Aryna Sabalenka begins her 50th career week ranked No. 1 on the WTA Tour, a significant milestone achieved without participating in this year’s Montreal tournament. These 50 weeks at the summit of women’s tennis come across two distinct periods: an initial eight-week run from September 11 to November 5, 2023, and a current streak of 42 consecutive weeks since October 21, 2024.

Sabalenka, a three-time Grand Slam champion, is the 14th player in WTA history to reach the 50-week threshold at No. 1 since the rankings were introduced in 1973. Currently, she holds a commanding lead with 12,420 ranking points, sitting 4,751 points clear of second-placed Coco Gauff, who has 7,669 points.

With title defenses looming at Cincinnati and the US Open worth a combined 3,000 points, Sabalenka looks poised to maintain her top ranking through the summer hard-court season, which begins later this week in Cincinnati.

This week also marks Sabalenka’s 200th career week inside the WTA’s Top 5 rankings. She initially entered the elite group on May 10, 2021, following her first Madrid title, and this current stretch is her longest ongoing tenure in the Top 5. Notably, she has spent 149 of these 200 weeks ranked within the Top 2.

The North American hard court swing, anchored by ATP and WTA Masters 1000 events in Toronto and Montreal respectively, is an essential precursor to the US Open. This summer’s tournaments have raised more questions than answers about home court advantage and player readiness.

In Washington, D.C., a tournament steeped in history and significance for American players, the expected home boost was conspicuously absent. Frances Tiafoe, a local favorite, entered the competition feeling “locked in” and highly motivated, yet was ultimately defeated by fellow American Ben Shelton. Venus Williams, making a notable comeback at age 45, expressed her passion for playing on U.S. soil, but American men and women alike struggled to progress deep into the draw. Top seeds Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro exited in early rounds, while Leylah Fernandez from Canada claimed the women’s title.

The Canadian Open’s early rounds have also defied traditional expectations regarding home advantage. Canadian stars Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-Aliassime failed to advance far, with surprising performances from young wild cards and lower seeds. On the women’s side, 18-year-old Victoria Mboko impressed by defeating top seed Coco Gauff, but overall Canadian women recorded just three wins, including veteran performances by Bianca Andreescu and Eugenie Bouchard.

Several players commented on the peculiar behavior of the Wilson US Open balls, which some described as “very fast” and difficult to control, influencing a higher rate of double faults and erratic play. Taylor Fritz highlighted the challenge, stating, “These are for sure the hardest balls to control that we play with all year.”

Looking ahead, the return of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner at Cincinnati adds a compelling dynamic. Both men have proven records at this stage of the season and carry heavy expectations following their Roland Garros encounter. Analysts continue to debate their potential invincibility, but fatigue and surface conditions may level the field as the US Open approaches.

Iga Swiatek stands as the leading contender on the women’s side, showcasing dominant form in Montreal before a tough loss to Clara Tauson. Her adaptation to the speedier balls and courts will be crucial as she aims to maintain momentum.

As the final Grand Slam of the season draws near, players and fans alike must temper their enthusiasm with pragmatism, acknowledging the unique challenges posed by conditions and competition in this critical stretch.

Clara Tauson’s recent victory over Iga Swiatek in the fourth round of the Canadian Open marked a significant milestone for the Danish player. Overcoming the sixth seed in straight sets, 7-6(1), 6-3, Tauson exacted revenge for her defeat at Wimbledon just four weeks earlier and ended a four-match losing streak against the former world No. 1.

Tauson earned an early break in the first set but was broken back while serving at 5-4. Undeterred, she claimed the set in a decisive tiebreak. In the second set, the Dane appeared more composed, breaking twice and asserting greater control before closing out the match.

Reflecting on the contest, Tauson said, “I mean, I knew that she was going to keep fighting. Obviously, she’s a champion, and they never stop fighting. I didn’t even feel too bad about getting broken there, because I felt like I was playing the right way.” She added,

“I had a little bit of the upper hand in the end of the set. I think I showed that I can keep cool under pressure.”

This run marks Tauson’s second WTA 1000 quarterfinal appearance, following her finals appearance in Dubai earlier this year. It also marks her second career win over a top-five opponent and fifth over a top-10 player. Among other notable achievements this season, she joins Madison Keys, Mirra Andreeva, Coco Gauff, and Jelena Ostapenko as one of the only players to have defeated both Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek.

With this result, Tauson will reach a career-high ranking of at least No. 17, surpassing her previous best by two positions. “It’s my second win like that in my career and second win like that this year,” she noted, reflecting on her earlier victory over world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in Dubai.

Looking ahead, Tauson will face Madison Keys in the quarterfinals, a player she defeated earlier this year in Auckland with a 6-4, 7-6(7) result. Tauson’s rising confidence and composure under pressure make her a formidable contender moving forward in the tournament.