No chance of number one? Aryna Sabalenka COVID-19 positive and out of Indian Wells
Aryna Sabalenka will have to bury her dreams of number one in 2021. The Belarusian has tested positive for COVID-19 and will therefore not be able to compete in the Indian Wells WTA 1000 event.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Oct 03, 2021, 07:49 am
The door was somewhat wide open for Aryna Sabalenka to crown her outstanding 2021 season with a place at the top of the WTA charts at the end of the year. After the current leader in the ranking, the Australian Ash Barty, announced her cancellation of the WTA 1000 event in Indian Wells, the Belarusian had a legitimate chance of overtaking Barty in the season finish.
Opportunities that have now fallen rapidly, as it became known on Sunday night. Sabalenka turned to her fans on Instagram, saying that she "unfortunately tested positive in Indian Wells" and that she would therefore not be able to start. She has already gone into self-isolation, where she will stay until she is dismissed by the health officials or doctors, assured the second in the world.
Barty, probably number one by the end of the year
Although she is currently feeling quite good, the disappointment about the cancellation of the 2021 edition of Indian Wells is huge, as Sabalenka emphasized. In the women's world rankings, the Belarusian is currently 2700 points behind the leader Ash Barty, who will probably end the year at the top of the WTA charts after the world rankings were canceled.
The first pursuer is now the surprising French Open winner from this year, Barbora Krejcikova, who could collect a whopping 1000 points for the ranking in California this season. Two years ago the Czech failed in the qualification in Indian Wells.