French Open 2024: Aryna Sabalenka Showers Sympathy on Iga Swiatek’s Russian Opponent After ‘Crazy’ Dominance by the Pole

The 2024 French Open has seen it all. From rain breaks to crowd-player controversies, fans have been glued to their seats to witness the intriguing action taking place in Paris. However, nothing was like what Iga Swiatek displayed in her fourth-round match. The World Number 1 put on a dominant show as she won her encounter without losing a game, in just 40 minutes. After she enforced a double bagel on Anastasia Potapova, Swiatek’s rival, Aryna Sabalenka, made her feelings felt on this subject.

Like Swiatek, Sabalenka has had a smooth sailing so far at Roland Garros. Earlier today, she won her fourth-round match comfortably in straight sets against Emma Navarro. Subsequently, during the post-match press conference, Sabalenka was asked to comment about Swiatek’s domination in her match against Potapova.

Sabalenka replied, “I was watching that match actually and I was like oh wow that’s just another another level that’s so intense and I felt so sorry to Anastasia because it was just too good from Iga. I was stopping myself of thinking to try to do the same because like you know you can get really crazy with that.”

Sabalenka instead decided to focus on herself and her personal style, “And I was like, no Aryna, just focus on yourself, you don’t have to do better than her. It’s okay, it’s just her world like this. Bagels – this is something about Iga.”

The Belarusian ended the statement with a laugh, “I’ll leave it to her, I’ll be nicer to my opponent.”

Interestingly, Swiatek and Potapova have had a history of clashes before on the junior level. While Potapova dominated during those days, she had defeated Swiatek in their French Open juniors match in 2016. After her match yesterday, Swiatek revealed if those days reflected in her dominant win.

Iga Swiatek takes sweet revenge against Anastasia Potapova

While Sabalenka may have felt sorry for Potapova, Swiatek was in a dominant mood, even after her match. During the post-match press conference, one of the journalists asked her if she remembered her clashed against Potapova from the junior days and whether they played in the back of her mind.

While Swiatek was hesitant on this question, she replied, “Obviously, I had just a thought that times change a little bit because I remember she was always the player to beat me. I don’t think I won against her, and I lost some heartbreaking matches for me. Honestly, there’s no point to think about that, but I had just a thought like that. It lasted two seconds, and then I was focusing on my work because that’s the best thing I can do.”

While Swiatek is continuing her domination in the women’s circuit, Sabalenka has also cruised at the ongoing French Open. They are on a collision course in the grand finale and if that happens, it is going to be a blockbuster of a contest.