Iga Swiatek Aims for No. 1 Ranking at China Open

BEIJING, China — Iga Swiatek, the top seed at the 2025 China Open, aims to reclaim her No. 1 ranking as the tournament commences this evening against Yuan Yue. Swiatek’s entry into the competition comes after top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka withdrew due to a minor injury sustained at the U.S. Open.

Swiatek, who recently won a 500-level tournament in Seoul, enters Beijing without any points to defend. If she triumphs at the China Open, it could significantly narrow her deficit to Sabalenka, currently leading the rankings. With upcoming tournaments, including the 1000-level Wuhan Open and the WTA Finals, Swiatek has a viable pathway to claim the top position by year’s end.

“It’s always something to keep in mind, but it’s not my main focus,” Swiatek mentioned during a pre-tournament press conference. “Thinking about the rankings isn’t the way to go, regardless of being No. 2 or No. 1.”

Last year, Swiatek withdrew from both the China Open and Wuhan Open, citing personal matters. In a public statement, she expressed disappointment in missing the events, saying, “I had an amazing time playing and winning this tournament last year.”

Late in 2024, it was revealed that Swiatek had tested positive for trimetazidine, a prohibited substance, earlier that August. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) stated that the positive test resulted from contaminated melatonin, a sleep aid she had been using for jet lag. Swiatek accepted the penalty and began her suspension weeks before the 2025 Australian Open.

After a challenging period in which she held a 1-12 record against her subsequent opponents, Swiatek’s fortune reversed during the Wimbledon tournament. She dominated the event, winning the final 6-0, 6-0, which propelled her ranking back to No. 3.

“Right now, I’m not focusing on ranking. I’m just happy to be competing,” she stated. Although she previously held the No. 1 ranking for 125 weeks, Swiatek remains grounded in her approach. “My priority is more on how I want to play and how I feel on the court.”

With Sabalenka recovering from an injury and Coco Gauff trying to uphold her title, Swiatek finds herself in a favorable position, with the No. 1 ranking well within her grasp.