Just over three months ago, Iga Swiatek looked set to finish well ahead of Aryna Sabalenka in the Race To Riyadh, but the latter has made up some significant ground in recent weeks and she is on the verge of overtaking the Pole.
Following an incredible start to the 2024 season that yielded titles at the Qatar Open, Indian Wells Open, Madrid Open, Italian Open and Roland Garros, Swiatek found herself clear of the chasing pack.
After her Roland Garros title run, Swiatek enjoyed a 2,977-point lead over second-placed Sabalenka in the Race To Riyadh and after the conclusion of the grass-court season, Sabalenka had slipped to fourth after missing Wimbledon.
Race To Riyadh After Wimbledon
1. Iga Swiatek – 7,465 points
2. Elena Rybakina – 4,901
3. Jasmine Paolini – 4,505
4. Aryna Sabalenka – 4,466
5. Coco Gauff – 3,598
But the Belarusian has enjoyed an incredible few months as she reached the semi-final of the Citi DC Open and the quarter-final of the Canada Open before losing to Amanda Anisimova.
That loss against Anisimova was the last time she tasted defeat as she won the Cincinnati Open and US Open, and is now into the quarter-final of the China Open.
Her 15-match unbeaten run has seen her close to within touching distance of Swiatek – who skipped this week’s WTA 1000 event in Beijing – in what is a key indicator for the year-end No 1 ranking.
Live Race To Riyadh
1. Iga Swiatek – 8,285 points
2. Aryna Sabalenka – 8,091
3. Elena Rybakina – 4,981
4. Jasmine Paolini – 4,930
5. Jessica Pegula – 4,586
Sabalenka will face Karolina Muchova in the last eight of the China Open and victory will see her move to 8,266 points. If she reaches the final she will move ahead of Swiatek (8,526) while a title run will give her some breathing space on 8,876 points.
The three-time Grand Slam winner defeated Madison Keys 6-4, 6-3 in Beijing to equal her best winning run and her experience in dealing with pressure is doing wonders for her confidence and form
“In the past I had a lot of difficult things to face,” Sabalenka said. “After you face certain things, you realise it’s just sport. Okay, if you’re not going to win this match, what happens? Nobody going to die. You’re not going to die. It’s okay. You’re going to go in another tournament and you’re going to try your best in the next one.
“Before it felt like if I’m not going to win this match, something bad is going to happen. I’m going to die, whatever. But these kinds of thoughts create all of that pressure, all of that frustration, all of that crazy stuff. Nowadays I’m just working hard, I’m trying to improve myself every day. Every time I’m on the court, I’m trying to give my best.
“If you give your best and you didn’t win the match, okay. You learn and you try better next time.”