With Iga Swiatek heading into the WTA clay-court season with a pair of hard-court 1000 titles to her identify in 2024, it’s honest to say that she is the overwhelming favorite at each upcoming occasion on the clay.
The Nationwide Financial institution Open Energy Rankings panel actually thinks so, as they unanimously agreed that she owns the highest spot on our listing to go with her WTA No. 1 rating.
So the true query dealing with the WTA Tour now because the floor modifications is that this: who’s the almost definitely participant to threaten the Queen of Clay?
This week, the Energy Rankings attempt to determine that out.
(Brackets point out change in place for the reason that final version of the Energy Rankings from earlier than Indian Wells)
1. Iga Swiatek (-)
Precise Rating: 1
2024 Document: 22-3
Notable Latest Outcomes: Indian Wells Champion
Finest Massive Clay Outcomes: Rome (2021, 2022) and Roland-Garros (2020, 2022, 2023) Champion
How might anybody go in opposition to a participant who has gained Roland-Garros 3 times already by the age of twenty-two?
On high of Grand Slam success, Swiatek has claimed titles on clay in Stuttgart (2022, 2023) and Rome. Whereas expert on any floor, the World No. 1 is very comfortable on clay and must be thought of the heavy favorite in any occasion she enters on the purple filth.
A fourth title on the French Open would have her go all-time greats Monica Seles and Serena Williams (three every) and tie her with Justin Henin.
– Mike
2. Elena Rybakina (+1)
Precise Rating: 4
2024 Document: 22-4
Notable Latest Outcomes: Miami Runner-Up
Finest Massive Clay Outcomes: Rome Champion (2023), Roland-Garros QF (2021)
With 4 finals berths this season, Elena Rybakina is a harmful participant, and she or he’ll be out for revenge after that disappointing loss in Miami.
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Count on the defending champion on the WTA 1000 Italian Open to be simply as cruel on clay as she is on the opposite surfaces. A member of the “Massive Three” together with Aryna Sabalenka and Swiatek, Rybakina has each likelihood at extra finals very quickly. She’s positively one to observe.
– Abraham
3. Aryna Sabalenka (-1)
Precise Rating: 2
2024 Document: 14-4
Notable Latest Outcomes: Indian Wells R4
Finest Massive Clay Outcomes: Madrid Champion (2021, 2023), Roland-Garros SF (2023)
Aryna Sabalenka was exceptionally near reaching the French Open ultimate final season, holding a 5-2, third-set lead within the semifinals in opposition to Karolina Muchova.
Since then, the power-hitting Belarusian solely obtained hungrier for extra success, reaching the finals of the US Open, briefly taking maintain of the No. 1 rating, and kicking off 2024 by profitable her second main title in Australia.
Whereas Sabalenka’s recreation is at its absolute best on laborious courts, it does translate throughout all surfaces – she reached two clay courtroom finals final season and captured her second profession Madrid title with an upset win over Swiatek.
– Ben
4. Coco Gauff (-)
Precise Rating: 3
2024 Document: 18-5
Notable Latest Outcomes: Indian Wells SF
Finest Massive Clay Outcomes: Rome SF (2021), Roland-Garros Runner-Up (2022)
Coco Gauff actually shines on clay.
Her 71.62 per cent profitable proportion on the purple brick mud makes her a formidable opponent, and she or he’ll be making the transition to the floor with a laser deal with stringing collectively as many wins as doable.
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She competed within the singles ultimate at Roland-Garros in 2022 and the doubles finals in Paris (2021), Madrid (2023) and Rome (2023). If her previous performances are any indication, Gauff ought to come by way of.
– Sarah-Jade
5. Maria Sakkari (New)
Precise Rating: 7
2024 Document: 12-6
Notable Latest Outcomes: Indian Wells Runner-Up
Finest Massive Clay Outcomes: Madrid (2023), Rome (2019), and Roland-Garros (2021) SF
Just one girl reached no less than the quarter-finals of each Indian Wells and Miami, that being Maria Sakkari. On the former, she obtained all the way in which to the ultimate, beating the likes of Caroline Garcia and Gauff earlier than pushing Swiatek laborious for a set within the ultimate.
The Greek has seen success on the purple filth up to now, reaching the semifinals of all three large clay occasions on the WTA Tour and was a degree away from the 2021 French Open ultimate. She is taking part in a few of her greatest tennis proper now heading onto a floor the place she is comfy.
– Pete
6. Jessica Pegula (+1)
Precise Rating: 5
2024 Document: 9-5
Notable Latest Outcomes: Miami QF
Finest Massive Clay Outcomes: Madrid Runner-Up (2022), Roland-Garros QF (2022)
Jessica Pegula is a troublesome and decided rival.
Clay is probably not her favorite, however she’s carried out effectively on the floor time and time once more. In 2022, she obtained so far as the singles ultimate in Madrid and the doubles ultimate in Paris. Final season, she was a doubles finalist in Madrid and Rome. Will she increase her first winner’s trophy on the European filth this 12 months?
Learn additionally: 5 Canadians Kicking Off 2024 Clay Season
No matter occurs, Pegula can rely on her preventing spirit to assist her dig deep and win matches. Now all she has to do over the following few weeks is use the cracks in her opponents’ video games.
– Sarah-Jade
7. Jelena Ostapenko (-1)
Precise Rating: 10
2024 Document: 17-6
Notable Latest Outcomes: Miami R3
Finest Massive Clay Outcomes: Rome SF (2023), Roland-Garros Champion (2017)
There have been stretches of the 2024 season to date the place Jelena Ostapenko has been borderline unbeatable (until your identify is Victoria Azarenka). Now she heads to the floor the place she gained the largest title of her profession, the 2017 French Open.
Since profitable Roland-Garros as a 20-year-old, she has struggled in Paris. However the Latvian has reached the quarter-finals or higher in Rome 3 times in her profession. Ostapenko often is the final boom-bust participant on the WTA Tour, however she is greater than able to scoring large wins on the clay.
– Pete
8. Danielle Collins (New)
Precise Rating: 22
2024 Document: 20-7
Notable Latest Outcomes: Miami Champion
Finest Massive Clay Outcomes: Rome R3 (2022), Roland-Garros QF (2020)
Danielle Collins orchestrated the win we by no means noticed coming when she lifted the winner’s trophy in Miami. Although she’d been a little bit quieter since her Australian Open 2022 ultimate run, the American ace is again.
Her new {hardware} brings momentum that would take her additional than ever earlier than. She’s had first rate runs at Roland-Garros, getting so far as the quarters in 2020 with wins over Garbine Muguruza and Ons Jabeur. Something is feasible!
– Abraham
9. Beatriz Haddad Maia (New)
Precise Rating: 13
2024 Document: 8-9
Notable Latest Outcomes: Indian Wells and Miami R3
Finest Massive Clay Outcomes: Rome QF (2023), Roland-Garros SF (2023)
Beatriz Haddad Maia could be ranked thirteenth on the WTA Tour however she is certainly an enormous risk taking part in on clay. She had a deep run at Roland-Garros final 12 months earlier than falling to Iga Swiatek within the semifinals.
Haddad Maia has confirmed to be an all-surface participant, with finalist appearances on laborious courtroom (together with in Toronto in 2022) and clay together with two grass courtroom titles. Canadian tennis followers have seen Haddad Maia push the most effective, as when she defeated World No. 1 Swiatek in throughout that Toronto run within the spherical of sixteen.
– Mike
10. Ons Jabeur (New)
Precise Rating: 6
2024 Document: 2-5
Notable Latest Outcomes: Indian Wells and Miami R2
Finest Massive Clay Outcomes: Madrid Champion (2022), Roland-Garros QF (2023)
The Tunisian, who has been coping with numerous points, has simply two singles wins in 2024, struggling opening-round exits at three consecutive occasions.
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There may be cause for optimism because the tour modifications surfaces. Jabeur has gained two of her 5 profession titles on clay courts, gained Charleston final 12 months, has been to the finals in Rome, and is a former quarter-finalist at Roland-Garros.
With extra time now to heal her physique, and a little bit further time on the slower clay floor to control the ball as she pleases, the 27-year-old can get her season again on monitor.
– Ben
The Nationwide Financial institution Open Energy Rankings are a gaggle collaboration by the Energy Rankings Panel which incorporates:
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