Iga Swiatek recently justified why she’s better than the rest with her massive performance in Rome. It has been just hours since the fans witnessed a high-intensity showdown between the Pole and her rival Aryna Sabalenka. However, besides the fact that their predecessor Coco Gauff had to face an exit in the semi-finals itself, former tennis pro Jim Courier mentioned how these three are giving women’s tennis a new purpose to be loved.
In the latest episode of the Tennic Channel Live podcast, the entertaining commentator Steve Weissman shared the mic with former pros like Jim Courier and Andy Roddick to make predictions about the upcoming French Open. While predictions can only be based on the current forms of the players, Jim Courier derived how the current top three are playing a major role in shaping the immense growth of women’s tennis.
“Let me just say this: what women’s tennis needs is rivalries,” he said, pressing on the fact that tennis sells because of the competitiveness. Speaking of rivalries in the WTA line and not remembering the one between the top two rankers would be nothing less than a crime that even Courier didn’t commit. “With Iga and Aryna being there all the time, that is exactly what the rest need for women’s tennis to grow, see those rivalries, that’s what helped men’s tennis to become what it is today,” he added.
Sabalenka and Swiatek have been rivals for a longer time. Besides standing in the top two ranks for a long time, they have been in a total of 11 showdowns in which the Pole leads with eight massive wins.
Besides an unstable form in the last few events, the former pro didn’t forget to mention Coco Gauff’s name as a major contributor to this cause. “I wanna see more of those matchups with Coco in the mix, there’s a lot to like with these tennis rivalries,” he said.
Jim Courier’s comments not only highlighted the massive rivalry going on between Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka but also mentioned how it will make more tickets sell, resembling the path that the men’s tennis traveled. However, the Belarusian’s recent challenge to her rival for the upcoming Roland Garros also established new levels of anticipation.
Aryna Sabalenka throws a cheeky challenge for Iga Swiatek
The tournament in Rome marked the second consecutive final played between Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek. Although the Belarusian failed to complete revenge in the last one as well, she seemed to be optimistic enough to take a chance at the upcoming clay-court major.
“I hope we’re gonna make it to the final of Roland Garros and I’m gonna get you there,” the Australian Open champion said, mentioning the fact that she’s ready to face her rival once again. Adding a touch of lightheartedness to her statement, the WTA star added, “Just kidding. At least I’ll try to do better than today.”
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