Iga Swiatek Acknowledges Sabalenka’s Achievement

Heading into the 2024 WTA Finals, Iga Swiatek has recently lost her World No. 1 ranking to Aryna Sabalenka. Despite the setback, Swiatek didn’t hesitate to credit the Belarusian star. In a pre-tournament press conference, the Polish player praised Sabalenka, emphasizing that she truly deserves the top spot.

Swiatek reflected on their latest practice session together, marking the first time they’ve trained side-by-side since 2022. She acknowledged Sabalenka’s strength and expressed her own determination to reclaim the No. 1 position:

“Actually, I don’t know, it was just nice to practice with Aryna because we haven’t done that in a while, since probably 2022. It’s been a long time. I’m not really sure why… Yeah, it was a really good practice.

She’s a great player. She also kind of deserves to be World No. 1. For sure I’m going to fight for me to be in that place.”

Swiatek Reflects on Rivalry with Sabalenka

Looking back on her growing rivalry with Sabalenka, Swiatek acknowledged that both players have been battling for the top spot in recent years. While she admitted their competition is intense, she highlighted that her primary focus remains on taking one match at a time:

“Obviously we’re both fighting for this spot. Yeah, it’s been us basically kind of over the past few years. I am in the tournament, and I obviously want to play my best game here and win. I’m just going to focus on my first match and do everything step by step.”

Shifts in Swiatek’s 2024 Season

Swiatek maintained her No. 1 ranking through the first half of the season, but her results dipped after Wimbledon. Sabalenka’s rise, capped by her third Grand Slam title at the US Open, propelled her closer to the top. Eventually, Sabalenka overtook Swiatek following a WTA fine imposed on the Pole for not meeting tournament participation requirements.

2024 WTA Finals: Sabalenka and Swiatek Set for Round-Robin Openers

• Sabalenka will start her WTA Finals campaign against Zheng Qinwen in the Orange Group on Saturday. Joining them in this group are Jasmine Paolini and Elena Rybakina.
• Swiatek will face reigning Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova in her first Purple Group match on Sunday, with Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula also in her group.