In the history of the WTA rankings, launched in 1975, 29 players have occupied the world number one spot in singles. 15 of these queens managed to finish a season with the crown on their heads. Since Iga Świątek‘s defeat against Coco Gauff in her second Masters group match, 26-year-old Aryna Sabalenka was assured of becoming the 16th to achieve this feat, and the second in Belarusian history after Victoria Azarenka in 2012. A scenario which quickly allowed her not to be haunted by bad memories.
Last year, Sabalenka already started the WTA Finals as boss of the circuit. But, beaten in the semi-final by a future winner Świątek, she had to pack her boxes to return the boss’s office to the Pole. His takeover lasted eight weeks. A year later, with two additional Grand Slam titles to bring her total to three, she has expanded. Enough to be able to aspire to have shoulders strong enough to support the weight of the royal hat for much longer.
I always wanted to dominate the circuit like Serena (Williams) did, and like Iga (Świątek) did for so long.
« No. 1… Let’s see for how long this time », she wrote on X on October 21, the day of her return to the throne. “ I’ve always said it, finishing year number 1 is clearly one of my goalsshe then declared, for Arab News, ahead of the Masters. “ I always wanted to dominate the tour like Serena (Williams, 319 weeks as No. 1, third total in WTA history behind Steffi Graf and Martina Navrátilová, 377 and 332 weeks) did, and like Iga (Świątek, 125 weeks, 7th total) has also been able to do it for so long, and she is still close. »
« But I try to stay focused on my progress, making sure I have all the necessary tools to dominate the circuit like they did “, she added. In this sense, the Minsk hitter has developed her game by now showing herself capable, “ since the Rome tournament », to use the drop shot successfully or to come and finish more at the net. A more complete style, salad-tomatoes-onions, to enhance breads and steaks that she sends in abundance from the baseline.
