Garbine Muguruza, the Wimbledon champion from earlier this season, went out of the 2017 US Open on Sunday evening in New York. The result sends Petra Kvitova through to the quarterfinals where she will next face Venus Williams for a spot in the tournament's semifinals. Muguruza appeared to be the player most likely to emerge as the World No. 1 player after Flushing Meadows. She may still do that. However, The Spaniard now needs to hope for results in some upcoming matches, and she no longer has a say in what happens in future rounds herself.
Venus Williams no longer in contention
When it comes to the World No. 1 ranking situation fans should know that Venus Williams is no longer in the picture for the September 11th rankings. Those are the rankings that will be posted next Monday with the results from Flushing Meadows factored in. Williams was in the picture to start the tournament. However, Muguruza went a little too far for the American to stay in contention. Even if Williams wins the title, she will not be the World No. 1.
Muguruza, Svitolina, or Pliskova to be No. 1
The players that remain in the picture are Muguruza, Elina Svitolina, and current World No. 1 Karolina Pliskova. Muguruza would be No. 1 if Svitolina fell before the semifinals and if Pliskova fell before the final.
However, if the Ukrainian makes the semifinals and/or Pliskova makes the final, then there's no way Muguruza can be No. 1 in the post-US Open rankings. In this way, she lost control over her destiny as she needs other players to knock these players out and cannot obtain more points through her own racket.
Svitolina and Pliskova are largely in a who-lasts-longer battle for a higher ranking between themselves.
Both players will contest fourth-round matches on Monday from Flushing Meadows, Svitolina against Madison Keys and Pliskova against Jennifer Brady. Between the two it's the Ukrainian player that looks to be in tough as Keys has to be considered a more talented player than Brady. But it is possible that Pliskova and Svitolina could meet in the semifinals.
That match-up would eliminate Muguruza from contention for the top spot and would be a high-drama match: not only would a spot on the final be at stake but the World No. 1 ranking would as well.
Muguruza on No.1 ranking: “I guess I’ll be keeping an eye on the results.” Can still be No.1 on Monday pending Svitolina & Pliskova results.
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) September 4, 2017
However, neither player can afford to look that far ahead at the current US Open. At present, it's hard to guess who will be No. 1 after Flushing Meadows, but it still actually might be Muguruza despite her losing to Kvitova. Pliskova needs to win three matches, or Svitolina needs to win two. It's really hard to say whether either player will do that.
Certainly, neither Pliskova nor Svitolina is so dominant as to be rock-solid favorites in any match at this point in a major. Muguruza's Wimbledon title still looms large in the rankings, especially since the other Grand Slam champions this year are not in the picture for the top spot.
