World No. 1 Iga Swiatek and World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka have beaten Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams’ record of most wins in a calendar year at the WTA 1000 level. The duo chalked up a combined total of 58 wins this year, including five WTA 1000 titles on tour.
While Sabalenka was recently seen competing in the Wuhan Open, Swiatek hasn’t featured on tour since a quarterfinal exit in New York. The Pole was eliminated by Jessica Pegula in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4.
Tennis legends Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams previously held the record with 57 wins at the WTA 1000 level in the 2013 season. Nine years later, Swiatek and Sabalenka have surpassed that tally with 58 wins in their locker.
Sharapova and Williams dominated women’s tennis for almost two decades from the early 2000s to the late 2020s. Both players had a phenomenal run during the 2013 season. While the Russian chalked up a title-winning run in Indian Wells, Williams claimed the honors in Miami, Madrid, Rome and Toronto. The American outclassed Sorana Cirstea to lift the title in the Canada Open, 6-2, 6-0.
Meanwhile, Swiatek and Sabalenka have dominated the tour this season. The Pole won titles in Indian Wells, Madrid, and Rome, while Sabalenka excelled in Cincinnati and Wuhan. The duo also captured three out of four Majors this year, with Swiatek winning her fourth title in Paris and Sabalenka finding success in Melbourne and New York.
Both players are also battling for the No. 1 spot in the WTA rankings this year. Sabalenka is less than 100 points behind Swiatek thanks to her recent performances in New York and Wuhan.
The 26-year-old entered the Wuhan Open on the back of a quarterfinal exit in Beijing. She outfoxed the likes of Yulia Putintseva, Magdalena Frech and Coco Gauff en route to the finals and then overpowered Zheng Qinwen to lift the title. The top seed defeated the Chinese Qinwen in a thrilling three-set bout, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3.
Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka have faced each other three times on the main tour this year
Iga Swiatek leads the head-to-head against Aryna Sabalenka 2-1 this year. She defeated the Belarusian in the finals of the Madrid Open and the Italian Open.
Sabalenka, meanwhile, outsmarted the Pole in the semifinal of the Cincinnati Open this year. She eliminated the Pole in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3.
Both players have also qualified for the WTA Finals in Riyadh at the end of the year. It will be interesting to see who finishes the year at the top of the WTA Rankings.
While there is no confirmation from either player, Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka could feature in the Tokyo Pan Pacific Open next.
