Aryna Sabalenka sent ‘hunted’ warning after return to world No 1

Aryna Sabalenka celebrates after winning the Wuhan Open.
Aryna Sabalenka has been told she will be "hunted" by Coco Vandeweghe.

Aryna Sabalenka will be “hunted” and has a “big target” on her back following her return to world No 1, claimed former top-10 star Coco Vandeweghe.

Having spent eight weeks atop the WTA Rankings last season, Sabalenka returned to world No 1 this week – dislodging main rival Iga Swiatek.

A return to No 1 caps off a fine year for the Belarusian, who has won the Australian and US Open titles – and is now firmly in pole position to seal the year-end No 1 ranking.

However, a return to the very top of the rankings comes with its own pressures, and she was unable to hold off Swiatek for the year-end ranking in 2023.

Speaking on Tennis Channel’s Inside-In Podcast, former world No 10 Vandeweghe claimed Sabalenka has “momentum” on her side after winning her third major title in New York.

However, she also warned that Sabalenka would have to deal with being the main target on tour.

Vandeweghe said: “It’s because she has the momentum. She’s coming off the US Open, she hasn’t really played much post-US Open.

“Where you see people playing that are trying to get some momentum back, I’m going to drop Iga in that list, I’m going to drop Jessie Pegula in that list – even though Jessie made the finals [of the US Open].

“Because they have a sour taste in their mouth from a loss that they think maybe they shouldn’t have had.

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“Aryna is the hunted and it’s also: what is she going to do with that big target on her back?

“For so long it’s been Iga that’s had that big target on her back and everyone’s chasing Iga to take that No 1 ranking, to beat her on the biggest stages.

“Now, Sabalenka’s going to have that mantle, and what’s she going to be able to do with it? Can she hold onto that? Can she step up to that occasion?”

Sabalenka has played just two tournaments since winning her first US Open title in September.

The world No 1 was beaten in the China Open quarter-finals by Karolina Muchova, though bounced back to win her 17th career singles title at the Wuhan Open.

Those results were enough to guide her return to No 1, with Swiatek dropping more points than her due to WTA mandatory tournament rules.

Sabalenka will be the top seed at the WTA Finals in Riyadh, qualifying for the year-end championships for a fourth straight season.

The 26-year-old was beaten by Swiatek in the last four a year ago, with the Pole going on to take the title.

One round robin victory will likely be enough for Sabalenka to seal year-end No 1, with Swiatek needing to defend her title to have any realistic chance.

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