Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka have taken their tennis to new heights in recent months and both feel their rivalry has been key to their individual success.
The pair have dominated women’s tennis over the past year as they are the only two players to be ranked No 1 and No 2 although Swiatek has ruled the roost when it comes to topping the rankings as she has been top of the WTA Rankings since November last year.
On the court they have met 11 times with Swiatek also dominating their head-to-head as she leads 8-3, including their two most recent outings in the Madrid Open and Italian Open finals.
There are high hopes that they will meet for a 12th time in the final at Roland Garros in a fortnight, but there is no doubt they are pushing each other to constantly improve.
“For sure when we play against each other, I feel like it’s a challenge,” Swiatek said. “I think it’s also pushing me to become better and better player, so I think we both kind of need each other to grow.
“But for sure this rivalry is exciting for the fans, as well. I guess if it’s going to go to history books, they’re also going to have some impact on it.”
Reigning Australian Open champion Sabalenka, whose last win over the Pole came at the 2023 Madrid Open final, shared the four-time Grand Slam winner’s sentiments.
“I think that’s amazing the rivalry we are having with Iga,” the Belarusian said. “She definitely motivates me a lot to get better, and I think I improve so many things just because of her.
“She kind of like pointed out the things I wasn’t good at and motivated me to get better at.”
She added: “I would also mention Elena [Rybakina]; and there are so many girls who are doing so well, like Coco [Gauff]. It’s not just two of us.”
Could the rivalry reach the levels of Chris Evert v Martina Navratilova; Steffi Graf v Monica Seles; Roger Federer v Rafael Nadal; or Nadal v Novak Djokovic?
Swiatek said: “We’ll see about if it’s going to go to history books, because honestly, I don’t think either I or Aryna are focusing on that.
“We are more focusing on our own journeys. But for sure if you are going to play well, and we are playing well consistently, we will face each other in important matches.
“I think it’s great, because she’s No 2 for a long time and she has already proven that she can play great tennis.”