Iga Swiatek is gearing up for her much-anticipated comeback after a well-deserved break following the US Open. She pulled out of the Asian swing to focus on her health and navigate her split from coach Tomasz Wiktorowski. Now, with Wim Fissette stepping in, she’s ready to shine. The buzz around her reclaiming the crown from current No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka is electric. But surprisingly, these two are showing a different side than the typical rivals at each other’s throats.

In a delightful twist, Swiatek and Sabalenka were recently spotted together on the courts in Riyadh, laughing and filming what looked like a TikTok video! Yes, you read that right—rivals having fun together! While Swiatek usually keeps her social media presence minimal, usually sharing mostly training updates, Sabalenka is known for her playful TikTok challenges. Now their joint appearance has racked up quite a bit of excitement from fans in just hours of being posted!

Swiatek reshared a post by the WTA that was captioned, “Just the two best players in the world having a giggle,” on her Instagram story. She playfully wrote, “I’m sorry” to Aryna, with a laughing emoji. The Pole seemed to enjoy the lighthearted exchange, possibly apologizing for her awkward dance moves—or maybe for accidentally damaging her phone with her shoe, as seen in the video! The story gained a response from Sabalenka, as she reshared the moment with a casual, “Ahaha no worries, new phone coming my way,” laughing it off.

However, it won’t be all fun and games during the matches. Iga Swiatek is eager to reclaim her title but is also adjusting to Fissette, who supposedly shares some traits with Wiktorowski. Although Fissette has coached top players like Naomi Osaka and Kim Clijsters, his calm demeanor and “laptop coach” reputation have raised eyebrows among analysts. Some worry this similarity might not work in her favor. A few have even predicted that, with slim chances, the Pole could struggle to succeed with Fissette.

Journalist snubs Swiatek’s possibility of overthrowing Sabalenka

While former World No. 1 is training hard for the WTA Finals, she’s not among the top picks to lift the trophy this year in Riyadh. Many believe her toughest rival, Aryna Sabalenka, is the favorite. Sabalenka has been on fire lately, showcasing impressive consistency and a strong winning streak. She trailed Swiatek in the rankings just days ago. But after her stellar performances during the US swing, she has now taken the No. 1 spot.

On the flip side, Swiatek hasn’t played a professional match since her early exit at the US Open, where she lost to Jessica Pegula in straight sets. Later, renowned journalist Marek Furjan weighed in on her situation, stating that Sabalenka is in great shape and poised to finish the season as No. 1. “The Polish woman is not the main favorite to win the WTA Finals. Aryna Sabalenka will play this role in Riyadh,” he noted.

Despite not being a frontrunner, Swiatek remains optimistic and recently made her first appearance with new coach Wim Fissette. Eager to make a solid comeback, Swiatek’s excitement is palpable as she shares glimpses of her training with Fissette on social media. She believes Fissette’s experience can help her regain her momentum. “He seems to have a great attitude, vision, and huge experience at a very top level of tennis,” she said when announcing their partnership. Will the Pole reclaim her lost form in Riyadh? Only time will tell!