Coco Gauff is set to maintain her position as the second-ranked player in the world, at least in the near future, following Aryna Sabalenka’s surprising elimination at the 2024 Canadian Open. Gauff and Sabalenka were considered the top contenders for the title at this prestigious tournament in Toronto. However, with Iga Swiatek taking a break after her Olympic participation, it was Gauff who held the top seed at the WTA 1000 event.
Sabalenka, on the other hand, was the second seed and competing in only her second tournament since recovering from a shoulder injury that disrupted her plans for Wimbledon. Previously, Sabalenka had lost her No. 2 ranking to Gauff after a defeat in the quarterfinals of the French Open. Despite this, Sabalenka had a chance to reclaim her position this week. Unfortunately for her, Gauff’s early exit meant that she will remain the second-ranked player, at least for now.
Gauff’s loss in the round of 16 at the WTA 1000 event in Canada caused her to lose 70 points from her previous total of 7703. Meanwhile, Sabalenka, who made it to the quarterfinals, only gained 110 points, bringing her total to 7256. This means that Gauff will hold onto her No. 2 ranking while Sabalenka remains in third place. However, the rankings for the upcoming US Open may differ from the current standings. The seedings for the last Grand Slam event of the season will be determined after the Cincinnati Open, the final WTA 1000 tournament in the United States. Gauff, as the defending champion, will enter the tournament with 6743 points, while Sabalenka will only lose points from her semifinal performance in Cincinnati, leaving her with 7026 points. If Sabalenka can match or surpass Gauff’s performance in Cincinnati, she will overtake her as the second-ranked player. Gauff’s best chance of retaining her No. 2 ranking until the US Open is to successfully defend her title in Cincinnati.
Photo from Coco Gauff Instagram
