Billie Jean King Cup Finals tournament director Conchita Martinez praised Iga Swiatek as “a dominant player” but added that she believes Aryna Sabalenka deserved to finish this season as the top-ranked player in the game.
Last week in Riyadh, the Belarusian tennis star achieved for what she came – she managed to seal the Year-End No. 1 for the first time in her career. Now, the 26-year-old is set to enter 2025 with a solid lead as she has 9,416 ranking points while the second-ranked Pole has 8,370.
Just four months earlier, Swiatek was up big on Sabalenka in the rankings and had the lead of more than 4,000 points. But then didn’t do well at the US Open and also opted to skip the entire Asian swing and two WTA 1000 tournaments.
On the other side, the Belarusian was busy making great results as she won the US Open, Cincinnati and Wuhan in her last five tournaments played. Also, she was a semifinalist at the WTA Finals and also reached the Beijing quarterfinal.
When it comes to Grand Slam success, Sabalenka was more successful in that department as well this year – she went all the way at the Australian Open and the US Open, while the Pole’s lone Major triumph came at the French Open.
“Right now, it’s clear that they are the dominant players. Iga was very dominant by a lot of points for a while, even though Aryna was very close. There are a lot of great players out there that can do very well. It depends on so many things but Iga was dominating, and I really liked her consistency. I really like how Aryna has gotten so much better in many aspects of her game, fixing her serve, also her forehand is very powerful. She’s been playing finals, winning tournaments, so she probably deserves to be there, because Iga didn’t play for a couple of months,” 1994 Wimbledon champion Martinez said in Malaga.
Aryna Sabalenka© Wuhan Open/X – Fair Use
Martinez: Sabalenka, Swiatek the ones to watch but don’t write off Coco Gauff and Elena Rybakina
Although Gauff and Rybakina didn’t win any Slam titles this year, there is no doubt that they will still be considered top contenders for the biggest titles in 2025.
After struggling for a couple of months with her results, the American finished her season on a high after winning Beijing and the WTA Finals. Meanwhile, the Kazakh didn’t get to play much in the second part of 2024 and overall her year was severely hampered by constant injuries and illnesses.
If the two avoid any major setbacks, Martinez thinks they could pose a big threat to Sabalenka and Swiatek next season.
“They (Aryna and Iga) are the players to watch, but there are other players like Coco who is playing amazing tennis at the moment. She’s playing so great, so I think she can also do very well. Rybakina is up there if she can fix her health problems and play a lot of tournaments. She’s one player that has already won a Grand Slam and won many tournaments. There are other players that can do very well too – it’s going to be open like that,” the Spanish former world No. 2 added.
Coco Gauff© WTA Finals Riyadh/X – Fair Use
Swiatek admitted Sabalenka deserved the No. 1, Rybakina fired a warning to the Belarusian
After arriving to Riyadh for her first tournament since the US Open, the Polish tennis star told reporters that her biggest rival deserved to replace her at the top spot while she was sidelined.
“Of course we are both fighting for the WTA No. 1. Yes, it was basically us the last few years. I am in the tournament. Of course I want to play my best match here and win this tournament. I will just focus on my first match and take everything step by step. Aryna is a great player, she deserves to be No. 1 in the world. I will definitely fight to be there. It was nice to train with her because we haven’t done it for a while, probably since 2022. It’s been a long time. I don’t really know why, but it was a really good training,” Swiatek explained.
A couple of days later – after Sabalenka sealed the Year-End No. 1 battle – Rybakina defeated the three-time Grand Slam champion 6-4 3-6 6-1. After the match, the sixth-ranked Kazakh warned the Belarusian but also the rest of the competition that winning Slams and reaching the top spot for the first time in her career will be at the top of her list in 2025.
“My goals are to win Slams, definitely, and the main goal is to become No. 1 one day. So, hopefully next year,” the 2022 Wimbledon champion said.