WTA rankings – Sabalenka closes the gap, Raducanu drops out of the top 100
Aryna Sabalenka is slowly but surely closing the gap between herself and Iga Swiatek in the WTA rankings. This and more in our rankings report…
Tennis – WTA 500 – Stuttgart Open – Porsche Arena, Stuttgart, Germany – April 18, 2023 Britain’s Emma Raducanu during her round of 32 match against Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko || 263621_0060
A colossal week for Aryna Sabalenka has allowed the world No 2 to close that yawning gap between the field and Iga Swiatek in the WTA rankings for Monday, May 8.
Scroll down for some of this week’s ranking highlights…
Sabalenka making up ground on Swiatek, step by step
In February, on the heels of claiming her first major title at the Australian Open title, Aryna Sabalenka opened up on her next big mission: getting the No 1 ranking. At the time it seem far-fetched, and even Sabalenka admitted that. But it didn’t stop the Belarusian from dreaming the dream.
“It’s my first priority I would say – I really want it,” she said.
Today she is putting her money where her mouth is. On March 6, prior to Indian Wells, Sabalenka was 4485 points behind Swiatek. As of Monday that gulf has been trimmed to just 1744 points.
Things could get more interesting in the month of May, as Sabalenka is defending 480 points at Rome (350) and Roland-Garros (130), while Swiatek is defending the full 3,000.
Editor’s Note: Sabalenka leads the Race to WTA Final standings with 4830 points; Rybakina is second with 3276 and Swiatek is third with 2930.
Stay tuned!
Raducanu exits the top 100
For the first time since embarking on her stunning run to the 2021 US Open title from qualifying, Emma Raducanu is out of the top 100. The 20-year-old, who is currently on hiatus for the summer after undergoing medical procedures to both her hands and her ankle, drops 18 spots to No 103.
Mayar Sherif career-high – history for Egypt!
Egyptian trailblazer Mayer Sherif jumps 16 spots to a career-high ranking of 43 this week, thanks to her quarter-final at the Madrid Open. The 27-year-old is the highest-ranked player in Egyptian history.
Higher rankings could be in the offing in the next few weeks for Sherif. She loves the clay, and is gaining in confidence.
Osorio quickly back inside top 100
Colombia’s Camila Osorio dropped out of the top 100 just prior to Madrid, but the talented 21-year-old is already back in. She rises 15 spots to No 100.
Navarro top 100’s biggest riser
The 21-year-old American hits a career-high of 83 in the rankings this week. She’s been red-hot in recent weeks, and rode a 12-match winning streak into the St. Malo 125K quarter-finals before falling to Greet Minnen.
Navarro is one of 16 American women inside the top 100 this week.
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