WTA world No 1 race: Iga Swiatek vs Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff out of contention
The Australian Open is bubbling up nicely with the three leading women’s singles contenders all still battling for the title.
Top seed Aryna Sabalenka, second seed Iga Swiatek, and third seed Coco Gauff are all yet to drop a set in Melbourne, but the title was not the only thing at stake heading into the tournament.
All three had opportunities to end the tournament as the world No 1, with incumbent – and defending champion – Sabalenka facing the most pressure in terms of points to defend.
With two rounds of action done, we look at what’s now at stake in the battle for the top spot.
Gauff out of contention
With impressive wins over Sofia Kenin and Jodie Burrage to start her campaign, Gauff is well in contention to win her second Grand Slam singles title this fortnight.
However, her (admittedly slim) chances of ending the tournament as the world No 1 are now over, thanks to Swiatek making the third round.
The American can move to a maximum of 8,108 points with a run to the title, while Swiatek has already moved to 8,120 points after matching her round three result from 2024.
That ensures Gauff cannot rise to the top of the WTA Rankings for the first time after the event, though she could still overtake Sabalenka and move back to her career-high of world No 2.
For that to happen, she would need to lift the title and hope defending champion Sabalenka does not reach the last four.
Advantage Swiatek
Having matched her round three run from 2024, Swiatek no longer has any more points to defend in Melbourne – meaning any further match wins will see her increase her total of ranking points.
In contrast, Sabalenka – ahead of Friday’s third round against Clara Tauson – still has 1,870 points to defend after earning 2000 points for her title run 12 months ago.
Now Swiatek has reached the third round, world No 1 Sabalenka must reach the semi-finals to have any chance of hanging onto her ranking.
That does not change should Swiatek progress to the fourth round and then the quarter-finals, though if the Pole reaches the semi-final, Sabalenka would then have to make the final.
Should the top two seeds then meet in the final, the winner would hold the world No 1 ranking come Monday.
Potential pathways
Sabalenka could move one step closer to defending her ranking and title on Friday when she faces the unseeded Tauson inside the Rod Laver Arena.
The Belarusian could then face 14th seed Mirra Andreeva in the fourth round and then 12th seed Diana Shnaider in the quarter-final – with projected opponent, fifth seed Zheng Qinwen, already out.
That could set up a semi-final against third seed Gauff, who she beat in the last four a year ago.
