Billie Jean King Cup Finals match director Conchita Martinez praised Iga Swiatek as “a dominant participant” however added that she believes Aryna Sabalenka deserved to complete this season because the top-ranked participant within the recreation.
Final week in Riyadh, the Belarusian tennis star achieved for what she got here – she managed to seal the Yr-Finish No. 1 for the primary time in her profession. Now, the 26-year-old is about to enter 2025 with a stable lead as she has 9,416 rating factors whereas the second-ranked Pole has 8,370.
Simply 4 months earlier, Swiatek was up large on Sabalenka within the rankings and had the lead of greater than 4,000 factors. However then did not do properly on the US Open and in addition opted to skip your entire Asian swing and two WTA 1000 tournaments.
On the opposite facet, the Belarusian was busy making nice outcomes as she gained the US Open, Cincinnati and Wuhan in her final 5 tournaments performed. Additionally, she was a semifinalist on the WTA Finals and in addition reached the Beijing quarterfinal.
On the subject of Grand Slam success, Sabalenka was extra profitable in that division as properly this 12 months – she went all the way in which on the Australian Open and the US Open, whereas the Pole’s lone Main triumph got here on the French Open.
“Proper now, it’s clear that they’re the dominant gamers. Iga was very dominant by plenty of factors for some time, despite the fact that Aryna was very shut. There are plenty of nice gamers on the market that may do very properly. It will depend on so many issues however Iga was dominating, and I actually appreciated her consistency. I actually like how Aryna has gotten so significantly better in lots of elements of her recreation, fixing her serve, additionally her forehand may be very highly effective. She’s been enjoying finals, profitable tournaments, so she most likely deserves to be there, as a result of Iga didn’t play for a few months,” 1994 Wimbledon champion Martinez mentioned in Malaga.
Martinez: Sabalenka, Swiatek those to look at however do not write off Coco Gauff and Elena Rybakina
Though Gauff and Rybakina did not win any Slam titles this 12 months, there is no such thing as a doubt that they may nonetheless be thought of high contenders for the most important titles in 2025.
After struggling for a few months along with her outcomes, the American completed her season on a excessive after profitable Beijing and the WTA Finals. In the meantime, the Kazakh did not get to play a lot within the second a part of 2024 and total her 12 months was severely hampered by fixed accidents and diseases.
If the 2 keep away from any main setbacks, Martinez thinks they may pose an enormous menace to Sabalenka and Swiatek subsequent season.
“They (Aryna and Iga) are the gamers to look at, however there are different gamers like Coco who’s enjoying superb tennis in the meanwhile. She’s enjoying so nice, so I believe she will be able to additionally do very properly. Rybakina is up there if she will be able to repair her well being issues and play plenty of tournaments. She’s one participant that has already gained a Grand Slam and gained many tournaments. There are different gamers that may do very properly too – it’s going to be open like that,” the Spanish former world No. 2 added.
Swiatek admitted Sabalenka deserved the No. 1, Rybakina fired a warning to the Belarusian
After arriving to Riyadh for her first match because the US Open, the Polish tennis star informed reporters that her greatest rival deserved to exchange her on the high spot whereas she was sidelined.
“In fact we’re each preventing for the WTA No. 1. Sure, it was mainly us the previous few years. I’m within the match. In fact I wish to play my finest match right here and win this match. I’ll simply give attention to my first match and take every part step-by-step. Aryna is a superb participant, she deserves to be No. 1 on the planet. I’ll positively struggle to be there. It was good to coach along with her as a result of we’ve not achieved it for some time, most likely since 2022. It has been a very long time. I do not actually know why, but it surely was a extremely good coaching,” Swiatek defined.
A few days later – after Sabalenka sealed the Yr-Finish No. 1 battle – Rybakina defeated the three-time Grand Slam champion 6-4 3-6 6-1. After the match, the sixth-ranked Kazakh warned the Belarusian but in addition the remainder of the competitors that profitable Slams and reaching the highest spot for the primary time in her profession can be on the high of her listing in 2025.
“My targets are to win Slams, positively, and the principle aim is to grow to be No. 1 someday. So, hopefully subsequent 12 months,” the 2022 Wimbledon champion mentioned.
