Iga Swiatek vs Aryna Sabalenka rivalry: Who won the most big titles of 2024?
Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka have been the tour's most consistent performers over the last couple of seasons. The former finished the previous season ranked atop the rankings, with the latter right on her tail in second place.
Their quest to assert themselves as the very best on the women's tour continued this year as well. Both players were successful in their endeavors, and the two lead the tour in terms of titles won this year. Coco Gauff, Zheng Qinwen, and a few other players did challenge them more often this year, and could endanger their duopoly in the coming season.
However, Swiatek and Sabalenka were a cut above the rest this season, despite the challenges they endured. On that note, here's a quick look at who fared the best between the tour's top guns:
Iga Swiatek (5 titles - 1 Major, 4 WTA 1000)
Iga Swiatek led Poland to the final of the United Cup at the start of the season. While she remained unbeaten in all of her five singles ties, a loss in the mixed doubles cost them the title. Her time at the Australian Open came to an early end as she was stunned by Linda Noskova in the third round.
However, Swiatek resumed her winning ways soon enough and won the Qatar Open for the third year in a row. A title in Dubai remained elusive yet again and she bowed out in the semifinals there. The Pole stepped up her game with her second career title at the Indian Wells Open. She couldn't complete the "Sunshine Double" this time and lost in the fourth round of the Miami Open.
Swiatek's clay season started on a losing note this time. She was the two-time defending champion in Stuttgart and lost to Elena Rybakina in the semifinals. She wouldn't lose for a while after that and swept the next three events on the surface, winning the Madrid Open, the Italian Open, and the French Open.
The 23-year-old was the favorite to win the gold medal at the Paris Olympics, considering it was going to be held at the French Open grounds as well. However, she settled for the bronze medal there. Swiatek didn't win another title after the French Open and wrapped up her individual season with a group stage exit from the WTA Finals.
Swiatek won fewer titles this year, compared to eight and six in 2022 and 2023 respectively. However, with a 61-9 record and matches at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals yet to start, she could end the season with at least 65 match wins for the third year in a row.
Aryna Sabalenka (4 titles - 2 Majors, 2 WTA 1000)
Aryna Sabalenka started the season with a runner-up finish at the Brisbane International. She then defended her title at the Australian Open and went through a brief slump after that as she didn't reach another quarterfinal in her next three tournaments.
Sabalenka stepped up her game on clay, starting with a last-eight finish in Stuttgart, though she was the runner-up there the last three years. Swiatek denied her a successful title defense in Madrid as she lost to her younger rival in the final. The same fate awaited her in the final of the Italian Open as well.
An illness played its part in Sabalenka's quarterfinal exit from the French Open, her first loss prior to the semifinals of a Major since the French Open 2022. An injury forced her to sit out Wimbledon as well. She returned to the tour at the Citi Open and made the semifinals there.
Sabalenka captured her second title of the year at the Cincinnati Open and continued her winning ways to emerge victorious at the US Open. She bagged her third consecutive title at the Wuhan Open and ended her season with a semifinal finish at the WTA Finals.
The Belarusian took over the top spot from Swiatek and ended the season as the World No. 1 for the first time. She posted a 56-14 record for the season, the same as last year, though she won four titles and reached seven finals in a single season for the first time in her career.
Sabalenka could've overtaken Swiatek in terms of titles won. The latter saved three championship points in the Madrid final, costing the former a title. Nevertheless, the two cemented their position as the best players on the WTA Tour for yet another season.