Is ATP Turning Into an Older Version of the WTA? Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka Re-Write History With Their Tennis Prowess

Back in the day, there was a time when the ATP highly dominated the game of tennis. With the top players making it to the semi-finals and the finals every now and then, the tournaments were more fun to watch. The ‘Big 4’, Stan Wawrinka, you name it, the fans were mostly habitual of seeing these starts in action against each other. This built the intrigue around the game and the action-packed madness surrounding it. But now, it’s the exact opposite.

But, in past, the WTA was highly unstable for that matter. Removing a few top names and the list would be a bit scrambled around. But, now, things have been very different, in fact, reversed. What was once the light of the ATP has now seemingly been transferred to the WTA. Tennis fans can mostly see names like Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka from the WTA world stepping up on the big stage.

With the European clay season going on in full swing, the ATP has had a wide variety but the WTA for that matter has proven consistent. A prominent tennis journalist, Ben Rothenberg, recently used social media to address a recurring issue. They specifically focused on the contrasting narratives that emerged during the Madrid Open and Rome Masters on clay. “Trying to imagine the narrative if the ATP and WTA flipped results scripts for this Madrid+Rome double…” said the bigwig.

Talking about both Madrid Open, the top players in the WTA led the torch. While Elena Rybakina, the 4th ranked WTA player made her way into the semis, Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek faced each other in a gripping finale. On the other hand, Coco Gauff, who is currently ranked 3rd made it to the final 16. Talking about Rome Masters, all the top 3 players made their way into the semis while the top 2 even made the finals. Thus, the WTA has shown consistency for that matter.

On the other hand, the ATP is struggling with players at the moment. With Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, the top players ranked in the top 3 out due to injury, Novak Djokovic has struggled with form at the moment. The weakened field throws the tournament wide open, creating an opportunity for a surprise victor, a rarity on the ATP tour.

Why is the ATP struggling with results while the WTA is nailing tennis at the moment?

There are a few possible reasons to back this up. Up until last year, the ATP events used to be highly dominated by the likes of Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic. However, this year, things have taken a huge turnaround. With injuries to both Sinner and Alcaraz, they have to spend their time out of the European clay. Apart from this, Novak Djokovic, who ruled the Grand Slam scene last year by winning 3 slams and making it through to the final of Wimbledon, has failed to find his spark.

With disappointing results right at the start of the season, considering his stature, he has not been able to step up to the expectations associated with him. Not only him but Daniil Medvedev, currently ranked 4 in the ATP ranking, hasn’t managed to make his way into the semi-finals even since the Miami Open. This has opened the door for other stars to come and leave their mark in the tournaments.

However, that hasn’t been the case with the WTA. The top players in the events have not only stepped on the expectations but maintained consistency as well. Also, the WTA recently saw the rise of Danielle Collins as well. The consistency that she has made is fabulous and “Danimal” is proving herself to be a force to be reckoned with at the moment.

Thus, these are some major reasons why the ATP has failed to find its spark at the moment. With injuries and unexpected results, the players are currently dealing with a hard time at the moment. On the other hand, the WTA is looking to stabilize things with the big names always stepping up on the occasion and proving their worth. What are your views on the whole debate? Do you think that the ATP currently is falling apart? Please let us know in the comments below!