(Paris) Despite her defeat in the final of the United States Open this weekend, Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka took the lead in the WTA rankings for the first time in her career on Monday, putting an end to the long domination of Polish Iga Swiatek.
It has in fact been almost a year and a half, since April 4, 2022, that Swiatek, 22, dominated the circuit, or 75 consecutive weeks. This is the third longest reign in the history of women’s tennis, after those of the German Steffi Graff (186 weeks) and the Swiss Martina Hingis (80).
Aryna Sabalenka, 25, becomes world No. 1 for the first time after having held second place since January 30.
A new status that will console the Belarusian a little, beaten on Saturday at Flushing Meadows by the American Coco Gauff (2-6, 6-3, 6-2), who for her part achieved the best ranking of her young career by climbing on the podium (3rd).
By winning her first Grand Slam title at the age of 19, Gauff actually gained three places, and thus surpassed the 4th place she had occupied last October.
At the end of the US Open, several other movements were recorded within the top 10.
The American Jessica Pegula, eliminated in the round of 16, lost two places (5th), just like the Tunisian Ons Jabeur (7th).
The Greek Maria Sakkari takes 9th place (-1) while the French Caroline Garcia, eliminated from entry in New York, continues her slide – she is now 10th (-3) just ahead of another American, Madison Keys (6) , came very close to the final in New York.
The Czech Marketa Vondrousova, quarter-finalist, climbs three places, to sixth place.
