Aryna Sabalenka loss ushers in new WTA number two
Roland Garros champion Barbora Krejcikova will overtake Aryna Sabalenka as WTA world number two next week after the Belarusian lost in the quarter-finals in Doha.
Sabalenka took on another Roland Garros champion in 2020 winner Iga Swiatek for a place in the Qatar Open semi-finals, falling 6-2, 6-3 to the 20-year-old.
As the winner in Doha in 2020, Sabalenka will now drop 710 ranking points after failing to emulate that title run.
Meanwhile, Krejcikova picked up 70 ranking points at the event before being ousted by Jelena Ostapenko in the round of 16.
As such, the Czech will boast 5,073 ranking points come Monday while Sabalenka will sit on 4,853.
Australian Open champion Ashleigh Barty will remain safely out in front on 7,980 points, 2,907 ahead of Krejcikova.
Nevertheless, Krejcikova’s rise in the sport is quite remarkable given her inexperience on the biggest stages prior to 2021.
Despite being 25 years old entering the 2021 season, the Czech had only played three Slam main draws in singles, being Roland Garros in 2018 and 2020 and the 2020 Australian Open.
She was ranked 63rd in singles this time last year and did not even get past qualifying for the 2021 Qatar Open.
Instead, Krejcikova had predominantly plied her trade in the upper echelons of the doubles, first peaking at doubles world number one in 2018.
Before 2021 she had claimed four Major doubles titles, two mixed titles and two women’s titles.
And her singles success has not marred her in doubles, claiming Roland Garros 2021 and the 2022 Australian Open titles alongside partner Katerina Siniakova.
Krejcikova further appeared at the 2021 WTA Finals in both singles and doubles, winning the latter, again with Siniakova.
Already world number two in doubles at present, Krejcikova will hold the ranking in both disciplines from next week.
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