Iga Swiatek emerged victorious against Gao Xinyu with a score of 6-2, 6-3 in the second round of the China Open. In a post-match press conference, she was asked about Aryna Sabalenka’s recent comments regarding her motivation to reclaim the number-one ranking.
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Swiatek acknowledged that Sabalenka feels particularly driven at this stage of the season. "Yeah, my season wasn’t super positive, so I feel there’s a lot of space to go up. It’s always a good feeling because you have something to work towards, too," Swiatek said, expressing understanding of Sabalenka’s perspective.
She elaborated on the challenges of being ranked number one, noting that it often feels like being pursued rather than pursuing. "I totally understand what she feels. But obviously, everybody has a different story. Doesn’t make sense to compare," Swiatek added.
Both players have not won Grand Slam titles in 2026, with Swiatek currently ranked 10th in the WTA rankings, risking missing the WTA Finals for the first time in six years if she doesn’t improve her standing.
As it stands, the live WTA rankings show Swiatek with 3,849 points, while Sabalenka is in second place with 7,485 points. Swiatek aims to improve her position before the season concludes, emphasizing a step-by-step approach to her matches.
Looking ahead, Swiatek is set to face Croatia’s Donna Vekic in the third round, holding a 4-0 lead in their head-to-head meetings. She is hopeful of advancing further in the tournament, eyeing potential matchups against Iva Jovic, Harriet Dart, or Kamilla Rakhimova in the fourth round and possibly facing Coco Gauff in the quarter-finals.