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Aryna Sabalenka is now assured of retaining the World No. 2 ranking before the 2024 French Open. Her ranking was solidified after Iga Swiatek defeated the contender for the World No. 2 spot, Coco Gauff, in the semifinal at the 2024 Italian Open.
Sabalenka’s World No. 2 spot was at stake at the 2024 Italian Open. Coco Gauff emerged as the front-runner to achieve her career-best ranking. However, she fell to World No. 1 Swiatek in the semifinal.
Gauff could've secured the World No. 2 ranking if she had reached the semifinals and Sabalenka had lost before the quarterfinals. The US Open champion could have also secured the ranking if she had reached the final, and Sabalenka had lost in the semifinals or quarterfinals.
The Belarusian prevailed to set up a final against Iga Swiatek in the Italian capital, dashing Gauff's hopes to attain a career-high ranking.
The seedings for the French Open depend on the ranking after the conclusion of the Italian Open. This means the two-time Australian Open champion will head to the French Open as the World No. 2.
Iga Swiatek will take on Aryna Sabalenka for the Italian Open glory
Tennis fans are in for a treat as Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka will lock horns for the second consecutive WTA 1000 final at the 2024 Italian Open.
The World No. 1 and World No. 2 put on a spectacle at the 2024 Madrid Open final, with the Pole edging in a closely contested match. Swiatek lifted the title for the first time in her career and also avenged her loss at the 2023 Madrid Open final against Sabalenka.
In Italy, Swaitek has lifted the title twice, in 2021 and 2022, defeating Karolina Pliskova and Ons Jabeur, respectively. The 2021 final against Pliskova was the infamous 6-0, 6-0 scoreline, where the Czech managed to earn just 13 points, the fewest at the WTA 1000 final.
Sabalenka, on the other hand, bested her 2022 semifinal run by reaching the final this year. Before this year's run, she had a 4-5 win-loss record in Rome.
The two have faced each other 10 times, with the Pole leading the head-to-head 7-3.
