Aryna Sabalenka has officially taken the throne in women’s tennis, securing the year-end No. 1 ranking after Iga Swiatek’s unexpected loss to Coco Gauff at the WTA Finals. For nearly 125 weeks, Swiatek held the top spot, making her a formidable and consistent force on the court. Swiatek’s goal of ending 2024 as the WTA’s No. 1 was among her top three for the season. Now, the question isn’t just about rankings but if Swiatek can defend her WTA Finals title at all.
To keep her title defense alive, Swiatek now faces a high-stakes battle against American Jessica Pegula in her final group stage match. A loss would mean an early exit, marking a rare and challenging position for Swiatek. As she put it, “Honestly, this will be the first time I’ve been in this situation. It’s something new and it’s definitely exciting.” The Polish star is known for her resilient approach, but this test may push her focus and nerves to new limits.
Swiatek holds a narrow 6-4 lead in her head-to-head against Pegula, having faced her in multiple close matches. Reflecting on her recent defeat by Gauff, Swiatek admitted she made “more unforced errors” and missed crucial break points. She added, “Coco used her opportunities much better than I did.” With lessons learned, she will need every ounce of her usual precision and control to overcome Pegula.
If Swiatek can channel her earlier-season dominance and break her late-year struggles, she could keep her WTA Finals journey alive. But Pegula, bolstered by her recent form, won’t make it easy. For fans, this match promises an electrifying showdown and a rare glimpse of Swiatek under the kind of pressure that comes only from defending the throne.
