Beijing: The women’s World No.1 battle has taken a dramatic turn after Aryna Sabalenka announced her withdrawal from the China Open 2025, opening the door for Iga Swiatek to close the gap at the top of the WTA rankings.
Sabalenka, currently leading with 11,225 points, confirmed she is dealing with a minor injury sustained at the US Open. The Belarusian, who reached the Beijing quarterfinals last year, will forfeit 215 points by skipping the WTA 1000 event.
“I am sad to announce my withdrawal from the China Open this year after sustaining a small injury after the US Open. I am going to focus on being 100 per cent healthy for the rest of the year,” Sabalenka said in a statement released by organisers.
Swiatek’s Golden Opportunity
Swiatek, ranked No.2 with 7,933 points, trails Sabalenka by just over 3,300 points in the official standings. Crucially, she did not play in Beijing last year, meaning she has no points to defend. Every win in China will directly boost her ranking total.
In the Race to Riyadh, which counts 2025 results only, the gap is even tighter—Swiatek trails by about 2,077 points.
Currently competing at the WTA 500 in Seoul, Swiatek has the chance to pick up momentum. A title in Korea would add 500 points, setting her up perfectly for a charge in Beijing. Should she win both Seoul and Beijing, the Pole would add 1,500 points, cutting Sabalenka’s advantage to just around 600 points for the season.
Pressure Mounts on Sabalenka
Beyond Beijing, Sabalenka faces another challenge as the defending champion at the Wuhan Open, where 1,000 points are at stake. Any slip there, whether through injury or an early exit, could further strengthen Swiatek’s bid for the top spot.
What’s Next?
While Sabalenka remains in pole position, her absence from Beijing has reignited Swiatek’s hopes of reclaiming World No.1. With form, fitness, and timing aligning in her favor, the next few weeks could be decisive in determining whether the WTA crowns a new year-end leader.