Former German tennis player Andrea Petkovic believes that
the likes of the world number one Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina, Aryna Sabalenka
and Coco Gauff should face each other more often to become global stars.
All four players currently hold the top-four spot in the WTA
rankings and can easily be described as the four best players in the women’s
singles category. Petkovic was recently quoted in a report where she stated
that if all four face each other regularly, they can have a rivalry which will
be equal to what Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic have in the
men’s singles category.
“We have more surprises in women's tennis than in men's
tennis thanks to the best-of-three matches, even at Grand Slam events, where
the favourite is more likely to get out of a tricky situation in the
best-of-five mode,” she said.
“Nevertheless, I see the quartet mentioned as a tick above
all the others. It would be desirable for these four to play each other more
often. This is the case at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, but
overall it still happens too rarely. If that changes, these players will become stars who shine beyond the world of tennis - and we will have rivalries like the one between Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz and Sinner."
Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.
He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.
In addition to his editorial work, Azeem has extensive experience as a data analyst in live sports broadcasting—particularly in cricket—where he combines analytical precision with creative storytelling. He has collaborated with multiple production companies and cricket boards worldwide, delivering real-time insights and data-driven narratives during live match coverage.