With Iga Swiatek heading into the WTA clay-court season with a pair of hard-court 1000 titles to her title in 2024, it’s truthful 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 record to go with her WTA No. 1 rating.
So the true query going through the WTA Tour now because the floor adjustments is that this: who’s the most probably 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
Greatest Massive Clay Outcomes: Rome (2021, 2022) and Roland-Garros (2020, 2022, 2023) Champion
How might anybody go towards a participant who has received Roland-Garros thrice 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 relaxed on clay and needs to be thought-about the heavy favorite in any occasion she enters on the pink 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
Greatest 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.
Learn additionally: Clay-Court docket Transition Further Distinguished on 2024 Calendar
Anticipate 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 probability at extra finals very quickly. She’s undoubtedly one to look at.
– Abraham
3. Aryna Sabalenka (-1)
Precise Rating: 2
2024 Document: 14-4
Notable Latest Outcomes: Indian Wells R4
Greatest Massive Clay Outcomes: Madrid Champion (2021, 2023), Roland-Garros SF (2023)
Aryna Sabalenka was exceptionally near reaching the French Open closing final season, holding a 5-2, third-set lead within the semifinals towards Karolina Muchova.
Since then, the power-hitting Belarusian solely received 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 best possible on exhausting 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
Greatest 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 pink brick mud makes her a formidable opponent, and she or he’ll be making the transition to the floor with a laser give attention to stringing collectively as many wins as doable.
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She competed within the singles closing 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
Greatest Massive Clay Outcomes: Madrid (2023), Rome (2019), and Roland-Garros (2021) SF
Just one girl reached a minimum of the quarter-finals of each Indian Wells and Miami, that being Maria Sakkari. On the former, she received all the best way to the ultimate, beating the likes of Caroline Garcia and Gauff earlier than pushing Swiatek exhausting for a set within the closing.
The Greek has seen success on the pink filth prior to now, reaching the semifinals of all three huge clay occasions on the WTA Tour and was some extent away from the 2021 French Open closing. She is taking part in a few of her finest 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
Greatest Massive Clay Outcomes: Madrid Runner-Up (2022), Roland-Garros QF (2022)
Jessica Pegula is a tricky and decided rival.
Clay might not be her favorite, however she’s performed nicely on the floor time and time once more. In 2022, she received so far as the singles closing in Madrid and the doubles closing in Paris. Final season, she was a doubles finalist in Madrid and Rome. Will she elevate her first winner’s trophy on the European filth this yr?
Learn additionally: 5 Canadians Kicking Off 2024 Clay Season
No matter occurs, Pegula can depend on her preventing spirit to assist her dig deep and win matches. Now all she has to do over the following few weeks is locate 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
Greatest Massive Clay Outcomes: Rome SF (2023), Roland-Garros Champion (2017)
There have been stretches of the 2024 season up to now the place Jelena Ostapenko has been borderline unbeatable (until your title is Victoria Azarenka). Now she heads to the floor the place she received the most important title of her profession, the 2017 French Open.
Learn additionally: ATP Pre-Clay Energy Rankings
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 thrice in her profession. Ostapenko could be the final boom-bust participant on the WTA Tour, however she is greater than able to scoring huge wins on the clay.
– Pete
8. Danielle Collins (New)
Precise Rating: 22
2024 Document: 20-7
Notable Latest Outcomes: Miami Champion
Greatest 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 bit of quieter since her Australian Open 2022 closing run, the American ace is again.
Her new {hardware} brings momentum that would take her additional than ever earlier than. She’s had respectable 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
Greatest Massive Clay Outcomes: Rome QF (2023), Roland-Garros SF (2023)
Beatriz Haddad Maia is perhaps ranked thirteenth on the WTA Tour however she is unquestionably an enormous risk taking part in on clay. She had a deep run at Roland-Garros final yr earlier than falling to Iga Swiatek within the semifinals.
Haddad Maia has confirmed to be an all-surface participant, with finalist appearances on exhausting courtroom (together with in Toronto in 2022) and clay together with two grass courtroom titles. Canadian tennis followers have seen Haddad Maia push the perfect, 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
Greatest 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.
Learn additionally: Shapovalov – 2024 Version
There may be motive for optimism because the tour adjustments surfaces. Jabeur has received two of her 5 profession titles on clay courts, received Charleston final yr, 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 bit of further time on the slower clay floor to govern 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 bunch collaboration by the Energy Rankings Panel which incorporates:
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