The battle for the women’s World No.1 ranking has taken a sudden twist after Aryna Sabalenka announced she would skip the 2025 China Open in Beijing.
The Belarusian, currently holding the top spot with 11,225 points, said she is dealing with a minor injury she picked up at the US Open.
Missing this WTA 1000 event not only keeps her out of competition but also costs her 215 points, since she had reached the quarterfinals in Beijing last year.
“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 provided by organisers.
This opens the door for Iga Swiatek, the current No.2 with 7,933 points, roughly 3,300 points behind in the official rankings. In the Race to Riyadh, which tracks results from 2025 alone, Swiatek is closer, trailing Sabalenka by about 2,077 points.
Courtesy: WTAWhat’s the equation for Iga Swiatek?
Swiatek did not play in Beijing last year, meaning she has no points to defend. Every win in China will directly add to her total, giving her a real chance to narrow the gap. Sabalenka could face more pressure soon, as she is the defending champion at the Wuhan Open, where 1,000 points are at stake. Any slip there-through injury or loss-would boost Swiatek’s chances even further.
Currently, Swiatek is competing at the WTA 500 in Seoul. A title there would give her both momentum and 500 ranking points ahead of Beijing. A deep run in China afterward could bring her within striking distance of Sabalenka. Should Swiatek win both Seoul and Beijing, she could earn 1,500 points in total, leaving her only about 600 points behind Sabalenka for the season.
For now, Sabalenka still leads, but her absence from Beijing has reignited Swiatek’s hopes. The next few weeks may determine if the WTA will crown a new year-end No.1.