Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek will meet again in one of the most anticipated matches of the year — the Roland Garros semifinal. The two tennis stars, currently holding the top two spots in the WTA rankings, have built a fierce rivalry, one that has grown both on and off the court.
Sabalenka, who currently holds the World No. 1 ranking, shared some insight into her evolving relationship with Swiatek ahead of their high-stakes semifinal clash.
“Before, there wasn’t any communication or any practices with her, but now we are getting better,” Sabalenka said. “We get along better, and we practice more often, and we know each other quite well. We’ve had a lot of great battles in the past.”
Swiatek, the reigning World No. 2 and three-time French Open champion, leads their head-to-head record with 6 wins to Sabalenka’s 3.
However, their last few encounters have been closely contested, including last year’s Madrid Open final thriller, which Sabalenka won in three sets.
Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek: Rivalry Renewed on Clay
With the intense rivalry that has been taking shape, this semifinal match will mark their tenth meeting and the fourth time they’ve played on clay, a surface where Swiatek has often had the upper hand.
At Roland Garros, Swiatek’s dominance is well known. The Polish star has a 27-2 win-loss record at the tournament and is widely seen as the queen of clay.
However, Sabalenka has improved significantly on this surface, reaching the Roland Garros semifinals for the second straight year.
That’s not all; their rivalry goes beyond stats. Despite being on-court rivals, both players have begun to build a more open and friendly dynamic. Their recent joint practice sessions and mutual praise hint at a growing camaraderie that adds an interesting layer to their clashes.
With the stakes higher than ever, and a place in the French Open final on the line, fans can expect another epic chapter in this evolving tennis rivalry.
