Iga Swiatek Nears WTA No. 2 Spot, Poised to Overtake Coco Gauff After Cincinnati

The Cincinnati Open has become a pivotal tournament for the WTA rankings, particularly affecting Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek. Gauff's unexpected quarterfinal loss to Jasmine Paolini has opened the door for Swiatek, who is currently third in the rankings, to overtake Gauff and claim the World No. 2 spot if she wins the Cincinnati title. Swiatek, who has been in strong form including a recent Wimbledon win, stands to gain not only the ranking points but also the second seed at the upcoming US Open, which would allow her to avoid top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka until the final. Sabalenka remains safely World No. 1 despite losing points due to her quarterfinal exit in Cincinnati, while Gauff’s ranking points will increase slightly but not enough to maintain her second place if Swiatek claims the title. Swiatek’s path to the title includes a semifinal against Elena Rybakina, and her performance at Cincinnati indicates she has a strong chance to surpass Gauff. This shakeup is significant as it impacts seedings at the US Open, potentially altering the dynamics of the competition.