Aryna Sabalenka did not win the WTA Finals, but she ends 2024 in first place in the WTA world ranking. The Belarusian overtook Iga Świątek and for the first time in her career she will start next year as the leader. At the very beginning of the competition in 2025, it will also have a chance to equal, among others, Idze Świątek and other legends.
Will Aryna Sabalenka break the 26-year wait? Iga Świątek has already done it
The competition in the Australian Open will begin on January 12 – probably the favorite Grand Slam of the current leader of the world ranking. Sabalenka has already won there twice – in 2023 and 2024. In two months, he will fight to defend his titles and achieve the historic achievement of winning one Grand Slam tournament three years in a row.
This has not happened in Australia since 1999, when Martina Hingis won her third title in a row. Sabalenka will therefore have a chance to end the 26-year wait for a tennis “hat trick” at the Grand Slam that opens the year. This was noticed on X by Matt Trollope, who writes, among others: for the official website of the Australian Open.
In Australia, no one has won three times in a row for 26 years, but Iga Świątek can boast of such an achievement in France. The Pole won Roland Garros in 2022, 2023 and 2024. This is, of course, the most current “three-peat” in the history of women's tennis. And what does it look like at other tournaments?
The last time Wimbledon won three times in a row was in 1991-1993, when Steffi Graff triumphed. In turn, the US Open in 2012-2014 was won by Serena Williams, an icon of modern tennis.
– I always wanted to dominate the tour, like Serena Williams, like Iga Świątek was able to do it for a long time. It's impressive and I'd like to do it like them. However, I focus on myself, on improving to make sure that I can dominate, Sabalenka said in an interview for “Arab News”.
The first test of the desired domination will take place after January 12, when the Australian Open tournament begins.