Iga Swiatek does not feel Elena Rybakina, Aryna Sabalenka are her kryptonite

Iga Swiatek says she does not think that players like Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka are her kryptonite. In the semifinal of the Wta Finals last year, Swiatek was upset by Sabalenka. So far in 2023, Swiatek has had two straight-set defeats against Rybakina

On Friday, Swiatek suffered a 6-2 6-2 loss to Rybakina in the Indian Wells semifinal. After losing to Rybakina again, Swiatek was asked if very strong players like Rybakina and Sabalenka were a big challenge for her. “Well, I don’t know honestly, because I also won many matches against Aryna and I played against Elena, you know, two years ago and it was fine.

So it’s hard for me to like take everything under consideration and decide if it’s hard or not. I would say that I can still improve as a player, and there are some like things I want to focus on. But still, I feel like I can play great tennis even, you know, against players who are serving pretty fast and everything.

But for sure, you know, last couple of matches against Elena, they weren’t perfect for me, but I will try to do better next time,” Swiatek explained

What’s Swiatek’s head-to-head against Rybakina, Sabalenka?

Against Rybakina, Swiatek has played three times on the main level.

When Swiatek and Rybakina met for the first time at 2021 Ostrava, the Pole clinched a straight-set win. In December, Rybakina defeated Swiatek at the World Tennis League in Dubai but that win doesn’t register in the official head-to-head since it was an exhibition event.

But after beating Swiatek twice at the start of the 2023 season, Rybakina now owns a 2-1 head-to-head against Swiatek. Against Sabalenka, Swiatek has played six times on the main level. When they met for the first time at the 2021 WTA Finals, Sabalenka defeated Swiatek.

Last year, Swiatek clinched four consecutive wins against Sabalenka before the Belarusian won their match at the WTA Finals. Now, Swiatek owns a 4-2 head-to-head against Sabalenka