Aryna Sabalenka names the best player she has ever faced outside of Serena Williams

Aryna Sabalenka has come up against some greats of the game throughout her career.

In 2021, the Belarusian played arguably the greatest in history, Serena Williams, for the first time at the Australian Open.

Williams narrowly triumphed in the battle of the power hitters, winning 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 to advance to the quarterfinals in Melbourne that year.

Outside of the 23-time major champion, Sabalenka has faced Grand Slam champions such as Maria Sharapova and Simona Halep.

There is one opponent, however, along with Williams, whom the world number one has found the most difficult to beat over the years.

Aryna Sabalenka picks her toughest opponent on the WTA Tour

When asked in an interview with TNT Sports who the best player she has ever come up against, Sabalenka said: “Wow, okay, the best?

“I mean, I played Serena once, so Serena and Iga [Swiatek] probably.”

Sabalenka has faced Iga Swiatek 13 times at tour-level competitions, and currently trails in their head-to-head 5-8.

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They first clashed at the WTA Finals in 2021, where Sabalenka came back from a set down to win the maiden bout.

Swiatek emerged victorious in the next four meetings in their rivalry, though, picking up wins in Doha, Stuttgart, Rome and New York.

Sabalenka snapped the losing streak at the 2022 WTA Finals, and picked up her first clay-court win over Swiatek at the Madrid Open in 2023.

The two met just once in 2025, with Sabalenka beating Swiatek in the Roland Garros semifinals.

Choosing the best title she has won in her career, Sabalenka said: “Oh my god, AO (Australian Open) and US Open.

“I couldn’t make it just one word, but yeah, Australian Open and US Open. I cannot pick one.”

Sabalenka won her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in 2023 and defended her crown in 2024.

Later on in 2024, she clinched the US Open championship for the first time and completed another successful title defence in 2025.

She has yet to go all the way at Wimbledon or Roland Garros, despite making the final in Paris this season.