SUMMARY
- Iga Swiatek's surprising loss in the 2024 Australian Open questions her world no. 1 ranking status.
- Will Aryna Sabalenka become world no. 1 again?
In a surprising turn of events at the 2024 Australian Open, Iga Swiatek faced an unexpected defeat, raising questions about her world No. 1 ranking. The shocking loss came in the third round against 50th-ranked Linda Noskova, marking Swiatek’s earliest Grand Slam exit since Wimbledon in 2022.
World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka, who is in the Australian Open with 8,905 points, faces a unique situation. As the defending champion, her total won’t increase even if she defends her title, putting her at risk of dropping 700 points if she falls short of her last year’s performance of winning the title.
Iga Swiatek after her loss to Linda Noskova, ‘This year I feel like I just want to get kind of back to work’
“You’re obviously very disappointed at this point. Is it a different kind of feeling of disappointment than last year? When you lost here, you were quite shaken up. How… pic.twitter.com/m9DS6tIuq6
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 20, 2024
Despite the setback, Swiatek is set to retain her top position in the WTA Rankings after the Australian Open. The 22-year-old will only lose 110 points, maintaining her lead with a total of 9,770 points, making it difficult for the pursuing pack to catch up.
Aryna Sablanka, back-to-back AO semifinalist 🐯
@SabalenkaA • #AusOpen • #AO2024 pic.twitter.com/Wh6AMSjf08— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 23, 2024
On the other hand, Coco Gauff, initially ranked fourth, is guaranteed to rise to at least world No. 3 after the event due to Elena Rybakina’s significant point loss. Gauff has the potential to surpass Sabalenka and reach a new career-high ranking of world no. 2, depending on her performance in the semifinals and beyond.
If Coco Gauff wins against Sabalenka in the semifinals and goes on to become the new Australian Open champion, she will reach her career-high ranking of world no. 2 with a total of 8420 points, dethroning Sabalenka who will then move to be the world no. 3. This sets the stage for an intriguing semifinal clash not just for the Slam trophy but for the coveted rankings as well.
Aryna Sabalenka vs. Coco Gauff AO 2024 semifinal preview and head-2-head
Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka are set to clash in the semifinals of the 2024 Australian Open, and their head-to-head history adds an extra layer of intrigue to the matchup. Gauff currently leads the head-to-head 4-2, with her most recent victory against Sabalenka in the final of the last Grand Slam at the 2023 US Open.
The upcoming match presents a compelling battle between the young American and the experienced Belarusian, both aiming for their second Major title in Melbourne. Sabalenka, the second seed, has been dominant in recent years including her maiden Grand Slam title at the Australian Open last year. Gauff, on the other hand, has rapidly risen through the ranks, with a strong 2023 season that included the US Open.
Gauff & Sabalenka will face each other in the Australian Open SF.
Rematch of the US Open final.
Coco is on a 12 match win streak in Grand Slams & is undefeated in 2024
Aryna is on a 12 match win streak at the Australian Open & hasn’t lost a set en route to the SF
Who wins? pic.twitter.com/FdbO62zO8f
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 23, 2024
The semifinal clash promises an intense encounter, with Gauff showcasing her exceptional all-round game, tactical maturity, and lightning-fast court coverage. Sabalenka, the defending champion, however, has been in top form at the Australian Open, with her powerful strokes often finding winners or forcing unforced errors from her opponents.
However, the key to victory will likely be determined by who holds her nerves better in crucial moments. The winner of the match is likely to be decided in 3 tough sets. Sabalenka’s current form makes her a strong favorite to take revenge on Gauff for her US Open loss and secure a spot in the finals.