“As far as their tennis abilities, yes they can be a threat”: Sabalenka and Rybakina can trouble dominance of Swiatek according to McEnroe
WTA
John McEnroe has singled out Australian Open finalists
Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina as threats to World No. 1 Iga Swiatek.
After Sabalenka raised the Australian Open, the
former-world No. 1 had words for both finalists, setting them up as potential
challengers for Swiatek this season. About the Belarusian, he said that this
could give her the confidence to reach to another level.
“I'm really happy for her
because obviously, mentally and emotionally, she's been through a lot.” Also
added: “People wondered if she could handle that and I think at the end of the
day she really stepped up.”
“At the end, you could
argue that she was serving even better than Rybakina.”
For the American,
Sabalenka's victory was deserved and it’s something positive for women's tennis
to have her as the new Grand Slam champion: "God bless her, she
worked a lot on it. It was an exciting match, two big hitters, a lot of
emotions and a great winner in the end. I think it's great for women's tennis
that she won it.”
McEnroe also thought that
the reigning Wimbledon champion also put on a great show and that she is one of
the players who can also threaten the supremacy of the Polish Swiatek.
“I think they're both
going to be real challengers now for Iga Swiatek and that's a very good thing,"
“They'll obviously both have a lot of confidence
for the rest of the season. I hope that the politics won't disturb Sabalenka.
You have to wonder what will happen in Wimbledon. So hopefully that's not going
to be an issue.
“As far as their tennis abilities, yes they can be
a threat to Swiatek.”
He also considered that currently the No.1 does not
look as strong as last season, but that it continues to be the favorite in the
following tournaments, especially on clay:
“Mentally, it looked like
Swiatek was dealing with some issues in Australia. Whether it was the pressure
or something off the court I don't know, but she was not at her best. But I
suspect on clay she'll be back so she'll probably go at the French Open as the
big favourite.”
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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