Aryna Sabalenka has officially been confirmed as the 2024 year-end WTA World No. 1, marking a major career milestone. The Belarusian star’s position at the top was solidified after Iga Swiatek suffered a crucial loss to Coco Gauff at the WTA Finals on November 5, 2024. Gauff’s 6-3, 6-4 victory over Swiatek in their round-robin match ended the Polish star’s hopes of regaining the World No. 1 spot and secured Sabalenka’s dominance in women’s tennis.
Sabalenka’s rise to the top of the WTA rankings caps off a remarkable season where she captured four singles titles, including Grand Slam victories at the Australian Open and US Open, and added two prestigious WTA 1000 titles at Cincinnati and Wuhan. Known for her powerful game, Sabalenka has been a force on the tour since regaining the No. 1 spot in September 2023, now ending the year as the undisputed leader.
Having previously come close to clinching the year-end No. 1 ranking in 2023, Sabalenka’s achievements in 2024 have made her the standout player of the year. With a commanding performance at the WTA Finals, where she won her group matches against Qinwen Zheng and Jasmine Paolini, Sabalenka’s journey is a testament to her consistency and determination.
Looking ahead, Sabalenka expressed her desire to dominate the WTA Tour in the same way legends like Serena Williams and Iga Swiatek have. In a recent interview, she stated, “I always wanted to dominate the tour like Serena did, like Iga was able to do for so long. And I’m focusing on improving to ensure I have all the tools needed to do so.”
As Sabalenka continues her quest for a WTA Finals title and maintains her top-ranking position, tennis fans around the world are eager to see how she builds upon this breakthrough year in the sport.
