Aryna Sabalenka seals year-end World No. 1 ranking for 2024 after Iga Swiatek falls to Coco Gauff at WTA Finals

Aryna Sabalenka has sealed the year-end World No. 1 spot for the 2024 season thanks to Coco Gauff at the WTA Finals. The American beat World No. 2 Iga Swiatek in the group stage on November 5, ending the Pole's hopes of fighting for the top spot to close out the year.

Sabalenka, also in action at the WTA Finals, is 2-0 in the group stage, having taken down Zheng Qinwen and Jasmine Paolini. Swiatek, meanwhile, had won her opener against Barbora Krejcikova. With things so poised, Sabalenka needed one of two things to happen to seal the No. 1 year-end ranking -- either win her next match against Elena Rybakina or wait for Swiatek to lose against Gauff.

As it turned out, Swiatek's fate met its end in her own hands. The four-time Grand Slam champion, who is playing in her first tournament since the US Open, fell 3-6 in the opening set against the American. Although the second set was closer, the 22-year-old ultimately succumbed 4-6 in the second set to hand Gauff only her second win in 13 encounters against Swiatek.

Sabalenka is now the third different year-end World No. 1 in the WTA rankings in the last six years. Before her, Swiatek accomplished the feat the previous two years, before which Ashleigh Barty held the honor for three straight years. Aryna Sabalenka is also the second-ever Belarusian to finish as the year-end WTA No. 1, following in the footsteps of Victoria Azarenka (2012).

Aryna Sabalenka's road to year-end World No. 1

WTA Finals 2024 - Day 3 - Source: Getty

2024 has been a stellar year for Aryna Sabalenka, who won two of the four Grand Slam titles. After defending her Australian Open title, she won her maiden trophy at the US Open, defeating home favorite Jessica Pegula in the final. Iga Swiatek, meanwhile, won the French Open, but exited relatively early at the other three Slams.

The Belarusian also won two WTA 1000 titles, at the Cincinnati Open and the Wuhan Open. On the other hand, Swiatek won four WTA 1000 titles -- the Qatar Open, the Indian Wells Open, the Madrid Open and the Italian Open.

In the remaining group stage match at the WTA Finals, Gauff will take on Barbora Krejcikova, while defending champion Swiatek locks horns with Pegula. Sabalenka, who has already qualified for the semifinals, will be looking to win her maiden title at the year-end championships.