Much like the consensus among players to “live on”, as the world number 1 is much harder to conquer, which Swiatek did quickly and unexpectedly after Ash Barty’s sudden retirement. Women’s tennis has had plenty of new faces lately as Grand Slam champions, but the top spot has gone largely unchallenged over the past two years. Since his first accession to the throne in June 2019, the Australian has held the fort for 114 consecutive weeks, until last month he left the sport as world No. 1.

If the newly crowned Pole could match that dominance at the top even a bit, he would have done exceptionally well. Because there are plenty of competitors around, ranked play remains wide open as the season progresses. Swiatek currently has 6,711 points, while the others in the top five – Barbora Krejsikova, Paula Padusa, Arina Sabalenka and Maria Sakkari – have between 4,700 and 5,000 points. Someone just has to run a little, Świątek stumbles and the system changes.

Świątek has direct experience of this. The 20-year-old rose from eighth in the world in mid-February to second in March after winning world titles in Qatar and Indian Wells. Then Barty gave way to Świątkowo, who crowned his entry into Miami. Make no mistake, Swiatek, with his seemingly increasingly deadly game, is a player to beat right now. Moreover, he is heading for the stadium swing as he declared himself a 2020 Roland Garros Grand League title but was unable to add more to that number.

Consistency is the name of women’s tennis and the young Warsaw girl knows it. “A lot of women struggle to stay consistent and that’s why we have so many new Grand Slam winners,” Swiatek said in a previous ITF interview.

In the top five of the table, the Czech Krejcikova (2nd, 4975 points) and the Spaniard Badosa (3rd, 4885 points) have made big leaps in the last two weeks, gaining two and three points respectively.

Krejsikova, widely considered a doubles player before last year, has been a surprise for the 2021 French Open champion. Since then, the Czech has reached the WTA singles final twice, entering her favorite stoppage of the season on red surface. However, she will have points to defend in Paris as the winner of Roland Garros and it will take her time to impose herself.

Padusa was ranked 62nd in the world at this time last year. The 24-year-old has won three WTA titles in Serbia (May 2021), Indian Wells (October 2021) and Sydney (January 2022) in the past 12 months, showing what form she will want to take deeper. in the season.

Then there are Sabalenka (4th, 4,711 points) and Skari (5th, 4,705), two solid players who achieved Grand Slam glory last year but fell short losing twice in the semi-finals. Greece’s Sakkari beat Swatik in the 2021 Roland Garros quarter-finals before losing to Krechikova, and Belarus’ Sabalenka was eliminated at the same Wimbledon stadium with Karolina Pliskova. Scary has been an even more notable player of late, having reached two finals and semi-finals in the last four tournaments. Two of those losses – in the title match at Indian Wells and in the last four games of the Qatar Open – have come against Swatek.

By the way, apart from Krejcikova (2-0), Świątek didn’t have a positive win-loss record with others. It was 1-1 with Padusa and Sabalenka and 2-3 with Skarim.

Osaka is in too

Naomi Osaka is another player with whom the top team set a 1-1 record. The Japanese reached the final in Miami and lost to Matchmaker, but not before there were enough signs of her fiery mojo. Since Barty’s departure leaves a void, women’s tennis couldn’t have had a better stage than fighting Osaka on the court smiling (despite the occasional tears).

Osaka, who ranked first in 2019 before taking over from Partey, is now ranked 35. However, the fact that she hasn’t played much – and therefore won little – after retiring from Roland Garros last year to address mental health issues will mean Osaka. is likely to score big this season and is climbing the ranks quickly.

However, it is his plan with the ultimate goal of reaching the top again. “I think I’d like to be in the top ten by next or the end of this year,” she said in Miami. “Next year, I would like to be number 1”.

“Oh, that’s a big statement. Delete that. The four-time Grand Slam winner was added at the same time. “Did you know? I will set this goal. Yes, no 1.”