“She’s not in a rush,” Andy Roddick doesn’t think reclaiming No.1 ranking from Aryna Sabalenka is Iga Swiatek’s ‘priority’
Andy Roddick claimed that Iga Swiatek is not focusing on the World No. 1 ranking after losing the position to Aryna Sabalenka.
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Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka (via Tennis.com and Canalplus)
Andy Roddick doesn’t think Iga Swiatek would do anything in a rush to dethrone Aryna Sabalenka from the top position in the WTA Rankings to end the year as a No. 1 player. Sabalenka reclaimed the top position in spite of not playing a tournament last week.
Roddick recalled how the five-time Grand Slam champion had to win matches on the trot to save her position last year. He however doesn’t think year-end World No.1 ranking is Swiatek’s priority.
I like that she’s gotten to that point in her career where she’s taking the long view on this. She’s not in a rush to get it back. It’s obviously not a priority for her.
Andy Roddick said on his Served with Andy Roddick podcast
The 23-year-old, who has often complained of an exhausting tennis calendar hasn’t played a tournament since her quarterfinal exit at the US Open in August. During that time, she also parted ways with coach Tomasz Wiktorowski and chose not to play for two more weeks after announcing the split.
This allowed Sabalenka to reduce the gap and as Swiatek lost points for not featuring in mandatory tournaments, she was leapfrogged by the Belarusian.
Andy Roddick praises the rivalry between Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka
Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek have emerged as fierce rivals in recent years. They are entertaining the tennis community by giving each other tough competitions in the tournaments and Andy Roddick thinks fans are lucky to watch the rivalry between these two women.
One of the things I do want to point out in this whole scenario with Swiatek and Sabalenka is how lucky we are to actually have the same two players fighting for the top spot again, it’s a great rivalry. Both work hard.
Andy Roddick said on his podcast
Swiatek and Sabalenka met 12 times on the WTA Tour and the former leads their head-to-head encounter 8-4. In their last encounter in the semifinal of the Cincinnati Open, however, it was Sabalenka who prevailed in straight sets before lifting the title with a straight-set win over Jessica Pegula.
Although the Pole, who is 54/ 7 on the season, has won five titles this year which also includes the French Open, Sabalenka is the winner of two Grand Slam trophies. She defended her Australian Open crown before taking home her first US Open.
The 26-year-old last played the Wuhan Open which she won after beating home favorite Qinwen Zheng in three sets. She has clinched four titles this year and is 54/ 12 on the season.
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Gouri Das
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