Iga Swiatek Not Focusing on Dethroning Aryna Sabalenka on Rankings Table after Cincinnati Victory

Iga Swiatek has improved her win-loss record over Jasmine Paolini to 6-0 after beating her in the Cincinnati Masters final.

Iga Swiatek Not Focusing on Dethroning Aryna Sabalenka on Rankings Table after Cincinnati Victory

Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek (Image via X/Aryna Sabalenka Archive, The Tennis Letter)

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At the start of the season, Iga Swiatek was struggling to reach finals and win titles. But since the end of June, she has now reached three finals and won two titles, the latest of which was by beating Jasmine Paolini 7-5, 6-4 in the Cincinnati Masters final on Monday (August 18).

It was her career’s first title in Cincinnati. Prior to this season, she was a semifinalist in 2023 and 2024. This win has helped the Pole reach second spot with 7,933 points, on the ranking table by removing Coco Gauff, who stands on the third spot with 7,874 points after defeat to Paolini in the Cincinnati quarterfinal.

Even if Swiatek lifts the US Open next, the points she will earn will not be enough to dethrone Aryna Sabalenka, who comfortably sits on the top with 11,225 points. The doping saga and the thought of not defending the five titles that she clinched last year had irked Swiatek.

Because of her trophy-less campaigns, she even dropped to the eighth spot. On the back of her recent performances, she has once again become a second-ranked player. And instead of paying heed to how she can replace Sabalenka, Swiatek told Tennis Channel that she only wants to focus on her matches because good performances will eventually help her rankings.

Honestly, if I’m going to play well, it’s going to be an effect of that. So, I’m just focusing on being a better player, and I’m not that kind of person that focuses on the rankings anyway. So, yeah, we’ll see. I don’t mind.

Swiatek has improved her head-to-head record over the Italian ace to 6-0. The win has made her an 11-time WTA 1000 winner. For Paolini, she played her career’s third WTA 1000 final, and although she lost in Cincinnati, she was successful in winning the 2024 Dubai Open and this year’s Italian Open.

Swiatek has become the first Polish player in the Open Era to win the Cincinnati title. It was also her career’s 24th singles title. En route to the title, she didn’t drop a set.

Iga Swiatek is surprised after her Cincinnati Masters win

Iga Swiatek was shocked when she lifted the Wimbledon title because, on grass, she still thinks she needs a great deal of improvement. She gave full credit for her success to her team for believing in her abilities.

Iga Swiatek (via X/The Tennis Letter)
Iga Swiatek (via X/The Tennis Letter)

I don’t know why I win the tournaments; we’re like the last ones in terms of what I thought they were going to be. So, thank you [to my team] for forcing me to become a better player and learn how to play on all these faster surfaces. I’m kind of shocked and super happy, so thank you for the awesome support, to the team, and to my family back home.

Iga Swiatek said during the trophy presentation

The next is the US Open, the main draw events of which will start on Sunday (August 24). Swiatek is a part of the mixed doubles event and will play her first match on Tuesday (August 19).

She has paired up with three-time Grand Slam finalist Casper Ruud, and they will start their campaigns against Madison Keys and Frances Tiafoe. The six-time Grand Slam champion will be playing mixed doubles in Grand Slam events for the second time in her career following her participation at the 2020 Australian Open.

In singles, Swiatek will be bidding to win the US Open title for the second time in her career. Back in 2022, she beat Ons Jabeur in the US Open final to lift her career’s third Grand Slam title.

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