(Aryna Sabalenka hit a *214 km/h* serve at the 2018 WTA Elite Trophy, but it wasn't recognized by the WTA)
"The top four have kind of separated themselves": WTA not as unpredictable as before says Tim Henman albeit with one shining light
WTAFriday, 09 February 2024 at 10:30
Aryna Sabalenka is currently the player to beat no matter what the WTA Rankings say admits Tim Henman after the Belarusian sealed back-to-back Australian Opens last month.
Sabalenka momentarily held the top spot at the end of last season, but Iga Swiatek winning the WTA Finals saw this soon go and despite having the chance to reclaim it in the coming weeks, this chance has gone for now with Sabalenka deciding not to play Qatar.
He also said that despite Qinwen Zheng reaching the final, there are only four players really who can really win Grand Slams and that the WTA is not as unpredictable as it was 20 years ago. Henman said that the top four have now separated themselves, them being Sabalenka, Swiatek, Elena Rybakina and Coco Gauff who are all current or former Grand Slam champions.
“Sabalenka might not be the No 1 in the world but she is the player to beat,” the former world No 4 told Sky Sports.
"Iga Swiatek has had amazing results and she deserves to be No 1 in the world but with the momentum and confidence Sabalenka has, it’s going to take an amazing performance to beat her.”
"That win for Sabalenka against Gauff was huge because she lost to her in the US Open final when she’d been up a set and a break, and Gauff was able to turn it around.”
"When you reflect a couple of years ago on WTA it was so unpredictable, you could probably give 15 or 20 female players that could win a Grand Slam,” he continued.
"Now I look at it and think the top four have kind of separated themselves, they’re all major winners playing in the biggest and best events.
"Building those rivalries up is so important and that’s what we’re going to have the opportunity to see.”
"Iga Swiatek has had amazing results and she deserves to be No 1 in the world but with the momentum and confidence Sabalenka has, it’s going to take an amazing performance to beat her.”
"That win for Sabalenka against Gauff was huge because she lost to her in the US Open final when she’d been up a set and a break, and Gauff was able to turn it around.”
"When you reflect a couple of years ago on WTA it was so unpredictable, you could probably give 15 or 20 female players that could win a Grand Slam,” he continued.
"Now I look at it and think the top four have kind of separated themselves, they’re all major winners playing in the biggest and best events.
"Building those rivalries up is so important and that’s what we’re going to have the opportunity to see.”
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