Muguruza’s No.1 ranking under threat?

Three players can steal Garbine Muguruza’s world No.1 ranking with a strong run at the China Open this week.

Illness derailed Muguruza’s campaign, forcing her to retire in her first round match against Czech Barbora Strycova. It means the Spaniard’s four-week reign will end if one of the following scenarios eventuate:

• Elina Svitolina will become world No.1 if she wins the title.
• World No.2 Simona Halep will become No.1 by making the final. If Svitolina also makes the final, Halep would need to win the title to secure the No.1 spot.
• Karolina Pliskova can guarantee a return to No.1 if she wins the title.

Halep has come within one win of rising to the coveted position three times this season, only to falter each time. She admitted the pressure had taken a toll so was refusing to think about the ranking scenario this week.

“I had a little bit of pressure before this tournament and I didn’t feel great so I just took it away, the pressure, and I’m not thinking about that anymore,” the Romanian said.

The table below breakdowns potential ranking points each player can still earn this week: