Iga Swiatek’s new coach, Wim Fissette, has identified Elena Rybakina as the Polish star’s most formidable opponent, surpassing Aryna Sabalenka in this regard. Despite Swiatek’s remarkable success over the past three seasons, Rybakina, currently ranked fourth in the world, poses a significant challenge for her.
Since their first encounter in 2021 in Ostrava, where Swiatek emerged victorious, the five-time Grand Slam champion has struggled against Rybakina, winning only one of their last five meetings, all of which took place during the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Rybakina holds a 4-2 advantage in their head-to-head matchups and has proven particularly dominant on faster surfaces. Notably, she defeated Swiatek on the clay courts of Stuttgart earlier this year.
Fissette, who began coaching Swiatek in October, shared his insights with Przegląd Sportowy, emphasizing Rybakina’s prowess as the toughest rival for the world No. 2. In contrast, Swiatek maintains a favorable record against Sabalenka, having won eight of their twelve encounters.
Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, explained her competitive edge against Swiatek after their Stuttgart semifinal in April, where she secured a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 victory. “I think it’s just the style of the game. Iga moves really well and likes to dominate rallies. With me, it’s difficult because I play fast and flatter, and I also try to move my opponent. It’s a matchup where we both push each other and try to dominate the point. My serve plays a significant role, which is why some matches I win and some I lose. It’s always tough for her to play against me, and for me to play against her,” Rybakina remarked with a smile.
As Swiatek continues to work with Fissette, it will be intriguing to see how they strategize to improve her performance against Rybakina in future competitions.
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