Iga Swiatek will be the World No. 1 on the WTA Tour even after the 2023 Wimbledon after Aryna Sabalenka couldn't make the one last step.
Since becoming the World No. 1 on April 4th, 2022, the young Pole has been untouchable for the majority of her reign. However, that changed in 2023, especially after Aryna Sabalenka won the Australian Open and the Madrid Open.
The Belarusian has been a constant threat, and even though the two entered a direct fight for the World No. 1 spot at the 2023 Wimbledon, Swiatek had things under control as all depended on her result at the third major of the season.
Yet, it wasn't until Swiatek lost to Elina Svitolina in the quarterfinals of the competition that the 25-year-old got a chance to take the spot from her. Sabalenka needed to win two matches to do that, which translated to reaching the final at the 2023 Wimbledon.
Yet, after winning the first one effortlessly, she struggled against Ons Jabeur as the Tunisian eventually ended her World No. 1 dream. That means that the Top 2 in the WTA Rankings on Monday will look accordingly. World No. 1, Iga Swiatek with 9315 points, World No. 2, Aryna Sabalenka with 8845 points.
Who will be third, you ask? That's yet to be decided. Currently, that's last year's Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina who has 5465 points next to her name, but if Ons Jabeur, who eliminated the Kazakhstani player, wins the tournament, she will have 5547 points and climb to third place.
As for Sabalenka, she rejected thinking about the possibility of becoming the highest-ranked player during her defeat to Ons Jabeur. However, after the match, she was confident to say that she wants to finish the year as World No. 1.
"I wouldn't say that I was thinking about that. I mean, for me it's more about how you finish the year than during the year you're first, second, you just go back and forth. For me it's more about finish the year. I'll keep pushing myself and do everything I can to finish this year as world No. 1."