Iga Swiatek has a healthy lead at the top of the WTA Rankings after an impressive 2023, but the world number one could come under pressure from Aryna Sabalenka in the grass season.
Currently, Swiatek has a lead of over 900 rankings points at the top of the WTA Rankings. The 22-year-old added her fourth career Grand Slam title at the 2023 Roland Garros after she beat Karolina Muchova across three sets in the final.
Recent success has helped Swiatek hold on to the number one rankings sport since April 4, 2022, and another Grand Slam title ensures the Polish star will remain on top for the foreseeable future. Before 2023 Wimbledon, Swiatek will participate in the WTA 250 event at Bad Homburg, which begins on June 26th, to try and extend her lead.
Sabalenka is Swiatek's closest challenger in the number two spot. Although, the 900 points gap between the pair is likely to prove too much for Sabalenka to make up during the grass court season as the Belarusian will enter the WTA 500 event in Berlin before taking part at 2023 Wimbledon.
Early in the season, a possible three-way clash was developing between Swiatek, Sabalenka and world number three Elena Rybakina. However, Rybakina's early departure from Roland Garros due to illness and struggles in the Stuttgart Open and the Madrid Open has seen the Kazakhstani player fall nearly 3000 points behind Sabalenka.
In a bid to play catch up to the current WTA top two, Rybakina will compete in the 2023 Berlin Open and at the WTA 250 competition in Eastbourne. Then the world number three will head to Wimbledon as she tries to defend her 2022 title in SW19.
The 23-year-old will also be aware of the chasing pack trying to knock her out of the top three. WTA number four Caroline Garcia and world number five Jessica Pegula are around 100 points shy of the third spot.
After the third Grand Slam of the season is played, only two players can appear atop of the rankings. They are Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka and to dethrone the young Pole, the Belarusian will need to outplay her by 900 points, so even if she wins the title, Swiatek's final participation may be enough to defend the spot.
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