledon.

A little fragile… then so solid: how Sabalenka brought Rybakina to heel

This accession to the rank of world No. 1 is thus “simply a confirmation” in the eyes of Justine Henin. The players questioned on this subject do not say the opposite. “She had been knocking on the door for a while. It’s good to see this change and to see her being rewarded for the way she plays and her consistency, especially during the Majors,” said Jessica Pegula. “Honestly, I’m very happy for Aryna, admitted Ons Jabeur. I think she deserves to be number 1, and for a long time.”

Trapped by Qinwen Zheng in the 8th round (6-2, 6-4), the Tunisian looked gray when returning to the locker room. She nevertheless took the trouble to go and greet the future boss of the circuit, who was playing just after. “She was still upset, but she still came to me to congratulate me. I love this girl,” smiled Sabalenka, who revealed that she had received “lots of messages, from a lot of people, from players”. Among which, among others, Novak Djokovic.

Aryna Sabalenka during her victory against Clara Burel. / US Open 2023

Credit: Eurosport

I didn’t want to be world number 1 like that

Submerged in positive waves, Anton Dubrov’s protege however expressed regret: that of not having been able to dismiss Swiatek herself. “To be honest, I didn’t want her to lose,” admitted the one who will soon give up her 2nd place in the WTA rankings. “All year I played well. I put her under pressure. I was sad and happy at the same time, because I didn’t want to become world No. 1 like that. I wanted there to be a battle.” It’s probably just a postponement. After a well-deserved and salutary break, the Warsaw woman intends to set out again to conquer the throne.

Henin: ‘There is a form of relief for Swiatek after his loss’

This still promises some pretty battles to come and, who knows, the Polish and the Belarusian may be laying the foundations for a duel that will enliven women’s tennis for a few years. In the meantime, the last mentioned has a second Grand Slam title to conquer, just to strengthen her position as the future patroness of the circuit. Winner without trembling of Daria Kasatkina in the round of 16 on Monday (6-3, 6-1), she logically advances as the favorite of a table which only includes two other Major winners, namely Marketa Vondrousova (Wimbledon 2023) and Jelena Ostapenko (Roland-Garros 2017).

Of course, we will also have to be wary of a Coco Gauff massively supported by the New York public, as well as the surprising Zheng, whom the 25-year-old player will face this Wednesday in the quarterfinals. While assuming its new status. “Will there be more pressure for Aryna Sabalenka by the end of this US Open?” Asks Justine Henin. We will soon find out. On Monday, the new queen will take the throne. She could not dream of a finer crown than a coronation at Flushing.

2023-09-05 21:59:00
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