{"id":279114,"date":"2025-07-21T05:00:22","date_gmt":"2025-07-21T05:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/279114\/"},"modified":"2025-07-21T05:00:22","modified_gmt":"2025-07-21T05:00:22","slug":"aryna-sabalenka-warned-she-could-lose-her-spot-as-number-one-in-the-world-as-her-biggest-rival-is-identified","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/279114\/","title":{"rendered":"Aryna Sabalenka warned she could lose her spot as number one in the world as her biggest rival is identified"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Aryna Sabalenka may have a target on her back after failing to win the title at another Grand Slam.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sabalenka lost to Amanda Anisimova in the Wimbledon semifinals<\/a>, matching her best previous result at the grass court major.<\/p>\n

Despite dominating on the WTA Tour<\/a>, this continues the Belarusian\u2019s Grand Slam drought in 2025, with Sabalenka losing to Coco Gauff in the Roland Garros final<\/a>, and Madison Keys<\/a> in the Australian Open<\/a> final.<\/p>\n

After Sabalenka continues to lose in the latter stages of majors<\/a>, it has been predicted that she will be overtaken by a rival of hers.<\/p>\n

\"ArynaPhoto by Julian Finney\/Getty ImagesRick Macci predicts Iga Swiatek to end the year as world number one<\/p>\n

Sabalenka has achieved the highest ranking point tally since Serena Williams<\/a> after reaching the Wimbledon<\/a> semifinal.<\/p>\n

However, after watching Iga Swiatek win Wimbledon<\/a>, a top tennis coach believes that her place at the summit of the WTA rankings may be at risk.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Swiatek has been Sabalenka\u2019s biggest rival<\/a> in recent years, but faded away for a few months this year after a drop off in form.<\/p>\n

However, after watching the Pole win her sixth Grand Slam title, the former coach of the Williams sisters and Maria Sharapova<\/a>, Rick Macci<\/a>, has predicted her to overtake Sabalenka<\/a> by the end of the year.<\/p>\n

Macci wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter), \u201cIt will happen sooner than later as Iga will again be number one on the planet because her mind is made of granite. Not a lot of points to defend and the Polish Punisher will be number one by years end.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

It will happen sooner than later as Iga will again be number one on the planet because her mind is made of granite. Not a lot of points to defend and the Polish Punisher will be number one by years end.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Rick Macci (@RickMacci) July 20, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

View Tweet<\/p>\n

Aryna Sabalenka vs Coco Gauff vs Iga Swiatek in the WTA rankings<\/p>\n

Sabalenka currently has a dominant lead over world number two Gauff<\/a> in the WTA rankings, with nearly 5,000 points separating the two.<\/p>\n

The gap is even greater between Sabalenka and Swiatek, but as Macci pointed out the latter has very little ranking points to defend until the end of the season.<\/p>\n

After missing multiple tournaments at the end of 2024, with Swiatek being banned for one month, she now only has 830 ranking points to defend this year.<\/p>\n

While US Open champion Sabalenka<\/a> still has 5,025 ranking points to defend this year from her impressive end to the 2024 season.<\/p>\n\nWTA Ranking<\/strong><\/td>\nTotal Ranking points<\/strong><\/td>\nPosition in the WTA Race<\/strong><\/td>\nPoints defending until the end of 2025<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n1. Aryna Sabalenka<\/td>\n12,420<\/td>\n1st<\/td>\n5,025<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n2. Coco Gauff<\/td>\n7,669<\/td>\n3rd <\/td>\n3,060<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n3. Iga Swiatek<\/td>\n6,813<\/td>\n2nd<\/td>\n830<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Despite this, Sabalenka is still first in the race to the WTA Finals<\/a> and remains in poll position to end the year as world number one once again.<\/p>\n

The three-time Grand Slam champion is next scheduled to compete in Cincinnati, with Sabalenka withdrawing from the Canadian Open<\/a> earlier this week.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n