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Two-time Roland Garros champion Iga Swiatek and in-form Aryna Sabalenka sit atop the women's game as the WTA Tour shifts focus to the European claycourt swing, the first major surface shift of 2023.
The first three months of the season have witnessed enthralling tennis action, with an array of inspiring performances keeping fans interested. Before transitioning to the red dirt, we take a quick look at players who look primed for more success in the coming weeks.
Note: The following formula was used to calculate the power rankings for this year's claycourt swing: (1x points earned in 2023 + 0.5x points earned during the 2022 European claycourt swing + 0.25x points earned in the 2021 European claycourt swing).
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#7 Petra Kvitova
Petra Kvitova comes into the claycourt swing having won nine of her last 10 matches, which included her first WTA 1000 title in nearly five years.
The Czech was at her vintage best over the Sunshine Double, peaking at the back end of the Miami Open — where she beat the likes of Elena Rybakina and Sorana Cirstea comprehensively en route to the title.
While Kvitova had a horrid claycourt swing last year, she did reach a couple of big quarterfinals in 2021 (Stuttgart and Madrid). That, added to her current run of form, saw her surge her way onto the list.
#6 Barbora Krejcikova
One would think that a Roland Garros winner from a couple of years ago wouldn't need too much in terms of recent results to feature in the power rankings for the red dirt.
That assessment isn't exactly wrong. Even so, Barbora Krejcikova is not relying on past results alone as she secured the sixth spot due to her title at the 2023 Dubai Championships, as well as her 2021 Roland Garros triumph.
#5 Coco Gauff
Coco Gauff had a wondrous yet somewhat tragic time at Roland Garros last year. A finalist in both the women's singles and doubles, the youngster ended the tournament with two losses.
A singles defeat to Iga Swiatek was more telling, as the Pole's experience triumphed against a clearly overwhelmed teenager. Gauff, however, continues to thrive in slower conditions and has had consistent results to show for her prowess on the surface.
#4 Jessica Pegula
Much like her doubles partner Coco Gauff, with whom she reached the doubles final at the 2022 Roland Garros, Jessica Pegula was eliminated by Iga Swiatek at the claycourt Slam last year.
However, her quarterfinal run in Paris, along with the finals showing in Madrid, holds her in good stead. She has looked dangerous in 2023 as well, with her win over Swiatek in January a testament to her improvement over the last 12 months.
#3 Elena Rybakina
Elena Rybakina does not strike one as an obvious threat on clay. However, the Kazakh has posted steady results at Roland Garros in the last few years. After famously beating Serena Williams en route to the quarterfinals in the 2021 edition, she posted a couple of wins last year to make the third round.
If there was any doubt in her abilities as a world beater, her splendid first three months in 2023 would have put an end to that.
#2 Iga Swiatek
Were it not for her recent drop in form and forced withdrawals, Iga Swiatek would have been the player to beat on clay this year. With a French Open title, a WTA 1000 win in Rome, and a title in Stuttgart — all in 2022, there would have been little competition for the Pole.
Swiatek, however, has not fared nearly as well in 2023, falling behind the likes of Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, and Jessica Pegula. Even so, there's no denying the World No. 1's prowess on the red dirt.
#1 Aryna Sabalenka
Aryna Sabalenka, akin to Rybakina, does not immediately scream clay court specialist. That said, the Belarussian has proven on more than one occasion that she can go toe-to-toe with the best on slower surfaces — having beaten Ashleigh Barty in Madrid two years ago and pushing Iga Swiatek in the Stuttgart final last year.
Sabalenka's form in 2023 has been incredible. If she can conquer her serving demons and play with the sort of confidence that she did in Melbourne, the surface disadvantage that she has in some particular match-ups could become irrelevant.
