
Ultra-dominant in 2022, Iga Swiatek found a few opponents capable of standing up to her afterwards, starting with her runner-up Aryna Sabalenka. The latter, who managed to knock the Pole off the throne in the space of a few weeks at the end of 2023, has just added a new Grand Slam title to her record by having crushed all her opponents. The Belarusian made the wise choice and will not be present in Doha next week for the first WTA 1000 of the season.
Aryna Sabalenka confirms a little more each month that it is the main competitor ofEvery Swiatek for the big titles. If we thought that the Pole had managed to get back on track after an exceptional end to the 2023 season, she disappeared in the third round at Melbournethe fault perhaps of a difficult table from the start. In the absence of the Belarusian next week, Swiatek will have to burst the screen: she will not have the opportunity to take advantage of this advantage every time.
Sabalenka au repos
Aryna Sabalenka started the year 2024 a bit like she did in 2023. The Belarusian managed to defend her title at theAustralian Open like his compatriot Azarenka 11 years before her. She was more cautious this time: she forfeited the WTA 1000 of Doha, the first major tournament of this month of February. All the best players will be present in Qatar almost next week, apart from her and Karolina Muchovastill injured.
Tennis: Two forehands and no backhands, this 13-year-old player is the attraction of the moment! https://t.co/VWih19ekLm pic.twitter.com/dJhKYPaVJq
— le10sport (@le10sport) February 8, 2024
Swiatek without adversity?
Despite his elimination in the third round atAustralian Open, Every Swiatek remains on a good dynamic and she usually plays very well during this little tour in the Middle East. Indeed, the Pole remains on two consecutive victories at Doha in a tournament that previously alternated between WTA 500 et WTA 1000 with Dubai. From now on, the two competitions are at the level of WTA 1000 and always follow each other in the calendar. The world number 1 therefore advances as the favorite of the event even if be careful, it will be necessary to produce better tennis to impose itself once again.
A surprise coming?
With the absence ofAryna Sabalenkashe is therefore a major player who will be missed at the tournament and she seemed to be the real opponent ofEvery Swiatek. L’Australian Open left a lot of traces in the current top 10 since no player outside of Coco Gauff did not particularly stand out. We could therefore continue on the same trend with a few surprises interfering in the picture, perhaps to dislodge the Pole from her pedestal.