Iga Swiatek would pick Rybakina, Nadal, Sabalenka, Sinner, Jabeur, Djokovic and Alcaraz on NBA Celebrity All Star team
WTA
Iga Swiatek
shared her ideal team for an NBA Celebrity All-Star team upon her arrival at
the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship. The Polish player played it safe and
selected the best tennis players from both the ATP and the WTA, including Aryna
Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Carlos Alcaraz, and Jannik Sinner.
The World
No. 1 arrived at the second WTA 1000 of the year just days after clinching the
title at the Qatar Open with an impressive victory over Rybakina (7-6, 6-2).
Despite the disappointing fourth-round exit at the Australian Open, Swiatek
continues to widen the gap between herself and Sabalenka at the top of the
rankings.
When asked
upon her arrival in Dubai about her dream team of tennis stars, considering
players from both tours, the 4-times Grand Slam champion admitted that she does
not follow the NBA and even had doubts about what constitutes an All-Star.
“If you
would pick All-Stars to play a basketball game with you from the tour, who
would you pick?”
Iga: “I
don't really watch this. I don't really watch NBA. AlI-Star?”
“They bring
people from every different team.”
Iga:
“Really. I don’t know of the best NBA players. They just make a team?”
“Yes, like
the celebrities?”
Iga: “Yes
(laughter). I'm European. I don't watch NBA (smiling). Well, I would say me,
Aryna, Novak, Sinner, Alcaraz, Elena and Ons. I mean, that's the obvious
answer. And Rafa.”
The current
world No. 1 is eagerly anticipating her debut at the Dubai Open, where she
receives a BYE in the first round as the first seed. In the second round, she
will face the former US Open champion Sloane Stephens (No. 39), who advanced
past the first round by defeating the qualifier Clara Burel (No. 46) by 6-4,
1-6, 6-2.
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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