Aryna Sabalenka confirms the exact moment her relationship with Iga Swiatek changed ahead of their Roland Garros clash

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Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek continue to impress on the WTA Tour, as they now look ahead to their semi-final match in Paris.

The world number one has yet to drop a set at the 2025 French Open, easing through to the semi-finals.

After knocking out Amanda Anisimova in the fourth round, Sabalenka defeated Qinwen Zheng in the quarterfinals, 7-6, 6-3.

In doing so, she set up a dream semi-final clash with her biggest rival, Swiatek, who she has played 12 times previously.

Speaking ahead of their 13th WTA Tour encounter, Sabalenka revealed all about her relationship with Swiatek, pinpointing the exact moment it changed.

Aryna Sabalenka says she and Iga Swiatek took the first steps to a ‘better relationship’ at the 2024 WTA Finals

During her post-match press conference, Sabalenka explained how her relationship with Swiatek changed for the better.

“I think everything started when I came to her and I asked to do a TikTok in the [WTA] Finals in Riyadh, and since then we are like okay, maybe we can communicate and be good to each other. We can practice sometimes,” she said.

“So I think that was the first step to a better relationship.”

Sabalenka went on to share what her relationship with Swiatek is like today, with a look ahead to their semi-final match.

“Before there was not any communication or practices with her, but now we are getting along better,” she said.

“We practice more often and we know each other quite well, and we have had a lot of great battles in the past, so if it is going to be Iga [Swiatek in the semi-finals] I am super excited.

“They are high-level matches, and I’m super excited to go out there and fight and to do everything I need to get the win.”

Both Sabalenka and Swiatek booked their spots in the semi-finals with straight set quarterfinal wins.

• QF 1 – Aryna Sabalenka beat Qinwen Zheng, 7-6, 6-3
• QF 2 – Iga Swiatek beat Elina Svitolina, 6-1, 7-5

Swiatek’s win over Elina Svitolina was arguably her best of the tournament so far, as she battled past the Ukrainian in just over 90 minutes.

She will now prepare to take on Sabalenka for a 13th time, bidding to extend her head-to-head advantage.

Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka’s head-to-head record

Sabalenka and Swiatek have played one another 12 times previously, with the latter leading the head-to-head 8-4.

They have, however, played just once before at a Grand Slam, in the semi-finals of the US Open three years ago.

On that occasion it was the Pole who emerged victorious, winning in three sets, 6-3, 1-6, 6-4.

Swiatek went on to win the US Open that year, a feat she’d no doubt love to repeat in 2025.

A title for Swiatek in Paris would see her move two clear of her closest competitor in the list of active women’s Grand Slam winners.

Active WTA players with the most Grand Slam wins

Swiatek has won five Major titles in her career to date (French Open – 4, US Open – 1).

No active player on the WTA Tour can match that tally, although Sabalenka isn’t too far behind.

If Sabalenka were to lift the Suzanne-Lenglen Cup on Saturday, June 7, she would tie Naomi Osaka for four Grand Slam wins.

Both Swiatek and Sabalenka will be wary of looking ahead to Saturday just yet, however, as they first focus on their semi-final match, which takes place on Thursday, June 5.