Aryna Sabalenka surpasses Iga Swiatek record after also overtaking her in WTA rankings

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Aryna Sabalenka has finally toppled Iga Swiatek at the very top of the WTA rankings after her 50-week spell.

Sabalenka reacted on social media after overtaking Swiatek, with the former now in top spot after the latest rankings were confirmed.

The year-end number one spot will now be decided in the final week of the season for the second successive season.

And Sabalenka is once again in pole position, but it was Swiatek who emerged victorious in Cancun last time out.

The Pole clinched her first WTA Finals title in 2023 thanks to her 5-0 record, which involved a semi-final victory over the Belarusian.

Aryna Sabalenka surpasses Iga Swiatek record

Swiatek was in scintillating form at the event last year, extending her winning streak to 11 matches as she lifted the trophy.

The Pole also returned to world number one, but Sabalenka now has that honour, with the Belarusian also boasting the most wins this season, as per OptaAce.

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That record includes Grand Slams and WTA-1000 events, with Sabalenka on 46 wins, one more than Swiatek’s 45.

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It has been another phenomenal year for Sabalenka, whose four titles in 2024 include the Australian Open and US Open.

She successfully defended her title in Melbourne at the start of the year, before recovering from her 2023 final loss in New York to lift the trophy last month.

Since then, Sabalenka has also tasted success at the Wuhan Open, and will now be full of confidence ahead of Riyadh.

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Andy Roddick has backed Sabalenka for year-end number one, with her efforts having been helped by a lack of action from Swiatek in recent times.

Sitting behind the Pole in third for 2024 wins is Coco Gauff with 40, with Jasmine Paolini and Qinwen Zheng fourth and fifth respectively with 32 and 28 respectively.