On Monday, August 5, the WTA rankings remained relatively stable among the Top 20, as most players were focused on the Paris Olympics 2024, which did not affect their rankings or points. However, significant changes emerged from the recent 2024 Citi Open in Washington, impacting the rankings below the top tier.
The standout performer from the Citi Open was Paula Badosa, who captured her fourth career singles title by defeating Marie Bouzkova in the final. This victory earned Badosa 500 ranking points, propelling her from 62nd to 40th in the world. Bouzkova, the runner-up, also saw a notable rise, climbing seven spots from 43rd to 36th after accumulating 312 points from her run to the final.
Emma Raducanu made notable progress as well, reaching the quarter-finals of the Citi Open. The young British player gained 107 points, which helped her ascend 20 places from 89th to 69th in the rankings. Her performance at the Citi Open reflects her continued upward trajectory.
However, the rankings saw some declines due to players missing the Citi Open in favor of the Olympics. Coco Gauff, who was the defending champion in Washington, chose to compete in Paris and consequently dropped 470 points. Despite this, she retained her position at No. 2 in the rankings. Similarly, Maria Sakkari, the runner-up at last year’s Citi Open, lost 304 points due to her Olympic participation and fell from 8th to 9th place.
Looking ahead, several top players, including World No. 1 Iga Swiatek, have withdrawn from the 2024 Canadian Open due to injuries and the need for rest. This situation has created opportunities for other players to advance. Paula Badosa, who is currently in strong form, could leverage this chance to make a significant impact in Montreal and improve her ranking further.
In the Canadian Open, the top two seeds are Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka. With Swiatek absent, both players have the opportunity to consolidate their positions. The gap between Gauff and Sabalenka is under 500 points, so a strong performance from Sabalenka could reduce this difference further, especially if Gauff exits early. Although Swiatek’s withdrawal might lead to a loss of approximately 350 points, her substantial lead of nearly 3000 points ensures she will remain the top-ranked player for the time being.
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