Sabalenka Extends Lead At No. 1, Paolini New Career-High In Latest WTA Rankings

Aryna Sabalenka's lead over Iga Swiatek at No. 1 was extended further in the latest WTA rankings, but a controversial rule is part of the reason for that.

After Swiatek became the seventh woman in tennis history to have multiple spells of 50 weeks or more at No. 1, she was overtaken by Sabalenka for the second time in last week's rankings.

The Belarusian briefly topped the rankings after the 2023 US Open, but Swiatek reclaimed her position by winning last year's WTA Finals. However, how Sabalenka became No. 1 last week was more controversial.

Both women had the points from their lowest-earning tournament removed after not playing at least six WTA-500 tournaments during the season, which is mandatory for top players in the women's game.

Sabalenka only lost 10 points because of that rule, but Swiatek dropped 120 points from reaching the Miami Open fourth round. That was enough for Sabalenka to leapfrog her and become No. 1 again.

The US Open champion's lead has been enhanced further for two reasons. Firstly, Swiatek dropped the 1500 points she won at last year's WTA Finals, while Sabalenka lost a lower 690 points from reaching the semifinal of the same tournament.

Secondly, the four-time French Open winner has been disproportionately hurt again by the same rule as last week. Her 195 points from reaching the semifinal of this year's Stuttgart Open were removed for not playing six WTA-500 tournaments.

That means Sabalenka has 9016 points, 1046 points ahead of Swiatek's 7970. However, the Pole could still overtake her rival when they battle for the year-end No. 1 spot at the WTA Finals, starting November 2nd.

Jessica Pegula lost the points she earned from being the runner-up to Swiatek at the 2023 WTA Finals. That led to the American dropping from No. 4 to No. 6 in the latest rankings.

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Pegula also fell from No. 3 to No. 4 in last week's rankings, being overtaken by Coco Gauff, who became the new American No. 1. Gauff, ranked as the most marketable tennis player in the world last week by Sportspro, remains at No. 3 this week.

Jasmine Paolini rose two spots to reach a career-high of No. 4. The Italian, who has enjoyed an outstanding breakthrough season, is one place ahead of Elena Rybakina at No. 5.

Qinwen Zheng's run to the title of the Japan Open in Tokyo was not enough for her to move any higher, meaning she remains at No. 7. By contrast, the runner-up in Tokyo, Sofia Kenin, rose 67 places from No. 155 to No. 88.

Danielle Collins, who reversed her decision to retire at the end of 2024, is back in the Top 10 after Beatriz Haddad Maia dropped her points from winning last year's WTA Elite Trophy. The Brazilian fell seven places to No. 17.

Ons Jabeur, who has not played since the Canadian Open at the start of August because of an injury, plummeted nine places to No. 41. That is a fall from grace for the former world No. 2, and she will hope to rectify that by being fit and ready for 2025.

Other WTA rankings changes include Anna Kalinskaya's new career high of No. 11, Maria Sakkari's drop to No. 31, and last week's Guangzhou Open champion Olga Danilovic's rise of 34 places to No. 52.

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