Aryna Sabalenka will challenge Iga Swiatek for the number one rank on Saturday in a direct match that will also determine which player will go through the WTA Finals final.
When the chance to dethrone Swiatek arose earlier this year, Sabalenka wanted to play the Polish player directly to determine who should get it. While she didn't get the chance at the US Open, Sabalenka will have the chance to do so at the WTA Finals.
It's not only who is going to be number one; it's also who is going to finish as number one. The calculations are simple: if Sabalenka wins, she's number one; if she loses, then Swiatek has a chance to finish as number one, but she'll need to win the event.
Beating Sabalenka is not enough; she also needs to beat either Coco Gauff or Jessica Pegula in the final match. The Belarusian isn't thinking about it because she wants to end it herself.
As I said at the US Open, I didn’t want her to lose that match. I really wanted to play against her to decide who’s the #1 in the world. I said that & now it’s a possibility that we’re gonna play for the #1 spot. I would love to play against Iga. That would be a really incredible match. I hope the stadium would be full. And I hope they’re gonna keep screaming Sabalenka (smiling).
The match will be played on Saturday afternoon, and there's a lot at stake. It promises to be an exciting one, but one player did play better tennis so far this week.
It was Swiatek, but in a winner-takes-all match, everything is possible, and impossible is nothing. So make sure to stick with us to learn who won that match.