Iga Swiatek has dismissed a narrative banded around of good v bad when it comes to her and Aryna Sabalenka with the current World No.1 saying there is respect there and they are kind to each other.
A rivalry alongside Elena Rybakina emerging as a Big Three this season, Swiatek and Sabalenka battled for the World No.1 spot in particular with the Pole prevailing at the very last tournament, the WTA Finals.
This after Swiatek had lost the top spot at the US Open. Despite admitting at the time that it was a burden and saw the pressure taken off, her displays towards the end of the year saw her return to the summit.
In particular, Swiatek said that she saw Polish fans didn't like Sabalenka and said it is a personality clash in her opinion and a stark contrast that likely rubs them up the wrong way. But that there is no bad blood or drama between them.
“I see that Poles don’t really like her. We simply have two completely different personalities colliding. You can see the contrast.
“I wouldn’t say I’m a good character and she’s a bad one, because that puts her in a negative light. We are just different. I don’t want to be one of those people who judges.
“I know what life is like on the Internet and I don’t want to contribute to hatred towards anyone. First of all, we have great respect for each other and are kind to each other.”
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
🗣️ Iga Świątek:
🇵🇱 "To był dobry tydzień w pracy. A Wam życzę dobrego weekendu!"
🇬🇧 "Solid training block this week. Enjoy your weekend!"
📸 Iga Świątek | Instagram