Iga Swiatek explains why rivalry with ‘great’ opponent Aryna Sabalenka is what ‘WTA has been missing’
Iga Swiatek is bidding to become the second woman since 2000 to clinch a tournament for the fourth time in a row.
Follow Us
Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek (Image via WTA/X)
Iga Swiatek has arrived in Doha for the season’s first WTA 1000 event. Ahead of her first-round match against an unseeded Maria Sakkari, Swiatek made her feelings known about her rivalry with Aryna Sabalenka.
Sabalenka, who lifted the Qatar Open in 2020, has also signed up for the first of the two consecutive WTA 1000 tournaments of the Middle East Swing. The Belarusian ace is eyeing her second title of the year following her victory at the Brisbane International.
Swiatek, who has to work harder to reclaim her top position in the WTA ranking by dethroning Sabalenka, admitted that her rivalry with the World No. 1 is what the WTA has been missing. Although the Pole is 8-4 against Sabalenka in the head-to-head meetings, it’s the three-time Grand Slam singles champion who won their last encounter in the 2024 Cincinnati Open semifinals.
And we’re both creating some great entertainment sometimes when we’re playing against each other. I think we are something WTA has been kind of missing for a while because we have this great rivalry, and the fans are excited every time they see both of us.
Iga Swiatek said at the press conference
The win over Swiatek in Cincinnati was the first time Sabalenka clinched a victory against the World No. 2 in 2024. Their final clash in the Madrid Open, that lasted for more than three hours and saw Swiatek save three championship points before emerging as champion, also won the WTA Match of the Year title.
Iga Swiatek searching for first title since 2024 French Open
Although Iga Swiatek is a three-time defending champion at the Qatar Open, she is yet to clinch a title since lifting her historic fourth French Open title last year. She breezed past Jasmine Paolini to win her third back-to-back trophy at Roland Garros.
Following the French Open, though Swiatek clinched the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics, on the WTA tour, she is trophy-less. The 23-year-old started her 2025 season at the United Cup.
But Team Poland suffered defeat in the final for the second time on the trot, this time, to Team USA. The five-time Grand Slam champion then targeted her first Australian Open title but fell to eventual winner Madison Keys in three sets in the semifinal.
One of the reasons behind her lack of trophies is the doping scandal. As Swiatek was contaminated with trimetazidine because of consuming sleep medication melatonin, she was provisionally suspended for three weeks, missing the entire Asian swing.
Stay Updated!
Gouri Das
(4844 Articles Published)