Jessica Pegula is within striking distance of overtaking Iga Swiatek for the World No. 2 spot following her recent victory at the WTA 500 Charleston Open. The American has claimed four titles and reached four other finals over the past 12 months, showcasing remarkable consistency.
Meanwhile, Swiatek faces a challenging road ahead. Due to her dominant performance during last year’s clay swing — which included titles at the Madrid Open, Italian Open, and Roland Garros — the Polish star is defending a massive number of ranking points. This leaves her with almost no room to improve her current total.
As of Monday, April 7, Swiatek holds 7,470 ranking points compared to Pegula’s 6,101 — a gap of 1,369. While still significant, Swiatek’s inability to gain additional points unless she surpasses her 2024 results opens the door for Pegula to narrow the gap even further.
Swiatek’s 2024 clay season was near-flawless. She compiled a 21-1 record, winning 42 of 47 sets, and racked up 4,195 points out of a possible 4,500. Her only loss came in the Stuttgart semifinals to Elena Rybakina, but she rebounded with a 19-match winning streak that included WTA 1000 triumphs in Madrid and Rome, and her fourth Roland Garros crown, where she defeated Jasmine Paolini in the final.
In contrast, Pegula enters this year’s clay swing with a clean slate. She missed most of last year’s clay events due to injury, participating only in Charleston. That gives her a valuable opportunity to accumulate points with no defenses. Her upcoming schedule mirrors Swiatek’s — Charleston, Stuttgart, Madrid, Rome, and Roland Garros — offering a maximum of 3,500 points from those events alone.
Earlier this year, the gap between the two players was over 3,200 points — Swiatek had 7,970, and Pegula 4,705. But thanks to Pegula’s steady rise and Swiatek’s limited point-earning potential, the difference has shrunk by nearly 2,000 points.
Now, with momentum on her side and no points to defend, Pegula has a real shot at reaching a career-high World No. 2 — potentially ending Swiatek’s two-year reign in the top two, which began in April 2022.
