Iga Swiatek’s No.1 Reign Remains Intact as Sabalenka’s Coach Admits Post-US Open Struggles – ‘It’s Going to Take Time’

NEW YORK — Aryna Sabalenka is set to realize a dream she’s harbored since childhood: Becoming the world’s No. 1-ranked women’s tennis player.

After the 2023 US Open — where the 25-year-old Belarusian is still vying for her second career Grand Slam title — she’ll assume the mantle of her sport. But after her Round of 16 victory on Monday, Sabalenka admitted that she’s not fully satisfied with the career-defining accomplishment.

“I didn’t want to become world No. 1 like this,” Sabalenka said during her post-match press conference. “I want a battle for this.”

Sabalenka will take the top spot after another player, 22-year-old Iga Swiatek, was recently eliminated from the competition.

This year’s Australian Open champion, Sabalenka has been nipping at the heels of Swiatek — the world No. 1 for the past 74 weeks and reigning champion of the US Open — throughout the 2023 season. But Sabalenka was finally guaranteed to assume the No. 1 ranking if she outlasted her Polish rival in Flushing Meadows.

Swiatek’s three-set loss to Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko Sunday made the takeover official. But in her on-court interview Monday, Sabalenka said she was disappointed that Swiatek lost because she “really wanted to have this battle and decide everything on court.