Aryna Sabalenka Hopes to Play Iga Swiatek ‘Many More Times This Season’ Ahead of the Australian Open

Aryna Sabalenka to kick off her Australian Open campaign against Tiantsoa Sarah Rakotomanga Rajaonah.

Aryna Sabalenka Hopes to Play Iga Swiatek ‘Many More Times This Season’ Ahead of the Australian Open

Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek (Image via X/The Tennis Letter, Iga archive)

The Australian Open is set to kick off on Sunday (January 18) in Melbourne, and rivals are preparing to clash once again. Aryna Sabalenka has admitted she’s preparing to face her rival Iga Swiatek more often this season, after they met only once in 2025.

Swiatek has been right behind Sabalenka in the WTA rankings since she lost the No.1 position to Sabalenka. Sabalenka has performed more consistently than Swiatek, who has struggled since the 2024 season. The rivalry between the two players has heated up in the past few weeks.

The 24-year-old took some personal shots at Sabalenka for her role in the controversial Battle of the Sexes exhibition match against Nick Kyrgios. The World No. 2 said the match didn’t bring any social change to the sport compared to the second edition between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs.

Swiatek currently leads their head-to-head record on tour, 8-5. However, their only meeting last season came on the clay courts in the semi-finals of Roland Garros, which Sabalenka won in three sets, including a complete bagel in the decider. Of course, at the Australian Open, the two are seeded on opposite sides of the draw.

Sabalenka and Swiatek would meet only if they advance to the final in Melbourne. During Sabalenka’s press conference, she revealed that the rivalry isn’t only about her and Swiatek. She added that she hopes to face the Polish star more in the 2026 season on tour:

It’s not only about me and Iga. There’s Coco, Elena, Jessica.. I don’t want to forget about anyone right now. It’s not only about me and her. It’s crazy to think we only played once last year. We haven’t played this year yet. I hope we’re gonna play more often this season. As I said, it’s not only about us. There are so many players I also have a great rivalry with.

Sabalenka claimed four titles on the court last year, having reached nine singles finals. The World No.1 didn’t win the Australian Open last January as she lost in the final against American star Madison Keys in three sets. She reached two more Grand Slam finals but won only the US Open.

Aryna Sabalenka hopes to do better should she reach the Australian Open finals this year

Aryna Sabalenka was in tears after losing to Madison Keys at the Australian Open last January. The World No.1 was the favorite to win the title, having played sensationally well in every match en route to the final. The Brisbane International champion looked unstoppable throughout the tournament, which was tipped to be won for the third consecutive time.

Aryna Sabalenka Brisbane International 2026
Aryna Sabalenka (image via Instagram @arynasabalenka)

But a series of mistakes against Keys led to her loss. During the aforementioned press conference, she noted that it was difficult for her to accept her loss against Keys in the Melbourne final. She added that she hopes she does better at this year’s edition of the tournament should she get to the final:

Losing the final last year to Keys was very painful. She played at a very high level, she outplayed me, and it was very difficult to accept. I had a tough time for a while after that match. I hope I can do better this year.

Sabalenka will open her campaign at the Australian Open against Tiantsoa Sarah Rakotomanga Rajaonah. She could face Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova or a qualifier in the second round before a potential third-round clash with Emma Raducanu, who failed to get past the third round of any Grand Slam last year. Should she win those matches, she could face either Clara Tauson or Victoria Mboko in the fourth round.

Also Read: Kim Clijsters Explains How Coco Gauff is Putting Iga Swiatek ‘Out of Balance’ After Latest Defeat