Sabalenka Feels Swiatek Avoids Pressure Well In Bid For No. 1 Spot

Thursday, 27 April 2023 at 07:00

Updated at Tuesday, 12 August 2025 at 16:00

byZachary Wimer

Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek battle for the World No. 1 spot on the WTA Tour, and despite being in a battle, there are some things the Belarusian admires about her opponent.

Swiatek had an incredibly successful 2022 season. It was never going to be easy to repeat that kind of season also this year, but so far, the Pole has recorded similarly impressive results also in 2023.

Recently, the two met on the court. Swiatek beat Sabalenka in the final in Stuttgart, claiming the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix trophy.

However, even that win didn't help the Polish player to secure the No. 1 spot in points earned this year. It is Sabalenka who currently leads the 2023 WTA Race, and her lead is currently more than 1,500 points.

Sabalenka thinks about the No. 1 spot, but she also admires how her rival fights for the spot as well.

"Iga is doing well and I think she is not feeling super pressure of defending so many titles. It’s going to be really tough for me. I have to be really focused and I have to get to the last stages of the tournament(s) to become number one."

At the same time, Sabalenka doesn't want to focus on the World No. 1 battle too much. At the end of the day, she wants to play her best tennis, and that will help her to reach that top rank as well.

"I’m trying to not focus on that. I am trying to focus on my game because I know that, if I am going to bring my game and if I am going to play my best, I will get there. So I am trying to focus on myself."

"I had a really good couple of weeks' preparation after Miami and a good result at Stuttgart, (which) gives me a lot of belief that I can do well on this surface. I feel really good on clay right now."