Sabalenka still on top in WTA rankings

Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 10, 2025 Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka in action during her semi final match against Amanda Anisimova of the U.S. REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq

Aryna Sabalenka, the Belarusian powerhouse, continues to reign supreme at the top of the WTA singles rankings, solidifying her status as the world’s best female tennis player heading into the 2025 US Open. With an impressive 12,420 points, Sabalenka has maintained her No. 1 position following a stellar Wimbledon performance where she reached the semifinals, becoming the first player to secure a spot in the 2025 WTA Finals. Despite a surprising upset by Amanda Anisimova at Wimbledon, Sabalenka’s consistent excellence throughout the season—marked by Grand Slam titles at the 2024 Australian Open and US Open—has kept her comfortably ahead of her closest rivals, Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek, in an unchanged top 10. As the tennis world shifts its focus to the North American hard-court swing, Sabalenka’s dominance sets the stage for a thrilling battle at Flushing Meadows.

Sabalenka’s 2025 season has been a testament to her resilience and versatility. The 27-year-old, known for her thunderous serve and aggressive baseline game, started the year with a commanding title run at the Brisbane International, defeating Polina Kudermetova in a come-from-behind final. “I’m really glad that I’m brave enough to use these tools,” Sabalenka said after her 2024 US Open triumph, reflecting on her ability to incorporate slices and net play to complement her power. Her 40 main-draw wins this year, including a standout victory over Swiatek in the 2025 French Open semifinals, have solidified her reputation as a force across surfaces. “I’m super happy with the win today and beating Iga at Roland Garros,” she remarked after ending Swiatek’s 26-match winning streak in Paris, though she fell to Gauff in the final. Her ability to reach three consecutive Grand Slam finals—2024 US Open, 2025 Australian Open, and French Open—marks her as the first woman to achieve this feat since Serena Williams in 2016.

The WTA rankings, updated on July 28, 2025, reflect Sabalenka’s commanding lead, with Gauff holding steady at No. 2 with 7,669 points and Swiatek, the 2025 Wimbledon champion, climbing to No. 3 with 6,813 points. The top 10 remains unchanged, featuring Jessica Pegula at No. 4, Mirra Andreeva at No. 5, Qinwen Zheng at No. 6, Anisimova at No. 7, Madison Keys at No. 8, Jasmine Paolini at No. 9, and Paula Badosa at No. 10. Lower down, Canadian star Leylah Fernandez surged 12 spots to No. 24 after her Citi DC Open title, while Emma Raducanu and Anna Kalinskaya also climbed into seeding range for the US Open, highlighting the depth of talent in the women’s game.

Sabalenka’s journey to the top hasn’t been without challenges. A shoulder injury forced her to miss Wimbledon and the 2024 Paris Olympics, but her comeback was nothing short of spectacular, with WTA 1000 titles in Cincinnati and Wuhan. Her serve, which she considers her strongest weapon—“I hope all my shots can be strong, but my serve, I feel is the best”—has been a key factor, ranking her third in aces served in 2023 with 401. However, inconsistency, particularly with double faults, has occasionally plagued her, as seen in her 166 double faults in 2020. Despite these hurdles, Sabalenka’s mental growth has been evident. “The semifinal was a big match, and it felt like a final, but I know that the job is not done yet,” she said after her French Open semifinal win, emphasizing her focus on sustaining momentum.

As the defending US Open champion, Sabalenka is poised to defend her title, though she opted for rest over competing in the National Bank Open in Montreal to prepare for Flushing Meadows. Her withdrawal, alongside top-ranked ATP player Jannik Sinner’s, underscores her strategic approach to peaking at the right moment. With a 56-12 record this season and four titles, including two Grand Slams, Sabalenka’s confidence is palpable. “N1… Let’s see for how long this time,” she posted on social media after reclaiming the top spot in October 2024, a position she’s held for 49 weeks in her career. As the US Open approaches, all eyes are on Sabalenka to see if she can extend her reign and add another chapter to her remarkable 2025 story.

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