ATP & WTA rankings

[Suliso]

Let's have a look at the race rankings before the QF's. WTA finals will take place and there is a limited number of tournaments to add serious points after USO. Only one 1000 level (Guadalajara) and three 500 level events. Bolded players still alive in the USO.

Iga Swiatek 7800 (Q)
Ons Jabeur 3436
Jessica Pegula 3042
Daria Kasatkina 2831
Coco Gauff 2793
Simona Halep 2661
Maria Sakkari 2358
Caroline Garcia 2356
----
Aryna Sabalenka 2331
Veronika Kudermetova 2313

Everyone still alive in USO and sufficiently close: Danielle Collins 1997, Petra Kvitova 1939, Ludmilla Samsonova 1337, Shuai Zhang 1445, Victoria Azarenka 1246, Alison Riske 1180, Karolina Pliskova 1127, Ajla Tomljanovic 1095

[Suliso]

I would say that realistically everyone down to Gauff is safely in. Halep and Sakkari however could still miss out.

[ponchi101]

And Kontaveit is going to be very hard pressed to repeat her scorching last three months from last season.
As you said yesterday, Mugu will most likely drop of the top 20, and I would say even farther. She plays a limited schedule but after yesterday's loss, she may have to reconsider that.

[Suliso]

Alcaraz or Ruud title would make either man #1. If neither wins Nadal is back at #1 despite today's defeat.

[meganfernandez]

Alcaraz or Ruud title would make either man #1. If neither wins Nadal is back at #1 despite today's defeat.

I think we can safely say Ruud is not going to win the title. Alcaraz might.

[ponchi101]

Kyrgios beats Alcaraz in the final, making Rafa #1.

[Deuce]

Alcaraz or Ruud title would make either man #1. If neither wins Nadal is back at #1 despite today's defeat.

I think we can safely say Ruud is not going to win the title.

^ Why would anyone say that?
He's a top 10 player, and has as good a shot as anyone else.

Thus far, pretty much all of the predictions I've seen on this board for this tournament have been proven wrong.

[Suliso]

With this win Ruud has risen to #2 in the live rankings (#4 in the race) and can fall no lower than #3.

[ti-amie]

[Suliso]

Iga has achieved a bit of a separation between her and Ons in #2 (10,365 vs 5,090)...

Here are the top 8 and few closest followers fighting for WTA finals spot. Unlike for men I expect all to play.

Swiatek 9560 (Q)
Jabeur 4496 (Q)
Pegula 3232
Gauff 2983
Garcia 2896
Sabalenka 2871
Kasatkina 2831
Halep 2661
---
Sakkari 2358
Kudermetova 2313
Badosa 2264
Keys 2214
Bencic 2197

Everyone else is under 2,000 points and probably has no realistic chance considering how few tournaments are left.

[meganfernandez]

Iga has achieved a bit of a separation between her and Ons in #2 (10,365 vs 5,090)...

Here are the top 8 and few closest followers fighting for WTA finals spot. Unlike for men I expect all to play.

Swiatek 9560 (Q)
Jabeur 4496 (Q)
Pegula 3232
Gauff 2983
Garcia 2896
Sabalenka 2871
Kasatkina 2831
Halep 2661
---
Sakkari 2358
Kudermetova 2313
Badosa 2264
Keys 2214
Bencic 2197

Everyone else is under 2,000 points and probably has no realistic chance considering how few tournaments are left.

Wonder how much Iga will play this fall. She doesn't need to play before the WTA finals, but will want some indoor matches before the finals.

[ponchi101]

I say she plays a regular schedule. She has no injuries to tend to, and no reason NOT to play. It will not be week after week, but there are some interesting tournaments there.
And if she wins the finals, she will have achieved a very, very good year for anybody. At age 20, that means that she may be on her way to several years of clear dominance.
And time to re-think her final slam total. In the same way that Naomi's total has to be re-assessed (I say she will recover, but she is no longer a candidate for double digits), Iga looks like the only current player that will reach that level.
Of course, one good year does not mean much, but right now, she is the best bet for the 6+ group.

[JTContinental]

Swiatek seems to prefer to be playing so I think she'll play a full fall slate.

[Deuce]

I don't see Swiatek headed for 'clear dominance' over the next few years... I think other players will figure her out, and that'll bring her back towards the pack.
She may end up being #1 for more time than any other player over the next 5 years, but if that happens, she won't be a dominant #1.

[ti-amie]