Aryna Sabalenka Becomes World No. 1 in WTA

Aryna Sabalenka has reclaimed the No. 1 ranking in the WTA, surpassing Iga Swiatek after both players incurred penalties for not meeting the mandatory six WTA 500 tournament requirement. Swiatek, who has played only two such events this year, lost 120 ranking points, while Sabalenka lost 10, allowing her to edge ahead with 9,706 points against Swiatek's 9,665. The upcoming WTA Finals in Riyadh will play a crucial role in determining the year-end No. 1, with both players needing to navigate point deductions as they have not entered the Tokyo event. Sabalenka's strong performance this season, including two Grand Slam titles, has solidified her position, while Swiatek's decision to skip the Asian swing has severely impacted her ranking. As they approach the finals, Swiatek must defend her title without losing matches to maintain her ranking, while Sabalenka only needs to perform moderately well in her group stage matches. Other notable movements in the rankings include Daria Kasatkina returning to the top 10 after her victory in Ningbo.