On Monday, the WTA will have a new No.1 player, for the first time after 75 weeks. Aryna Sabalenka will replace Iga Swiatek on the top and world No.5 Ons Jabeur is happy about it.
Having narrowly missed the chance to dethrone Swiatek at the previous two Grand Slams, Sabalenka is finally seizing the opportunity, helped by Jelena Ostapenko who upset Swiatek in the fourth round. Jabeur is aware of all the instances this career milestone slipped through Sabalenka’s fingers, so the Tunisian praises her colleague’s new achievement, with a hilarious statement:
I’m so happy for Aryna […] I think she deserves to be No.1. She deserved that a long time ago […] I honestly love how Aryna plays with passion on the court. You can feel it. Hopefully she’ll stay No.1 for… hm, until I get there, and take her place.
Ons Jabeur hopes Aryna Sabalenka will stay #1 until she becomes #1:
“I’m so happy for Aryna.. I think she deserves to be #1. She deserved that a long time ago.. I honestly love how Aryna plays with passion on the court. You can feel it. Hopefully she’ll stay #1… until I get… pic.twitter.com/pmKGCf48LB
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 5, 2023
The three-time Grand Slam finalist Jabeur was one spot away from becoming the WTA No.1, as she reached the No.2 position in June 2022.
