Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek have established themselves as the two best women’s players in the world over the last few years.
The stars, placed first and second in the WTA rankings, have earned a combined 47 titles between them, including a total of 10 Grand Slams.
Sabalenka and Swiatek enter this year’s Australian Open as the top two seeds and the overwhelming favourites to go all the way.
What do you think of Aryna Sabalenka’s draw?
Not much separates the Pole and the Belarusian on the court, but their personalities are incredibly different, which world number seven Mirra Andreeva recently touched on.
Mirra Andreeva compares the personalities of Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka
Following her first-round win at the Australian Open, Andreeva was asked what it means to have a world number one with a vibrant personality like Sabalenka’s.
She responded: “I think it’s great because she’s very active on social media. She shows a lot of the things that are going on on tour. I would be honest, I do kind of like to watch her stories. It’s pretty interesting.
“She does a good job of keeping kind of the mood in the social media of, like, being funny and doing a lot of activities with the fans, just keeping the fans in touch when she’s not playing tournaments. Yeah, I think it’s great.
“Also, I think that all of the people are different. For example, when Iga was the number one in the world, we all know she’s more like a quiet person. She does everything well on the court. I feel like she’s maybe more closed.
“I think we are different people. She is kind of, I don’t know, active. Aryna is active and likes to talk a lot. She does TikToks and videos.
“There is a place for everyone. whoever is doing whatever they want. I don’t know. I’m open to whoever is doing whatever they want.”
Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka’s next matches in Melbourne
Both Sabalenka and Swiatek got off to winning starts in their respective Australian Open campaigns.
Swiatek, who is chasing a Career Grand Slam in Melbourne, came through a tough first test against Yue Yuan, while Sabalenka overcame Tiantsoa Sarah Rakotomanga Rajaonah comfortably.
Aryna Sabalenka will NOT end the year as world number one – prove us wrong!
In the next round, Swiatek will be faced with Marie Bouzkova, against whom she holds a winning record of 2-0.
Sabalenka’s second-round assignment comes in the form of Zhuoxuan Bai, whom she has never played before at a tour-level event.
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