Iga Swiatek extended her lead as the World No 1 with a thrilling win in Madrid, now 3,412 points ahead of Aryna Sabalenka.
I’m no longer just a tennis player. My role is not as easy as I imagined, dreaming of a career as a 12-year-old. Iga Świątek
For the past 66 weeks, Swiatek and Sabalenka have dominated the rankings, but Sabalenka now faces a challenge from Coco Gauff, trailing by only 185 points.
Swiatek is a superstar, especially in Poland, where she graces the cover of Elle magazine in the ‘sport and chic issue’ this week.
The last time Swiatek appeared on Elle Poland’s cover was 2 years ago, wearing a ruffled two-piece black outfit.
This year, in Elle’s June issue, Swiatek displays a more mature style and tone in her interview.
“Two years ago, I wanted to prove that I was in a good place, I didn’t feel like a fully experienced competitor. I was learning to face the first wave of success and expectations associated with it,” the 4-time Grand Slam champion tells editor-in-chief Marta Tabiś-Szymanek on the magazine’s Instagram.
“I’m no longer just a tennis player. My role is not as easy as I imagined, dreaming of a career as a 12-year-old.”
Styled by Karolina Limbach and photographed by Gosia Turczyńska, Swiatek models for a pair of covers.
In the first, she wears a classy black ballgown, with a high neck and one long sleeve, a cutout at the waist, and her hair pulled back.
In the second cover, she poses with one arm above her head, in a striking red dress.
Her light makeup is by Lancôme, one of her first appearances after becoming an ambassador for the beauty brand last month.
Swiatek leads the field at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome and is the defending champion at the French Open.
Meanwhile, this week’s rankings see Stuttgart finalist Marta Kostyuk make her Top 20 debut this week and Dubai champion Jasmine Paolini climbs to No 12 thanks to her 4th-round run in Madrid.
Four promising teenagers made an impact in Madrid, with Sara Bejlek rising to a new career high, and wild-cards Robin Montgomery, Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva, and Alexandra Eala achieving notable wins.
Other notable rankings movements include Marketa Vondrousova, who rises to No 6, Zheng Qinwen to No 7, and Maria Sakkari dropping to No 8. Madison Keys moves to No 16, with Yulia Putintseva and Sara Sorribes Tormo also making significant climbs.
Naomi Osaka, a former World No 1, showed improvement on clay in Madrid and moved up in the rankings.
