‘What Women’s Tennis Needs Is Rivalries’- Jim Courier Dishes Out Strong Opinion on How WTA Can Rule the Roost

Three hours. That’s how long the epic 2024 Madrid Open final between Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka lasted. As Swiatek gasped for breath, a triumphant but exhausted victor, she raised a single question: “Who’s gonna say now that women’s tennis is boring?” The match ignited a firestorm of excitement, reigniting the passion for captivating rivalries that had been simmering just beneath the surface. Tennis legend Jim Courier, ever the astute observer, fanned those flames even higher.

On May 19th, the Tennis Channel Live Podcast brought together a star-studded panel for their episode ‘Who will be crowned king and queen of Roland Garros?’. There, Steve Weissman, Chanda Rubin, Jim Courier, and Andy Roddick dissected the recent Rome finals, delved into the upcoming French Open, and offered their predictions for who will reign supreme at this year’s Roland Garros!

While all the veterans were engaged in the conversation, the host Steve put across the following and asked everyone for their views on the tournament: “One week from today, Roland Garros starts. How awesome is that?” Jim Courier, quickly jumping into the conversation, emphasized that rivalries are the lifeblood that fuels the passion of fans and players alike and said, “By the way, let me just say this. What women’s tennis need is rivalries. And with Iga and Aryna being there all the time, that is exactly the recipe for women’s tennis to grow. We need to see those rivalries.”

After Swiatek’s Madrid Open victory against Sabalenka, tennis faithful saw this intense rivalry advancing to Rome as well. Even more than the result, what made the spectators thrilled was the back-and-forth between the Polish star’s exceptional baseline play and Sabalenka’s aggressive and powerful strokes. From a broader lens, their back-to-back final battles on clay within a span of two weeks have captivated tennis enthusiasts worldwide. 

Jim then turned his attention to the men’s tennis, emphasizing how fierce rivalries have been a cornerstone of its success. He stressed the need for similar captivating battles to emerge in the women’s tennis to propel it to even greater heights. “That’s(rivalries) what’s helped men’s tennis become what it is today”. Think back to legendary rivalries like Bjorn Borg vs. John McEnroe, Rod Laver vs. Ken Rosewall, or Rodger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal. These epic clashes pushed each other to new heights, captivating audiences with their contrasting styles and thrilling matches.

Along with the top two players, Jim Courier also mentioned the 20-year-old and said “ So, two thumbs from me. Wanna see more of those matchups.. Coco in the mix,” signifying her contribution to tennis as well. Gauff who currently holds a world ranking of number 3, has proved to be a force to be reckoned with after her consistent performance on-court. Be it her recent semifinal match against Iga Swiatek or her U.S. Open victory against Sabalenka, Coco is also making waves in the tennis world. Together, they are creating history in the women’s tennis game. As Jim himself summed his opinion, “There is a lot to like in women’s tennis”, Iga Swiatek’s recent comments further reflect the same.

Not only Jim Courier, Iga Swiatek also believes that women “can play great matches” 

When Iga Swiatek triumphed over Sabalenka in Madrid, she was asked about the quality of women’s tennis nowadays. Swiatek’s response shed light on the complexity of the situation. The 22-year-old began by saying, “Well, I think, you know, obviously if we would have to play against a man, we would lose. It’s not about that. It’s about how two players, you know, match against each other. So I think we can play great matches.”

She further added, “We can play such intense battles. I think it’s all about, you know, what emotions it brings in people. And I think it’s not that you should compare, you know, the level of tennis. But you should compare, like, what it gives you when you watch it.” Swiatek also added how one can learn so much by watching women’s tennis.

Calling it “emotional” as well as “interesting” at the same time, the World No. 1’s comments reflected how the future of women’s tennis is getting brighter day by day. As Swiatek, Sabalenka, and Gauff continue to cross paths, we all hope that through their contribution to women’s tennis, we will soon see even more intense battles.