Polish tennis sensation, Iga Swiatek, has hinted that she might follow in the footsteps of Novak Djokovic by potentially appointing one of her fiercest competitors as her coach. The rival in question is none other than Aryna Sabalenka.
The tennis world was left buzzing during the offseason with the surprising news that 24-time Grand Slam champion, Djokovic, had enlisted the services of fellow player, Andy Murray. Had it not been for an unfortunate muscle injury, the Serbian-British duo could have celebrated their new partnership with an Australian Open victory.
In recent times, Reem Abulleil has been probing WTA stars in Dubai about their willingness to employ a former opponent as a coach. Swiatek, who recently triumphed over Dayana Yastremska 7-5 6-0 in the Dubai quarterfinal, not only mentioned retired player Andrea Petkovic but also named Sabalenka as a potential future coach.
“Petkovic, although no longer active, is known for her keen insight. I’ve always admired her and believe we would get along well,” admitted the 23-year-old Swiatek. She went on to mention Sabalenka, adding, “She is older than me, so she will likely retire before I do.”
Swiatek and Sabalenka’s rivalry is well-known within the tennis circuit. However, their relationship has evolved in recent months, transforming from mere competitors to something more cordial. They have been seen practicing together on multiple occasions and even created a viral TikTok video during the offseason.
Reflecting on the viral video a few months back, Sabalenka revealed that their relationship had become “more chill” and she expressed her admiration for Swiatek.
Recalling a workout session, the 26-year-old Belarusian said, “After our match, I was doing some fitness training. She asked if she could join me. I welcomed her and we ended up filming and posting it. Since then, our relationship has become more relaxed. She’s a really nice person and getting to know each other was fun.”
This newfound camaraderie between the top-ranked players could potentially pave the way for a future coaching partnership, following the model set by Djokovic and Murray. Only time will tell if Swiatek’s hints become a reality. For now, it’s clear that these two fierce rivals on the court are developing a friendship off it.
