Sabalenka new world #1

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Bionic Poster
As of Monday, Aryna Sabalenka became the 29th woman to hold the WTA #1 ranking, taking over from Iga Swiatek who had completed 75 weeks at that position. She becomes the 10th officially active player to hold this ranking (along with Swiatek, Venus Williams, Wozniacki, Halep, Azarenka, Kerber, Osaka, Pliskova, Muguruza) and the 2nd player from Belarus (along with Azarenka). For comparison, just 5 officially active players have held the ATP #1 ranking.

Swiatek managed to hold the top ranking for 75 weeks, the longest of any of the active former #1s. How long can we expect Sabalenka to do so?
 

Aussie Darcy

Bionic Poster
Probably not for very long.
What makes you say that?

Sabalenka has an 1,071 point lead in the rankings.

In terms of points to defend from 2022:

Sabalenka just has her runner up points from the WTA Finals at the end of October (955)
Swiatek meanwhile has runner up points in Ostrava (305) along with champion points in San Diego (500) and then her SFist points from the WTA Finals (750).

Sabalenka with 955, Swiatek with 1,555 and Sabalenka with with a lead already of 1,071 points.
 

travlerajm

Talk Tennis Guru
What makes you say that?

Sabalenka has an 1,071 point lead in the rankings.

In terms of points to defend from 2022:

Sabalenka just has her runner up points from the WTA Finals at the end of October (955)
Swiatek meanwhile has runner up points in Ostrava (305) along with champion points in San Diego (500) and then her SFist points from the WTA Finals (750).

Sabalenka with 955, Swiatek with 1,555 and Sabalenka with with a lead already of 1,071 points.
It’s hard to stay #1 when you’re only the 3rd best player.
 

socallefty

G.O.A.T.
Tennis players dream of becoming #1 and winning Slams. So, what mixed emotions do you feel when you become #1 after losing a Slam final against a kid? Are you drinking champagne or crying yourself to sleep?
 

James P

G.O.A.T.
I think she'll probably trade with Iga back and forth for a few seasons. Doubt Iga is done, but Aryna is here to stay, as well. It'll be interesting to see if more women can get involved in the race for #1 the next few years.
 

ScottleeSV

Hall of Fame
What makes you say that?

Sabalenka has an 1,071 point lead in the rankings.

In terms of points to defend from 2022:

Sabalenka just has her runner up points from the WTA Finals at the end of October (955)
Swiatek meanwhile has runner up points in Ostrava (305) along with champion points in San Diego (500) and then her SFist points from the WTA Finals (750).

Sabalenka with 955, Swiatek with 1,555 and Sabalenka with with a lead already of 1,071 points.

There are a few issues with Aryna having a long reign as #1..

- Because she didn't win on Sunday, she's not getting as big a bounce as some other first time number ones. The best way to start a reign is with a slam win. Gives you real breathing room.

- Unless I'm mistaken, she's not playing the next W1000 in Mexico. Big chance for Swiatek (and Gauff) to take chunks out of the lead.

(Slightly longer term)

- 2470 to defend in the Australian swing. If she hasn't extended the lead by then, she might have to defend in Melbourne to stay number one. That's not easy and it's only 4 months away

(Much longer term).

- With over 3500 points accumulated from the American hard courts, Gauff might be more likely to be the next number 1 than Swiatek. Between now and next summer, there's sort of an opportunity. She's done the groundwork to make a run for it in 2024.
 

RaulRamirez

Legend
Louder than Serena, Sharapova and Azarenka?

Discuss.
The Mount Rushmore of recent and current women's grunters/shriekers? At least among slam winners.

I think that Serena saved hers for the most crucial moments, but the other three are almost non-stop. I think that Saba's is the lowest pitch, and possibly the longest in duration, and she complements it all by looking sullen and intimidating. Tough to judge.
 

JasonZ

Hall of Fame
Tennis players dream of becoming #1 and winning Slams. So, what mixed emotions do you feel when you become #1 after losing a Slam final against a kid? Are you drinking champagne or crying yourself to sleep?
well, she became no1 before the final, or am i wrong? so she celebrated number 1 before the final and was frustrated after the lost final.
 

Aussie Darcy

Bionic Poster
There are a few issues with Aryna having a long reign as #1..

- Because she didn't win on Sunday, she's not getting as big a bounce as some other first time number ones. The best way to start a reign is with a slam win. Gives you real breathing room.

- Unless I'm mistaken, she's not playing the next W1000 in Mexico. Big chance for Swiatek (and Gauff) to take chunks out of the lead.

(Slightly longer term)

- 2470 to defend in the Australian swing. If she hasn't extended the lead by then, she might have to defend in Melbourne to stay number one. That's not easy and it's only 4 months away

(Much longer term).

- With over 3500 points accumulated from the American hard courts, Gauff might be more likely to be the next number 1 than Swiatek. Between now and next summer, there's sort of an opportunity. She's done the groundwork to make a run for it in 2024.
True the bounce won't be as big if she had won, but she was always going to become #1 once Iga lost and dropped a heap of her points from last year (over 1,500 points) so it's still a large margin for Sabalenka.

And looks like Gauff isn't playing Guadalajara either so that is a chance for Iga. But this year the WTA is regrettably returning to China so there's a number of tournaments for points on offer. And Aryna is insanely good in China. A 2x champ in Wuhan, former QFist in Beijing, she won the Elite Trophy in Zhuhai, also a former champ in Shenzhen, and a runner up in Tianjin. Swiatek I don't think has ever gotten to play in China since it's been out of action since everything went down with Covid and then Peng.
 

Federev

G.O.A.T.
It’s hard to stay #1 when you’re only the 3rd best player.

Four slams across four different players.

And was anyone else a slam winner AND a slam finalist this year? Saba won AO and finalist at the USO.

Harder to argue she’s clearly 3rd best any more than that she’s 1st. She’s got the points and as big a title as anyone.
 
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