“As far as their tennis abilities, yes they can be a threat”: Sabalenka and Rybakina can trouble dominance of Swiatek according to McEnroe

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.”

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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.”

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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.”