Rennae Stubbs chooses between Sabalenka, Gauff and Swiatek for 2027 Grand Slam success

Thursday, 24 September 2026 at 00:30

Rennae Stubbs has made her choice between Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek when asked which of the three is most likely to win a Grand Slam in 2027. The former Australian player sees Sabalenka as the clearest option, although she also believes Swiatek and Gauff have specific reasons to feel confident heading into next season.

The three players arrive at 2027 from very different positions. Sabalenka reached two Grand Slam finals in 2026 but lost both to Elena Rybakina, Gauff reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon and the US Open, while Swiatek was unable to reach the quarter-finals at any of the four majors.

Sabalenka nevertheless had the strongest overall Grand Slam record of the trio, going 19-4 across the four tournaments. Gauff finished 16-4 and Swiatek 12-4, while all three also collected titles away from the majors during a season in which Rybakina emerged as the dominant Grand Slam force.

Stubbs' verdict therefore comes with an interesting distinction: while she ultimately puts Sabalenka ahead of the other two, she sees different paths to success for each player. The Australian believes Sabalenka could be particularly dangerous at the Australian Open, while she expects Swiatek to feel better about her chances on clay and considers Gauff a serious threat on the same surface.

Stubbs chooses Sabalenka over Gauff and Swiatek

Stubbs was recently asked on the Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast to choose between Sabalenka, Gauff and Swiatek when considering which of the three was most likely to win a Grand Slam in 2027.

The former Australian player did not hesitate to put Sabalenka first, although she believes the Belarusian will need to make some emotional adjustments to her game after another season in which she came close without winning a major.

“My thoughts are that it's Sabalenka. She will probably be one of the favourites at the Australian Open," Stubbs said in the last episode of her podcast. "I think it's a good question. It's a shock to me that neither of them won a Slam this year."

"I think if you had to sway on one, it would be Sabalenka; she will be really p—– [that] she didn't win one this year," Stubbs added. "She has to make some emotional changes to her game, and if she does that, she will probably win the Australian Open,”

Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka holding trophies

Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina pictured after Elena Rybakina wins the 2026 Women’s U.S. Open

Stubbs then separated the three players into slightly different Grand Slam possibilities, pointing towards Swiatek at Roland Garros while acknowledging Gauff's record on clay.

“I think [Iga] Swiatek has to feel better about her chances at the French Open next year, although Coco [Gauff] loves clay as well. But I would probably have to go Sabalenka and then a bit of a tie between Swiatek and Coco Gauff.”

The numbers from 2026 provide some context for Stubbs' choice. Sabalenka reached two Grand Slam finals and won 19 matches at the majors, while Gauff reached the semi-finals at both Wimbledon and the US Open. Swiatek, meanwhile, did not go beyond the fourth round at any Slam.

Sabalenka, Gauff, and Swiatek in Grand Slams during 2026

Grand Slam	Aryna Sabalenka	Coco Gauff	Iga Swiatek
Australian Open	Final	Quarter-final	Quarter-final
French Open	Quarter-final	Third round	Fourth round
Wimbledon	Fourth round	Semi-final	Third round
US Open	Final	Semi-final	Fourth round
2026 Grand Slam record	19-4 (83%)	16-4 (80%)	12-4 (75%)
Grand Slam record (career)	120-30 (80%)	90-27 (77%)	116-25 (82%)
Grand Slam titles (career)	4	2	6

Sabalenka's 19-4 record at the majors was the strongest of the three in 2026, although her two defeats in finals meant she ultimately left the season without another Grand Slam trophy.

Stubbs also questions Pegula's chances

Stubbs also discussed another established player who could not convert her consistency into a Grand Slam title in 2026: Jessica Pegula.

The Australian believes Pegula faces a particularly difficult challenge against the biggest hitters at the top of the women's game, and singled out her second serve as an area that needs to change.

“I think Jess [Pegula] is going to struggle winning a Slam against the likes of Sabalenka, Rybakina and even the likes of Iga," the former Serena Williams' coach claimed. "If they are returning her serve well, the biggest issue for me is that I think Jess Pegula needs to work on a slider second serve and stop hitting this kicker serve all the time. That goes into the hitting zone of the best players in the world."

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Stubbs also pointed to Pegula's backhand patterns when facing Sabalenka, arguing that the American repeatedly allowed the Belarusian to attack one of her preferred areas.

“On the backhand, she is just going to get crushed every single time. I don't know why she kept hitting it there against Sabalenka, and it just got crushed. So until she changes where she's serving, I don't think so.”

Pegula is the oldest player in the WTA top 10 and has established herself as one of the tour's most consistent performers, but she remains without a Grand Slam title. She is scheduled to return at the China Open, which begins on September 28.

For Sabalenka, meanwhile, the challenge in 2027 will be turning another season of deep Slam runs into another major trophy. Stubbs' choice puts her ahead of Gauff and Swiatek, but the three players enter the new season with very different Grand Slam profiles and potential targets.

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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