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By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Monday May 8, 2023

 
Aryna Sabalenka

After winning her maiden major title, Aryna Sabalenka has continued to evolve as a force on tour.

Photo Source: Getty

In February, in the wake of her maiden Grand Slam triumph in Australia, Aryna Sabalenka was asked what her next big goal was. She didn’t hesitate, saying that she would like to pursue the No.1 ranking.

Tennis Express

“It’s going to be really tough and that’s why I really want to achieve it, because it seems impossible but I want to make it possible,” Sabalenka said. “I want more. More motivation to work hard, just to feel it again.”

Three months later she is making her case, loud and clear. A wide gap still exists between Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek, but the Belarusian, who earned her first career clay-court victory over Swiatek in Saturday’s Madrid final, has trimmed the gap significantly and could do more of the same in the weeks and months to come.

On March 6, prior to Indian Wells, Sabalenka was 4485 points behind Swiatek. As of Monday that gulf has been trimmed to just 1744 points. Things could get more interesting in the month of May, as Sabalenka is defending 480 points at Rome (350) and Roland-Garros (130), while Swiatek is defending the full 3,000.

Editor's Note: Sabalenka leads the Race to WTA Final standings with 4830 points; Rybakina is second with 3276 and Swiatek is third with 2930.

After that will be grass season, where Swiatek struggles and both players will not be defending any points at Wimbledon. Sabalenka is defending just 181 points on grass this summer, so a lot will depend on how each player performs at Wimbledon.

No matter what happens, tons of credit needs to go to Sabalenka for giving the people what they want: a rivalry at the top of the game. This time last year there was such a yawning gap between Swiatek and the rest of the field, but not anymore.

It was noteworthy that the World No.1 and World No.2 matched up head-to-head in consecutive finals on clay this spring – it marked just the fourth time that the WTA’s top two players have played multiple finals on clay in 40 years. Sabalenka is proud to be a part of that history.


“I think that's something amazing,” she said. “I think women's tennis needs this kind of consistency to see world No. 1 and world No. 2 facing each other in the finals.

“I think it's more enjoyable for fans to watch and it's more intense. I'm not saying that it's not intense with the rest of the players anyway. If a player reaches the final, it means that she’s in good shape and it's going to be tough. But I think when people see these kinds of finals, it makes them want to see this battle – hopefully we can keep doing what we are doing this season.”

It remains to be seen if Sabalenka can continue her momentum on the red clay of Rome and Roland-Garros. She has only won 11 of 20 matches at those two venues over the course of her career. Meanwhile, Swiatek is 31-3 at the two iconic tournaments, with four titles. She’s the defending champion at both.

Swiatek’s invincible aura has been chipped away by Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka in 2023, but the challenge will get tougher on the slower surfaces in play at Rome and Paris.

For Sabalenka to win in Madrid, where the altitude enhances her booming game, is one thing. For her to do the same over the next three weeks it will be entirely another.

Either way, she’s put her money where her mouth is after winning her first major title, and made an impressive push closer to Swiatek in the rankings. She’s looking more and more like a Hall of Famer – and future No.1 – every day.

Now let’s see what tomorrow brings.

 

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