“Aryna Sabalenka at risk of losing the top spot to Rybakina.”

Aryna Sabalenka could lose the top spot in the WTA rankings to Elena Rybakina before the start of the French Open. The unexpected withdrawal of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix champion in Stuttgart has opened a window that the Kazakhstan star is determined to exploit, but the challenge is monumental.

Since October 2024, when she dethroned Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka has dominated the WTA world rankings with impressive authority. The four-time Grand Slam winner has shown no signs of slowing down in 2025: four finals in major tournaments, including the title at the US Open, and four victories in WTA 1000 events confirm her dominance. Consecutive wins in Indian Wells and Miami have further cemented a colossal 2,917-point lead over her closest rival, Elena Rybakina.

However, Sabalenka’s decision not to participate in the Stuttgart tournament, where she was a finalist last year, means an automatic loss of points to defend. Rybakina, on the other hand, has no points to lose at this stage, which could close the gap between them. Currently, the rankings show:

1. Aryna Sabalenka – 11,025 points

2. Elena Rybakina – 8,108 points

3. Coco Gauff – 7,278 points

4. Iga Swiatek – 7,263 points

After the deduction of points from the Stuttgart tournament, Sabalenka will drop to 10,895, while Rybakina will maintain her 8,108. If Rybakina wins the title, the gap will narrow to 2,287 points, making the race for the number one spot more electrifying than anticipated.

The battle continues to heat up with the Madrid Open on the horizon. Sabalenka is defending the 1,000 points she earned last year, while Rybakina does not lose any points in this event, a crucial advantage. The math is clear: if Rybakina triumphs and Sabalenka is eliminated early, the gap could shrink to just 1,287 points, putting pressure on the world number one as the Italian Open approaches.

In Rome, Sabalenka has 215 points to defend compared to just 65 for Rybakina. Any slip from the Belarusian could see the Kazakh dangerously close to the top. However, even if Rybakina manages to surpass Sabalenka after Italy, her lead may be short-lived due to the defense of 500 points at the Strasbourg tournament, where she is the reigning champion.

The true test will come at Roland Garros, where Sabalenka is defending no less than 1,300 points after being a finalist in the last edition, while Rybakina has only 240 points to protect. A surprising result could turn the rankings upside down and change the landscape of women’s tennis worldwide.

As the season accelerates towards the French Grand Slam, the tension at the top of the WTA rankings has never been more palpable. Sabalenka remains the favorite, but Rybakina is hot on her heels, ready to strike. The race for the number one spot promises to be one of the biggest thrills of the season, and the upcoming tournaments will determine who will emerge victorious from this titanic battle.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.