The top three-ranked women on the WTA Tour, Aryna Sabalenka, Iga ÅšwiÄ…tek, and Elena Rybakina, are currently leading the tour, with Sabalenka and Rybakina having faced each other in the finals of three major tournaments since November 2025.
This Belarusian-Kazakh duo has shown sparks of the most dominant rivalry in tennis, currently comparable to that between the top two men’s players, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
Andrea Petkovic Shares Thoughts on the Sabalenka and Rybakina Rivalry
Former German pro Andrea Petkovic shared her views on this hot topic, offering an honest answer on whether the Rybakina-Sabalenka rivalry has overtaken the original Sabalenka–Iga ÅšwiÄ…tek rivalry that previously defined women’s tennis. She also offered her unfiltered opinion on ÅšwiÄ…tek and Coco Gauff’s present trajectories.
Speaking on the “Tennis Channel,” Petkovic and British coach Mark Petchey talked about the Sabalenka-Rybakina rivalry. The Briton brought up the topic, asking the German whether she thinks the Belarusian-Kazakh duo is the “new Carlos and Jannik on that side?” and whether it has “superseded the Iga-Aryna rivalry?”
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Petkovic didn’t mince words, addressing the question immediately. “I do think that this is the main rivalry in women’s tennis right now,” she said. “And I do think that that’s what women’s tennis was lacking in a way, those recurring matches that you have these favorites playing against each other over and over in big finals.”
She talked about recent advancements in women’s tennis, noting that, for the first time in 16 years, all the quarterfinalists at the 2026 Australian Open were seeded players, but she said there was a void because of the lack of such a rivalry.
“We had fewer and fewer surprises in the last few years on the women’s side. But this is what we needed. We needed that big rivalry,” she added. Petkovic then reanalyzed her words, saying she wouldn’t compare it directly with “SinCaraz,” but she believes Gauff and the Polish star can pierce through them, which is not often seen on the men’s side.
“I wouldn’t put it as a direct analogy to SinCaraz just because I do think that Gauff that Iga ÅšwiÄ…tek I do think that these kinds of players, even a Jess Pegula, can pierce through that rivalry more than other players can with the Jannik Sinner and the Carlos Alcaraz rivalry,” the German said. Talking about the format difference between men’s and women’s tennis, Petkovic added, “I think if we had the best-of-five, it would be a little different.”
“I do think that both Iga and Coco are in sort of a transitional period right now, but once they bounce back to their strength, I think it will be a quadruple rivalry between the four of them,” she added, mentioning the recent stretch of irregular performances from World No. 2 ÅšwiÄ…tek and World No. 3 Gauff.
As Petkovic stated, the Sabalenka-Rybakina rivalry is becoming prominent in women’s tennis, given Rybakina’s recent form. She has already defeated Sabalenka twice in the past 12 months, first at the championship match of the 2025 WTA Finals and then at the 2026 Australian Open final.
The Belarusian champion did emerge victorious in their most recent meeting at the 2026 Indian Wells final, saving a championship point in the process. In a total of 16 head-to-head clashes so far, Sabalenka still leads the record 9-7. However, if Rybakina stays healthy and keeps delivering at the same level, it wouldn’t take her long to dominate the Belarusian.
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Both icons will now enter the 2026 Miami Open. Sabalenka will face either Kimberly Birrell or Ann Li, while Rybakina will take on either Yulia Putintseva or Janice Tjen in the second round.
The second leg of the Sunshine Double has been hit by bad weather, with matches repeatedly delayed by heavy rain and thunderstorms. After a total rainout on Wednesday, play resumed on Thursday, March 19, with a packed schedule to catch up on the opening rounds.
