Aryna Sabalenka started a trend at Indian Wells which has continued for the last six weeks on the WTA Tour.
Sabalenka won the Sunshine Double by claiming the Indian Wells trophy and the Miami Open in back-to-back weeks.
While the world number one has not played a tournament since, she started a trend which has continued up until Elena Rybakina and Marta Kostyuk’s recent victories in Stuttgart and Open de Rouen.
The trend, started by Sabalenka, could give her an almighty boost when it comes to defending her title at this year’s Madrid Open.
The WTA Tour trend that has overtaken in recent weeks
Since Sabalenka’s victory at Indian Wells, every tournament in the last six weeks has been won by the number one seed.
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From hardcourts to clay, indoor or outdoor, each of the last seven tournaments on the WTA Tour has been claimed by the top seed.
Number one seeds have ruled the WTA Tour recently
- Indian Wells: Aryna Sabalenka
- Miami Open: Aryna Sabalenka
- Charleston Open: Jessica Pegula
- Bogota: Marie Bouzkova
- Linz Open: Mirra Andreeva
- Stuttgart Open: Elena Rybakina
- Open de Rouen: Marta Kostyuk
Kostyuk and Rybakina were both the top-ranked players at their respective tournaments this week as they lifted the trophy.
Likewise, so was Jessica Pegula when she won Charleston, Mirra Andreeva when she lifted the Linz Open title, and Marie Bouzkova when she was victorious in Bogota.
Sabalenka is the number one seed yet again at the Madrid Open, so she will be hoping she can win the title for the fourth time in six years.
Aryna Sabalenka has an excellent chance to defend her title
While the WTA Tour trend will surely boost Sabalenka’s confidence, the world number one should be expecting to do well in Madrid anyway.
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The Spanish tournament is Sabalenka’s second best-performing Masters event in her career, just after the Wuhan Open.
Sabalenka holds an 85% win-rate at the Madrid Open from her first 27 matches at the Masters tournament.
The Belarusian star has reached the final on four occasions, although she has also been knocked out of the first round on three occasions.
Sabalenka will play the winner of Peyton Stearns and Lois Boisson in the second round after receiving a bye.
