What Iga Swiatek has to do to regain World No. 1 rank from Aryna Sabalenka during Australian swing? 

Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka are undoubtedly the top two players on tour. While Sabalenka claimed the honors in New York, the Pole captured her first title at the Wimbledon Championships in 2025.

Swiatek has held the second spot in the WTA rankings since the last two years. Despite stiff competition from her peers, she's maintained consistency and showed her champions mentality at the highest level.

Apart from her success at Wimbledon, Swiatek also claimed the honors in Cincinnati and Seoul. She ended her season after a group-stage exit in the WTA Finals a quarterfinal exit in Wuhan this year.

After an exhilarating season in 2026, the race for the top spot in the WTA rankings will be interesting in 2026. Without further ado, let's look at how Swiatek can close the gap for the top spot and have a chance to catch up to Sabalenka next year.

Aryna Sabalenka is almost 2500 ahead of Iga Swiatek in the WTA Rankings

Swiatek at the Billie Jean King Cup - Poland vs Romania - Source: Getty

Iga Swiatek’s needs to outscore Aryna Sabalenka by around 2,500 points across January to reclaim the No.1 spot in the WTA Rankings. The early-season warm-up events matter, but Melbourne could be the real game-changer for the Pole.

The Australian Open offers 2,000 points to the champion, which makes the maths straightforward for Swiatek heading into the season’s first major. A deep run in Melbourne can dramatically reshape the rankings.

Sabalenka’s Brisbane title from early 2025 adds pressure to her opening week. Any slip by the Belarusian there gives Swiatek an early window before the Australian Open begins.

Additionally, Swiatek will be participating in the United Cup next year. If she manages to win five matches at the event, she could score 500 points in the WTA Rankings.

To summarise the race between Swiatek and Sabalenka, the players who begins on a clinical note could make the difference. The Australian Open runner-up could earn 1,300 points, with 780 for semifinals and 430 for quarterfinals.

A title in Melbourne alone could swing the No. 1 spot if Sabalenka falls short or exits before the quarterfinals. Even a final might be enough, provided Swiatek builds momentum in Brisbane, Adelaide or Hobart.

Edited by Aman Mohamed