After a surprise first-round exit at this year’s Wimbledon, Coco Gauff regained her footing at the Cincinnati Open in Ohio. The American tennis icon breezed to the semi-finals before facing her biggest challenge yet, Jasmine Paolini. The Italian got the better of the world no. 2 in their previous two clashes, and this time it was no different, giving Iga Swiatek the opening she needed.
The 2025 Wimbledon champ had already climbed to the world WTA rankings after her maiden win in London. Now, with Coco Gauff falling to Paolini, the Polish tennis star was just one win away from climbing past Gauff in the ranking as well. And guess what? The Wimbledon champion barely broke a sweat, P&G Center Court beating the No. 8 Italian in straight sets. Naturally, the Cincinnati win begged the Aryna Sabalenka question.
That question came when Iga Swiatek sat down with the Tennis Channel desk after her second big win in a month. “Do you have your eye on the number one ranking for the end of the year?” asked the host. However, the 24-year-old didn’t have a black and white answer for the interviewer. “Honestly, if I’m going to play well, it’s going to be an effect of that,” Swiatek said during the interview.
“I’m just focusing on being a better player, and I’m not that kind of person that focuses on the rankings anyway,” Iga Swiatek told the Tennis Channel during her post-match interview. For now, the Ayrna Sbalaenka sits atop the women’s world rankings list despite making it only as far as the Cincinnati Open quarter final against Elena Rybakina.
CINCINNATI, OH – AUGUST 17: Iga Swiatek of Poland reacts after winning her semifinal match at the Cincinnati Open at the Lindner Family Tennis Center on August 17, 2025 in Mason, OH. Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire TENNIS: AUG 17 Cincinnati Open EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon250817008
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