With the sidelined Serena Williams about to have a baby, five players have a chance to grab the world number one ranking at this week’s US Open tuneup event in Cincinnati.
Serena, a 23-time Grand Slam champion who announced her pregnancy and the end of her season in April, owned the top spot for 186 consecutive weeks through last September, matching Steffi Graf for an Open Era record, and traded the spot with Germany’s Angelique Kerber earlier this year.
Defending Cincinnati champion Karolina Pliskova took over the top spot five weeks ago but will lose points from her title run, opening the door for rivals to overtake her. Romania’s second-ranked Simona Halep, world number three Kerber, Ukraine’s fourth-rated Elina Svitolina and fifth-ranked Dane Caroline Wozniacki could claim the top spot.
“Nothing has changed. I have a big responsibility. I’ll do everything as I have before,” Pliskova said. “I do think it’s a huge thing but I don’t want to do anything just because of the rankings. I don’t try to behave differently. I try not to see the pressure,” she said.
Pliskova has won titles this year at Brisbane, Doha and Eastbourne but anything short of a repeat gives Halep a chance to reach number one by winning the title. “To be number one in the world is a big thing. It shows you have been consistent. You have won the place. If I deserve the place, for sure I will win it,” Halep said.
The Romanian however remains haunted by a French Open finals loss to Jelena Ostapenko in which she was up a set and a break before squandering a chance at her first Grand Slam title and number one. “I still have bad dreams about that. I still suffer,” Halep said.
She’s also trying to forget a 6-1, 6-1 loss to Svitolina in the Toronto semi-finals, one for which she apologized to spectators on Monday. “I was really disappointed. It was a horror match for me,” Halep said. “I couldn’t feel the ball. I can’t say I wasn’t ready to play. It never happened to me before, not like that.”
Svitolina, 22, has won titles this year in Taiwan, Dubai, Istanbul, Rome and Toronto. She credits Dubai with inspiration but improved in her Canada title run last week. “The title in Dubai really gave me that push. I played great,” Svitolina said, “But this tournament in Toronto showed me I can go there not playing my best and fight back and still be able to win the title. It’s one more step in a good direction.”
Svitolina’s hot season has inspired her to aim big. “It’s very special. It gives me more energy to go for more,” Svitolina said. She needs a title and Pliskova out before the semi-finals to reach number one. “I know this but I try not to put so much pressure on myself. Of course to be number one is a goal of mine. The important thing is to play well,” Svitolina said.
“I know it’s very close for everyone. I’d prefer to play well at big tournaments. Then the ranking will be there.” Kerber and Wozniacki need Pliskova to crash out in her opening match to have a chance at number one this week. And while Spain’s sixth-ranked Garbine Muguruza, can’t overtake now, she would be a threat to do so at the US Open.
“It’s going to be a battle,” she said. “I like that I’m part of it and it’s going to be a big thing. Now I feel like I’ve got to play. I can’t miss a tournament. If I do I’m gone.”