Former WTA number one Iga Swiatek faced her fair share of setbacks this season, but she is determined to make her next year unforgettable. With Swiatek’s sights focused on the Melbourne Major, she has already begun intense practice sessions. Meanwhile, her new coach, Wim Fissette, shed light on her biggest rival on the court — and his response will definitely surprise all!

Swiatek had ups and downs throughout her 2024 season. Despite winning the French and the Italian Open, this Polish player faced a setback in the US Open and was spotted emotional after exiting Flushing Meadows in the quarterfinals. However, her misery didn’t end there as she failed a doping test in August due to contaminated melatonin which brought her suspension. Swiatek was disappointed, but then she worked on her mindset and started preparing for the 2025 Melbourne Major. The WTA star also hired prominent coach Wim Fissette showcasing her keen desire to win more Major titles in the upcoming season.

Fissette appeared in an interview and was asked questions about his new pupil. Swiatek’s coach perplexed tennis community with his response about Swiatek’s biggest competitor at the moment. In his response, Fissette took Elena Rybakina’s name. The Polish player has met the Kazakh WTA star six times on tour till May 2024, and Swiatek could only manage to win two matches over her. Their rivalry became the talk of the town when Rybakina defeated Swiatek in the semifinal of the Stuttgart Open. It was the Polish player’s first loss at the tournament.

Wim Fissette’s response intrigued the fraternity as they thought Aryna Sabalenka was Swiatek’s biggest competitor. Sabalenka snatched the number-one position from Swiatek this season. They have met 12 times on the court with Swiatek leading the head-to-head with 8 victories. Some people also thought of 2024 WTA Tour finals champion Coco Gauff. These two players have met 13 times on the court with the Polish player leading with 11 victories.

Although Fissette mentioned Rybakina and Swiatek’s rivalry, these two WTA stars admire each other’s playstyle. Last year, when they talked about their rivalry, both Rybakina and Swiatek praised each other showcasing that their rivalry won’t supersede their bond as colleagues.

Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina think greatly of each other’s tennis skills

Keeping aside the rivalry, Iga Swiatek complimented Rybakina’s playstyle during the 2023 Australian Open. Speaking of the Kazakh player’s great serve and spirit, Swiatek said, “She really is a solid player. Since we played juniors, I knew that she’s like kind of going the right direction. With her serve, she can do a lot.” Swiatek’s words echoed her admiration for Rybakina. It also highlighted how carefully the Polish player observes her rival’s strong points. However, it is not just Swiatek who admires Rybakina, the Kazakh player also thinks highly of the former Polish number one. “For sure she’s very strong physically and mentally, I think Iga is a great player,” said Rybakina right before their Round of 16 clash in the 2023 Melbourne Major. Rybakina defeated Swiatek in that tournament 6-4, 6-4. Yet, her words highlighted she never took her rival lightly.

Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina’s rivalry offers a lot of potential for mind-blowing clashes on the court. However, these two players have also gained admiration for their grounded mentality and admiration towards each other’s strength. Rybakina and Swiatek inspire the new generation – showing not all competitions are negative but some benefit the players with the right lessons in each clash.