Aryna Sabalenka is back in action this week, and she's bringing some serious momentum—and history—with her to the Italian Open in Rome. As the world number one and top seed, she's already made headlines before hitting a single ball, surpassing tennis legend Martina Hingis with her latest achievement on the WTA Tour.

Sabalenka has been granted a bye into the second round of this WTA 1000 event, where she'll face either Barbora Krejcikova or Elsa Jacquemot. It's a quick turnaround after a surprising loss to Hailey Baptiste in the Madrid Open quarterfinals, where she fell 2-6, 6-2, 7-6(8-6). But if there's one thing we know about Sabalenka, it's that she doesn't stay down for long.

Entering Rome, Sabalenka has locked in her 81st and 82nd consecutive weeks as world number one, moving her past Hingis's 80-week run from 1997 to 1998. That puts her in 10th place on the all-time list for longest consecutive stints at the top since the WTA rankings began in 1975. Next up on the horizon? Steffi Graf's 87-week streak from 1993 to 1995. Graf, of course, shares the all-time record with Serena Williams at an incredible 186 weeks—Graf from 1987 to 1991, and Williams from 2013 to 2016.

Right now, Sabalenka's top spot is secure, but the pressure could ramp up as the French Open approaches. Elena Rybakina is closing in, and both players have their sights set on Rome, where a potential final rematch looms. But first, Sabalenka has to navigate a challenging draw. She could face Sorana Cirstea or Magda Linette as early as the third round, with Linda Noskova or Clara Tauson waiting in round four. The quarterfinals might bring Amanda Anisimova, Belinda Bencic, or Qinwen Zheng, while a semifinal clash against Coco Gauff, Mirra Andreeva, or Jasmine Paolini is a real possibility.

For fans of the game—and of Sabalenka's powerful style—this is a tournament to watch. Whether she's chasing records or chasing titles, she's doing it in style, and we can't wait to see what she brings to the court next.