As the red clay of Rome’s Foro Italico prepares to host the 2025 Internazionali BNL d’Italia, the spotlight shines on Aryna Sabalenka, the world No. 1, who is riding a wave of dominance after her Madrid Open triumph. On May 8, 2025, the 27-year-old Belarusian offered a candid perspective on the recent struggles of her fiercest rival, Iga Swiatek, whose uncharacteristic stumbles have reshaped the WTA landscape. Sabalenka’s reflections, shared in a press conference ahead of her Rome campaign, reveal a mix of empathy, respect, and quiet confidence as she navigates their storied rivalry on a surface where Swiatek has historically reigned supreme.
Sabalenka’s ascent to the top has been marked by relentless consistency. With three Grand Slam titles—Australian Open 2023 and 2024, and US Open 2024—and a staggering 11,118 ranking points, she has joined an elite club alongside Serena Williams and Swiatek as one of the few women in the past decade to surpass 11,000 points. Her recent Madrid Open victory over Coco Gauff, coupled with titles in Brisbane and Miami, has solidified her as the player to beat. Yet, Sabalenka remains acutely aware of Swiatek’s pedigree, particularly on clay. “I wouldn’t say Iga is struggling. She’s still a great player and super consistent,” Sabalenka said, addressing Swiatek’s recent challenges. “I don’t really think about her results. I’m just focusing on my game, trying to bring my best tennis every time I’m on the court.”
Swiatek, now ranked No. 2, has faced a turbulent 2025. Her Madrid Open semifinal loss to Gauff, where she struggled with consistency, marked a drop from her 2024 title-winning performance, costing her 610 ranking points. Earlier defeats, including a semifinal exit to Mirra Andreeva at Indian Wells and a quarterfinal loss to Andreeva at Roland Garros 2024, have raised questions about her mental resilience. A provisional doping suspension from September to October 2024 sidelined her for three tournaments, widening the gap with Sabalenka. Swiatek’s emotional candor, including a March 2025 Instagram post where she admitted, “Six months ago, I felt my career was hanging by a thread,” has highlighted her struggles, compounded by media scrutiny in Poland and a controversial incident involving a ball kid at Indian Wells.
Sabalenka, who faced her own controversies in Madrid over alleged tactical gamesmanship against Marta Kostyuk, expressed a nuanced view on Swiatek’s off-court challenges. “It’s always tough to read about yourself in the media, especially when it’s not nice things,” she said. “I’ve been there, and it’s not fun. I try to avoid those things and focus on my team, my family, my game.” Her comments reflect a shared understanding of the pressures of stardom, even as their rivalry intensifies. The duo’s clay-court clashes, including Swiatek’s 2024 Rome final win and Sabalenka’s 2023 Madrid triumph, have produced some of the WTA’s most thrilling battles, with Sabalenka noting, “It’s always kind of like leg-busters. It’s really cool to play and hopefully really cool to watch for people.”
Rome presents a fresh battleground. Swiatek, a three-time champion at the Foro Italico, boasts an impeccable record, dropping just one set in her title runs and defeating Sabalenka in two one-sided finals. Sabalenka, who prefers Madrid’s faster clay, has never reached a Rome final but remains optimistic. “I think I’ve got everything to be a good player on the clay courts,” she said, citing her improved topspin and tactical versatility showcased in Miami. Her draw, potentially featuring Madison Keys or Danielle Collins, is fraught with danger, but Sabalenka’s “accept, learn, and move on” mantra keeps her grounded. Swiatek, meanwhile, faces a tricky path with Elina Svitolina and Paula Badosa looming, testing her ability to reclaim her clay-court throne.
Beyond their individual quests, Sabalenka and Swiatek share a commitment to improving the sport. Both signed a letter to Grand Slam organizers advocating for higher prize money, with Swiatek noting, “There’s some data available about the comparison between tennis and other sports.” As they prepare for Roland Garros, where Sabalenka is a +350 favorite despite never reaching the final, their rivalry promises to define the clay season. Sabalenka’s empathy for Swiatek’s struggles, paired with her laser focus on her own game, underscores a champion who respects her rival’s greatness while seizing her moment at the top.
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