"Aryna Sabalenka deserves to be World No. 1" - Iga Swiatek gives Belarusian her flowers despite losing top spot due to penalty before WTA Finals
Coming into the 2024 WTA Finals, Iga Swiatek has lost the World No. 1 ranking to Aryna Sabalenka. The Pole, however, is willing to give credit where it's due. She heaped praise on the Belarusian in her latest media interaction.
Speaking to the media during her pre-tournament press conference, the Pole, who had also hit the practice courts with Sabalenka, said her opponent deserved to be the World No. 1. Swiatek was quick to add that she was ready to fight for the top spot again. Swiatek said,
"Actually, I don't know, it was just nice to practice with Aryna because we haven't done that in a while, since probably 2022. It's been a long time. I'm not really sure why... Yeah, it was a really good practice.
"She's a great player. She also kind of deserves to be world No. 1. For sure I'm going to fight for me to be in that place."
Iga Swiatek looked back at her burgeoning rivalry with Sabalenka, noting that they have been competing for the top spot in recent years. She, however, added that the primary focus was to play well and take things one step at a time.
"Obviously we're both fighting for this spot. Yeah, it's been us basically kind of over the past few years. Yeah, I mean, I am in the tournament. I obviously want to play my best game here and win this tournament. I'm just going to focus on my first match and do everything step by step,"
Notably, Swiatek had maintained an iron grip over the World No. 1 ranking for the first part of the season, but her fortunes began to turn after Wimbledon. She was unable to make an impact in the second half of the season. Sabalenka's star, on the other hand, continued to rise as she claimed a third Grand Slam title at the US Open to inch closer to the top spot.
She eventually replaced Iga Swiatek as the World No. 1, after the Pole was fined for not playing in the requisite number of Tour-level events mandated in the WTA guidelines.
Iga Swiatek to face Barbora Krejcikova, Aryna Sabalenka to open WTA Finals campaign against Zheng Qinwen
Aryna Sabalenka will open her 2024 WTA Finals campaign with a round-robin encounter against Zheng Qinwen on Saturday. The duo have landed in the Orange Group in this year’s draw.
Iga Swiatek, meanwhile, will lock horns with reigning Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova in her first match from the Purple Group on Sunday.
Jasmine Paolini and Elena Rybakina have also landed in the Sabalenka-led Orange Group, while Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula make up the Purple Group alongside Swiatek and Krejcikova.