On top of the world! Aryna Sabalenka to become new WTA No. 1 after US Open

Iga Swiatek’s reign atop the WTA rankings is over. For now, at least.

Rival Aryna Sabalenka will rise to the top spot for the first time in her career on September 11 no matter how the rest of her US Open pans out. This year’s Australian Open champion has Jelena Ostapenko to thank for the early present, after the Latvian sent Swiatek packing in the round of 16 just before midnight struck on Sunday evening.

Sabalenka was previously a win away from clinching the achievement herself at Wimbledon, but was forced to wait after dropping a heartbreaking three-set semifinal to Ons Jabeur. She had also been within striking distance at Roland Garros, where a 5-2 lead and match point slipped away in a final-four defeat to Karolina Muchova.

Swiatek would go on to retain her French Open title against Muchova to back up her points haul, and eventually became just the third WTA player to spend 70 consecutive weeks in her first stint at No. 1 on July 31. That streak will officially end at 75, a figure that puts her in 10th place on the all-time weeks at No. 1 list. She first took over the coveted position on April 4, 2022 when Ashleigh Barty abruptly retired from the sport and requested her name be withdrawn from the published rankings.

On Tuesday, Sabalenka will meet Daria Kasatkina in the first evening-session match on Arthur Ashe Stadium. She is 20-2 at the majors this season and has advanced to the semifinals in her past two Flushing Meadows appearances.

When the Belarusian officially supplants Swiatek, she will become the 29th woman to hold the No. 1 ranking. Sabalenka is also just the eighth competitor to topple both the singles and doubles rankings in the tour's history.