Iga Swiatek to become No.1? Aryna Sabalenka’s China Open pullout spices up race

Aryna Sabalenka’s withdrawal from the China Open opens the door for Iga Swiatek to close the gap in the race for the WTA No.1 ranking. A strong run in Seoul and Beijing could bring Swiatek within striking distance of the top spot.

The battle for the women’s World No.1 ranking has taken a sudden twist after Aryna Sabalenka announced she would skip the 2025 China Open in Beijing. The Belarusian, currently holding the top spot with 11,225 points, said she is dealing with a minor injury she picked up at the US Open.

Missing this WTA 1000 event not only keeps her out of competition but also costs her 215 points, since she had reached the quarterfinals in Beijing last year.