“I don’t want success to turn me into negative”

As is well known, this week, Iga Swiatek makes its debut at # 1, thanks to Ashleigh Barty’s shock withdrawal, about which everything has already been written (here, here, here and here if you want to retrieve some of the articles on this topic). Compared to other athletes who have alternated at # 2 in recent months (Krejcikova, Sabalenka), Swiatek is, in my opinion, the one most worthy of picking up Barty’s legacy. First of all, why arrives at # 1 after making the Sunshine Double, a feat that, in the women’s field, had so far only succeeded in Steffi Graf (twice, in 1994 and 1996), Kim Clijsters (2005) and Vika Azarenka (2016). Furthermore, the victory at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells represents the third consecutive WTA 1000 won by the Polishwho hasn’t lost in 17 matches.

The victory in Miami came without losing a set and trimming the opponents 6-0, one of which in the final to Naomi Osaka. Not a small thing for a twenty-year-old who could have been overwhelmed by the consequences of Barty’s retirement and who instead proved to be up to the pressure and attention that fell on her overnight. Perhaps those who complained of having lost a dominatrix, a point of reference, will be able to find it in Swiatek? Iga also consolidates its leadership in RACE, in which, we recall, he had already passed Barty last week. The Australian was the title holder in Florida and, if she stayed in the standings today, she would have climbed the 1000 points of the 2021 win and she would have dropped to 6980 points. The gap between her and Swiatek would have narrowed to just 269 points and the handover would probably only be a matter of time. Swiatek is the 28th athlete to reach the top of the ranking, the first Polish to reach this milestone. In the recent past, Agnieszka Radwaska had stopped in second place. As for our colors, the Miami tournament has reserved lights and shadows. Jasmine Paolini she did not manage to get through the first round, after the excellent tournament played in Indian Wells. On the other hand, Lucia Bronzetti she pushed her way up to the second round losing by measure against the revived Daria Gavrilova in Saville. Recall that this week, among others, the points of the Miami Open presented by Itaú 2021 were released. Let’s see how the ranking has changed today, April 4, 2022.

In top50, we note that:

• In top 10, Ashleigh Barty’s retirement shuffled the cards. We have already talked about the number one of Iga Swiatek. Behind the Polish, Barbora Krejcikova back to second position, Paula Badosa (+3, n.3) establishes its new best ranking, Maria Sakkarisemi-finalist in Miami in 2021, goes back to number 4. Both Anett Kontaveit (# 6) and Karolina Pliskova (# 7) advance by one place, gaining three Danielle Collinswho for the first time in his career finds himself at number 8 in the ranking.
• In the top20, Jelena Ostapenko (+1, n.11) is only 170 points from the top10. Best ranking for Cori Gauff (+2, # 15) And Jessica Pegula (+8, # 13)which falls into the top20, as well as Leylah Fernandez (+3, # 19). In free fall Elina Svitolina (-7, n.27)semifinalist in Florida a year ago, who comes out of the top twenty and announces that he wants to take a break from competitive activity.
• As for the other positions of the top50, Belinda Bencic (+7, # 21) is back close to the top20, after the semifinal in Miami. But it’s Naomi Osaka to record the longest leap: the finalist of this edition of the Miami Open puts 42 positions behind her and climbs to n.35. They also fall into the top50 Anhelina Kalinina (+9, n.42) And Katerina Siniakova (+8, # 45)while gaining 7 positions Alison Riske (n.43). They definitely lose altitude Sara Sorribes Tormo (-14, n.49)who fails to reconfirm the quarters a year ago in Miami, e Amanda Anisimova (-6, no.47). Both stop a step away from getting out of fifty.

Outside the top 50, the athletes who make the greatest progress are Aliaksandra Sasnovich (+9, n.51), Mayar Sherif (+12, n.61), Karolina Muchova (+7, n.67), Anna Kalinskaya (+8, # 76), Marie Bouzkova (+9, # 77), Lauren Davis (+12, # 82), Dalma Galfi (+10, # 97), and ours Lucia Bronzetti (+17, no.85), which finally manages to enter the top100. In great difficulty Ana Konjuh (-10, n.62) but above all they come out of the top100 Anastasija Sevastova (-29, b.114) And Bianca Andreescu (-75, b.119), respectively semifinalist and finalist in the 2021 edition of the Miami tournament. Finally, we report, behind the first hundred, the return of Daria Savillewhich rises to n.129 with a jump of 120 positions and 91 places in more than Linda Fruhvirtovawhich leads to n.188.

CASA ITALIA

As we have already pointed out at the beginning, Lucia Bronzetti (+17, n.85) manages to enter the top100, overtaking even Martina Trevisan (+2, n.86). Loses three places Jasmine Paolini (48)earns one Camila Giorgi (# 30). In the rear, we point out the 41 places left on the street by Giulia Gatto-Monticone (# 254), 10 less than Stefania Rubini (n.412), and 16 more than Lisa Pigato (no.398).

NEXT GEN RANKING

This week enters the Next Gen ranking for the first time (the ranking of players born after 1st January 2002) Olivia Gadecki, who takes the place of sixteen-year-old Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva. The young Australian makes her debut directly at n.9. There are no variations between the top positions: she commands Emma Raducanu as usual over Cori Gauff and Leylah Fernandez.

THE RACE

In command, as already mentioned, there is Iga Swiatek with an advantage of 2310 points over the second, Maria Sakkari. It goes up three places Danielle Collins (n.3) and six positions Jessica Pegula (# 9). They enter the top twenty of the RACE Names Osaka (+37, n.11), Belinda Bencic (+23, # 14) And Petra Kvitova (+10, 20).