Mats Wilander pinpoints the big difference between Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek

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Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek are among the top seeds for the Australian Open, which starts on Sunday.

WTA number one Sabalenka is the top seed in Melbourne, while Swiatek is the second seed for the hard-court Grand Slam.

Both players enter the Australian Open in top form, with Sabalenka winning the Brisbane International and Swiatek winning the United Cup with Poland.

But history is on the side of the Belarusian, who has won the Australian Open twice, while the Pole has never made it beyond the semifinals.

Mats Wilander claims confidence is key Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka difference

According to seven-time Grand Slam champion Mats Wilander, there is a big difference between the two WTA superstars.

Speaking of Swiatek, he told TNT Sports: “Well, the issue to me is that she needs matches. She’s very similar to Rafael Nadal in that situation where she needs matches.

“And when you come from the end of the season, the year before, and you have two months when you don’t play any matches, pretty much, it’s going to affect some people.

“I think that Iga Swiatek, when she’s confident, she’s an absolute animal. She’s unbelievably good. She believes in herself. But I do think that she’s a very sensitive human being when it comes to confidence.

“When she doesn’t have the confidence, her tennis is not as good because I think she needs confidence to believe that she’s a great player.

“I think that if you compare it to Aryna Sabalenka, I think Sabalenka knows that she’s a great player, and you cannot take that away from her, whether she wins matches or loses matches.”

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Iga Swiatek can join WTA legends with Australian Open title

Sabalenka and Swiatek look set to continue their thrilling WTA rivalry in 2026, but the Pole will have her sights set on one stunning individual feat.

She is just one title short of completing the career Grand Slam, and needs to win the Australian Open to achieve that feat.

If she does triumph in Melbourne, Swiatek will become the 11th woman in tennis history to do so, and only the third this century.

Serena Williams got over the line at the 2003 Australian Open, followed by Maria Sharapova at the 2012 French Open.

With six titles to her name so far, Swiatek is the only active WTA player to win three of the four Grand Slams.