As the 2025 tennis season barrels toward its climax, Aryna Sabalenka has tightened her grip on the WTA Race to Riyadh, extending her lead at the top with a commanding 7,405 points following the WTA 1000 Canadian Open in Montreal. The world No. 1, who opted for a strategic break after a semifinal loss at Wimbledon, returned to action at the Cincinnati Open with renewed vigor, cementing her status as the only player mathematically qualified for the season-ending WTA Finals. Meanwhile, her closest rivals, Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff, faltered in Montreal, missing critical opportunities to close the gap in a race that determines the eight players destined for Riyadh’s prestigious year-end showdown. “I enjoyed my time off, it was very much needed,” Sabalenka said, crediting her rest period in Mykonos for her refreshed mindset as she eyes a strong North American hard-court swing.
Sabalenka’s lead in the WTA Race, which tracks points earned exclusively in 2025, stands at nearly 1,300 points over Swiatek, who holds second place with 6,113 points. The Belarusian’s stellar season—boasting a 48-9 record, three titles (Brisbane, Miami, and Madrid), and deep runs in all three Grand Slams—has made her a formidable frontrunner. Her decision to skip the Canadian Open allowed her to recharge, a move that paid dividends as she prepared to defend her 2024 Cincinnati and US Open titles. “I’m super excited to face her on hardcourt,” Sabalenka said of her upcoming third-round clash with Emma Raducanu in Cincinnati, a rematch of their intense Wimbledon battle where she prevailed 7-6(6), 6-4. Her consistency, with more wins than any other WTA player this year, has fans buzzing, with one proclaiming on social media, “Aryna’s untouchable right now!”
Swiatek, the 2025 Wimbledon champion, slightly narrowed the gap with Sabalenka by reaching the round of 16 in Montreal, but her early exit to Clara Tauson squandered a chance to reclaim the No. 1 ranking. “I’d rather win on the court, but I’ll take the rest and focus on what’s next,” Swiatek said after receiving a walkover into Cincinnati’s round of 16 due to Marta Kostyuk’s withdrawal. Her 45-12 season, highlighted by a sixth Grand Slam title, keeps her firmly in second place, but the Pole’s 1,292-point deficit underscores the challenge of catching Sabalenka. Swiatek’s dominant 6-1, 6-4 win over Anastasia Potapova in Cincinnati signals her intent to build momentum, yet her Montreal stumble left her frustrated. “I’m not playing to be No. 65 in the world,” she once quipped, a reminder of her relentless ambition.
Coco Gauff, the 2025 French Open champion, also faltered in Montreal’s round of 16, falling to Tauson and stalling at 4,739 points in third place. The 21-year-old American, who redeemed herself with a doubles title alongside McCartney Kessler, expressed confidence in her Cincinnati campaign, where she dispatched Wang Xinyu 6-3, 6-2. “I felt in control from the start,” Gauff said, her 31-10 record reflecting her consistency despite missing a chance to close in on Swiatek. Her 2023 Cincinnati title and last year’s WTA Finals triumph make her a lock for Riyadh, as Grand Slam champions within the top 20 automatically qualify. Gauff’s next test against Yastremska in Cincinnati could reignite her pursuit of the top two.
The WTA Race remains tight behind the leaders. Madison Keys, the Australian Open champion, holds fourth with 4,330 points, followed by Mirra Andreeva at 4,059, whose injury-forced withdrawal from Cincinnati raises doubts about her US Open participation. Amanda Anisimova (3,583 points) and Jessica Pegula (3,375 points) round out the top seven, with Elena Rybakina (3,131 points) clinging to the eighth spot. Victoria Mboko’s stunning Canadian Open title catapulted her into the top 25, while Naomi Osaka’s runner-up finish boosted her to No. 30 in earnings. As the Cincinnati Open unfolds, with Sabalenka facing Raducanu and Swiatek and Gauff eyeing deep runs, the race to Riyadh promises more twists. With only 100 days until the WTA Finals, the battle for qualification—and the year-end No. 1 ranking—is set to electrify the tennis world.
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