“I wouldn't say I have this vision”: Iga Swiatek reveals how competition from Aryna Sabalenka is helping her maintain level

World number one Iga Swiatek has revealed that she trains knowing very well that she cannot stop or Aryna Sabalenka will push her aside. Both players are often regarded as the best currently playing in the women’s singles category.

Swiatek was asked by a reporter after her triumph in the Madrid Open, where she got the better of the current world number two in the final with a score of 7-5, 4-6, 7-6, that Sabalenka once stated that her vision while training is to catch the reigning world number one. In response to that, the 22-year-old, who finally managed to take revenge for last year’s final defeat in Madrid to the same player, stated that she has no such vision while training but admitted that her biggest motivation is knowing that she is facing a ‘big’ competition from Sabalenka and even if she stops for a while, she will be ‘pushed out’.

"Well, I wouldn't say I have this vision like she has,” she said. “I'm not thinking about her when I'm practicing or something. It's more that I know that the competition is big. And I know if I'm gonna stop for a while, I might be pushed out, you know?"