Sabalenka Stays on Top as Rivals Miss Chance to Close the Gap
The WTA Race to Riyadh just got a little more interesting, but not for the reasons Aryna Sabalenka’s closest rivals might have hoped. The Canadian Open wrapped up with some big moves in the rankings—just not at the very top. Sabalenka remains firmly in control of the standings, sitting on 7,405 points, the only player who’s already mathematically qualified for the WTA Finals.
Iga Swiatek, her closest chaser at 6,113 points, did narrow the gap slightly, but an early exit in the Round of 16 in Montreal meant the opportunity to put real pressure on Sabalenka was missed. Coco Gauff, holding third place with 4,739 points, shared a similar fate—also falling in the same round and missing her chance to make up ground. Despite that, Gauff still enjoys a comfortable cushion over Madison Keys in fourth and the young Mirra Andreeva in fifth, both of whom remain steady fixtures in the top five this season.
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Further down the Race table, Victoria Mboko and Naomi Osaka made headlines with the biggest jumps. Mboko, the teenage Canadian who shocked the field to win the Canadian Open, vaulted nearly 60 places to land at No. 24. Osaka, who reached the final before falling to Mboko, climbed 26 spots to No. 21. Both, however, withdrew from the upcoming Cincinnati Open, so slight drops may follow—but their new positions put them in excellent shape for the rest of the season, especially with seeded status secured for the US Open.
The battle for the remaining WTA Finals spots is heating up. Amanda Anisimova and Jessica Pegula have been holding sixth and seventh place for most of the year, with their consistency keeping challengers at bay. But in eighth, Elena Rybakina has finally cracked the qualification zone after reaching the semifinals in Montreal. She’ll need to hold off contenders like Jasmine Paolini, Elina Svitolina, and the fast-climbing Clara Tauson to secure her place in Riyadh.
Injury clouds are starting to hang over some contenders. Andreeva’s ankle problem forced her out of Cincinnati, and questions are building about whether she’ll be fully fit for the US Open. Still, with over 4,000 points and two WTA 1000 titles this season, she’s in a strong position.
For now, the story is clear—Sabalenka is the one everyone’s chasing, and she’s giving no signs of slowing down. The rest of the top five are all but assured of a spot in the Finals, while the chasing pack knows the North American hardcourt swing and the US Open will be decisive. Big jumps from rising stars and veterans alike have set the stage for an exciting sprint to season’s end, but as it stands, the No. 1 position is still very much Sabalenka’s to lose.
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