Why Aryna Sabalenka overtook Iga Swiatek for world number one in the WTA rankings.

Sabalenka, who has won two Grand Slam titles in a sterling season, has been engaged in a battle for supremacy with Swiatek — who has a Grand Slam title of her own, and five titles in 2024 to Sabalenka’s four — all year. It was expected to run until the season-ending WTA Tour Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, next month, where Swiatek is defending champion.

Instead, Swiatek lost 120 ranking points in the latest update, and Sabalenka lost 10, leading to her leapfrogging her rival to start her ninth career week as the top-ranked women’s tennis player in the world.

But neither player took part in a tournament last week, so what happened?