'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The fight for year-end World No. 1 between Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek will go down right to the wire as the 2023 WTA season draws to a close.
The WTA Finals kick off on Sunday, October 29, in Cancun, Mexico with a stellar line-up. Sabalenka and Swiatek will be joined by Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Elena Rybakina, Ons Jabeur, Marketa Vondrousova and Maria Sakkari at the year-end championships.
Sabalenka has 8,425 ranking points, 630 more than No. 2 Swiatek. At last year's WTA Finals, Sabalenka was the runner-up, while Swiatek lost in the semifinals to the Belarusian.
To retake the No. 1 ranking, Swiatek will have to depend heavily on Sabalenka's performance at the tournament. The duo are in separate groups and cannot face each other before the semfinals.
Trending
If Sabalenka reaches the final with just one loss in the group stage, she will be assured of the No. 1 spot. If the Pole loses one group stage match, Sabalenka will retain the top spot just by reaching the final or going unbeaten in the group stage. If Swiatek loses two group matches, a 2-1 record in the group stage will be enough for the Belarusian to finish the year as the World No. 1.
Meanwhile, for Iga Swiatek to even get a sniff at becoming No. 1, she has to reach the final in Cancun. If Sabalenka loses all three group matches, reaching the final or going 2-1 in the group and winning the title will see the four-time Grand Slam champion back on top.
If Sabalenka wins one of her group matches, just winning the title will be enough for Swiatek. If the World No. 1 wins two group matches, Swiatek will need to win the title while winning at least two of her group matches.
Finally, if Sabalenka wins all three group matches, Iga Swiatek will have to go unbeaten at the WTA Finals and win five matches on the trot to take the top spot.
It should be noted that the current World No. 3 is Coco Gauff, with 5,955 ranking points, is out of contention for the World No. 1 position.
Iga Swiatek lost World No. 1 spot this year after 75 straight weeks
Iga Swiatek became the World No. 1 for the first time in April 2022 following Ashleigh Barty's shock retirement. She held it for 75 straight weeks till this year's US Open, where a fourth-round exit confirmed Aryna Sabalenka as the new No. 1.
The Pole, though, did not feel too badly about losing the top spot, saying in a recent interview that she was proud of herself for handling all the pressure that comes with being the No. 1.
At the same time, she also asserted that she will be much better prepared if she got back the top ranking, having learnt from her first experience.
"There has been a lot of pressure in recent seasons. I would say the progress I've made has been pretty quick and I didn't expect to be number one last year. I had to deal with a lot of things and grow tennis very quickly," Swiatek said.
"The pressure is difficult at certain times. On the other hand, it is part of our sport and we have to learn how to adapt, to focus on tennis. If I were World No. 1 again, I would be much better prepared. I learn from it, it will be easier," she added.
