From rivals to coach? Iga Swiatek names Aryna Sabalenka as potential future coach

Iga Swiatek chose Aryna Sabalenka as the opponent she would like to have as a coach, as both remain in competition at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. The Pole recently advanced to the quarterfinals after another impressive performance, this time against Dayana Yastremska (7-5, 6-0).

During her press conference, Swiatek was asked which of her rivals she would choose as a coach in the future, considering Novak Djokovic’s current partnership with his former rival Andy Murray.

"Well, (Andrea) Petkovic is not playing anymore, but I've heard she has a good eye. I've always liked her, so I think we'd get on well," responded the world No. 2.

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Petkovic, a former world No. 7, retired in 2022, although she never faced Swiatek in an official tournament. After a few seconds, the five-time Grand Slam champion picked one of her biggest rivals as a potential coach.

"Or maybe Aryna Sabalenka. She's older than me, so maybe she'll retire sooner than me. That would be fun."

Swiatek and Sabalenka have a head-to-head record of 8-4 in favour of the Pole (4-1 in finals). They have already met three times in 2024, with Swiatek winning the Rome Open and Madrid Open finals, while Sabalenka got her revenge in the Cincinnati Open semifinals last August.

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This season, they have yet to play each other, but there's still a chance they could face off this week in Dubai. Swiatek will play Mirra Andreeva in the quarterfinals on Thursday, while Sabalenka still needs to get past Clara Tauson to reach the quarterfinals. The world No. 1 and No. 2 could only meet in a potential final.

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