The time has come. Starting this Sunday, eight of the best players on the planet will compete for the title of ‘master’ at the WTA Finals, which will be held this year in Cancun.
It will be eight intense days with the most interesting matches and the fight for number 1 between Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek as the highlight.
The Belarusian and the Polish, as planned, will not meet in a balanced group stage, according to the draw held the previous morning.
The Bacalar Group will consist of Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula and Maria Sakkari, while in the Chematul Group we will see Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Ons Jabeur and Marketa Vondrousova.
The tournament starts this Sunday (11pm) with a match between Rybakina and Pegula, followed by a match between Sabalenka and Sakkari. On Monday, Swiatek faces Vondrousova (11pm) and Gauff faces Jabeur.
Aryna Sabalenka, currently number 1 in the ranking with 8,425 points, will defend her position against Iga Swiatek, second overall with 7,795 points. The third, Coco Gauff, was left in the fight for the lead after being more than 2,000 points ahead of second place.
Swiatek’s throne lasted more than a year, but Sabalenka took it from him after winning the US Open and completing a high level of 2023. However, Iga will look for the first position after winning the championships in Doha , Roland Garros, Stuttgart and Warsaw. The two tennis players have met twice this season, with a victory for each.
Once the WTA Finals are played, there are supposed to be scenarios that could change the overall rankings. 630 points separate Swiatek from Sabalenka, who is defending the lead and confident, and could secure first place if she reaches the final with a 2-1 record in the group stage.
If Iga Swiatek loses any match in the group stage, the Belarusian will finish first if he remains unbeaten until the playoffs or if he reaches the final. At the same time, if the Polish Swiatek falls in two matches, the scenario is in the face of Sabalenka, who gets the first place even with a defeat in the group stage.
This is where different scenarios come into play depending on Sabalenka’s performance in Cancun. If he remains unbeaten in the group stage, Swiatek will have to win the title and not lose a game in the group stage. Also, if Sabalenka loses a match in the group stage, Iga will have to win the title with two wins in the group stage.
Sabalenka could be in trouble if she stumbles in the group stage. If they fall in two matches, Swiatek better win the Cancun championship. Finally, if the number 1 in the ranking loses all the league games, a completely chimerical scene, Iga will have to win the championship or reach the final undefeated.
Despite the many scenarios that can be considered, the favorite to finish first in the classification is Aryna Sabalenka. His season was very good and that is why he occupies the current number 1 position in the ranking. Polish Swiatek will look to surprise and stumble Sabalenka to wrest the long-awaited throne from her, in a tournament where they can score up to 1,500 points.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Robert Maynard, and I am a passionate journalist with experience in sports writing. For the last few years, I have been writing for Today Times Live. My main focus has been on sports-related stories and features. With my strong background in journalism and extensive knowledge of the industry, I am able to provide readers with well-crafted pieces that are both informative and engaging.
