With Iga Swiatek’s loss to Jelena Ostapenko at the US Open, Aryna Sabalenka will be the new world #1 when the rankings come out. If you hear a roar in New York City, you know where it came from. 🐅
Justine Henin: "I'm not crazy about Iga Swiatek's tennis", opens up on thoughts about rivalry with Sabalenka
Tennis NewsMonday, 04 September 2023 at 20:00
Justine Henin has shared her thoughts on the rivalry between defending US Open champion Iga Swiatek and new World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.
Former World No. 1 Justine Henin related her thoughts on the US Open's two top seeds in an interview with Polish site Sport.pl before Swiatek's defeat at Flushing Meadows in the Round of 16. The seven-time Grand Slam champion started by talking about the 22-year-old.
"Swiatek at the US Open a year ago found out that she has great skills also on hard courts, not only on clay. I think that Iga has everything to win the title again.
Of course it will be difficult but Iga has the right temperament and is a girl who can win even when she is not feeling well at all."
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Henin criticizes Swiatek's technique
However, she did have some criticism to give the four-time major champion.
"I'm not crazy about Iga Swiatek's tennis when it comes to her technique, but technique is only part of the whole.
Iga's technique is not always the cleanest, but Iga has speed in her hands and great footwork, thanks to which she is so mobile, moves so well that it compensates for technical imperfections. In a way Iga plays men's tennis," she added.
Henin praises rivalry with Sabalenka
The Belgian former player then went on to talk about Australian Open champion Sabalenka.
"Sabalenka impresses not only with the power with which he hits the ball, but also with the consistency with which she does it.
"We all remember how much trouble she had a year and a half ago when she made a lot of double faults. You can see that this is a girl who has worked very hard to overcome her demons. [...] We see how much she wants to win and we appreciate how hard she works for it."
Moreover, Henin stressed the importance of a rivalry like the one between Swiatek and Sabalenka, with both players constantly vying for or to maintain No. 1. This has come to a head in recent days, as Swiatek's defeat in the fourth round of the US Open has meant that her 75-week streak at the top of the WTA Ranking will come to an end and Sabalenka will become the World No. 1 for the first time in her career.
"In the long run, it's very difficult to be number one. What is really needed is a challenge and that is great competition. Sabalenka helps Swiatek, ignites her imagination, helps Iga develop. Their situations are quite different - it's completely different to be number one than to strive for that position.
But for Iga, it's really great that Aryna is here. As well as for Carlos Alcaraz it is very beneficial that Novak Djokovic continues to play," Henin continued.
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