It’s been two years since Serena Williams has stepped away from the court. However, her legacy continues to loom large over women’s tennis. As the WTA tour wraps up, the focus shifts to the thrilling rivalry between Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek. Their rivalry this season has ignited comparisons to the dominance Williams once displayed. However, it’s tough to compete with such an iconic legacy! After an incredible 27 years in the sport, Serena is undeniably one of tennis’s all-time greats. Her achievements may not have been surpassed by the current generation of players just yet. But you can’t deny that the WTA lineup is looking stronger than ever!

During an interview with Tennis Magazin, Ana Ivanovic reflected on the impact of Serena Williams. She was asked to comment on how the landscape of women’s tennis has changed since her playing days. Ivanovic, who reached the pinnacle of the sport by becoming World No. 1 in 2008, noted, “Now there are dominant players again like Swiatek, Sabalenka and Rybakina. Women’s tennis is definitely better than it was a few years ago.” Today’s players, like Aryna Sabalenka, are in better shape and mentally tougher. After winning the Australian Open, she consistently delivered fierce performances in back-to-back tournaments.

While Ana Ivanovic believes that Serena Williams’ impact on women’s tennis is unmatched. “What she achieved for women’s tennis will not be repeated any time soon,” she said. With 23 Grand Slam singles titles to her name, Serena created a special atmosphere around the sport. Her powerful playing style and fierce competitiveness have redefined what it means to be a female athlete, as Ana pointed out, “It is a shame that she is no longer involved.” Despite this, she remains hopeful about the current landscape. “When there is a generational change, it always takes time for new rivalries to form,” she explained.

This transition has led to fewer standout matchups in recent years, but now, “there are exciting encounters again.” Ana noted that the current lineup features fierce competitors like Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina, and Aryna Sabalenka. Additionally, the rivalry between Swiatek and Sabalenka has been particularly thrilling. With both players trading the No. 1 ranking this year. Recently, Swiatek lost her top spot during a brief hiatus ahead of the Asian swing. Meanwhile, Sabalenka surged ahead by winning with a thrilling score of 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 at the Wuhan Open against Qinwen Zheng.

With only 41 points separating them, all eyes are on these two players as they prepare to battle it out on the court at the Finals. Now Iga is back with a new coach and Sabalenka’s strong performances during the Asian swing have added crucial points to her ranking. Who’s to say what the rest of the season will bring for their fans?

Tracy Austin weighs in on the Iga-Aryna rank situation

After noting the points difference in Aryna Sabalenka and Swiatek’s points, fans criticized the WTA’s zero-point penalty rule. Which states that players must compete in at least six WTA 500 events each season. Otherwise, they receive zero points for missed tournaments. By that logic, Swiatek had only played two WTA 500 events, causing her points to drop from 9785 to 9665. While Sabalenka’s decreased slightly from 9716 to 9706. So now, if neither competes at the Japan Open, Swiatek’s points could fall to 9470 and Sabalenka’s to 9641.

Tracy Austin discussed these implications on the Tennis Channel Live Podcast, stating, “It’s very strange… I think we’re trying to say that the WTA’s continuing Swiatek falling short of certain tournament quotas.” After her quarterfinal loss at the U.S. Open and a coaching change, Austin acknowledged that “Iga needs a little bit of time to find her footing.” Despite both players missing recent events, Sabalenka’s impressive run at the Wuhan Open has propelled her back to the top. Austin pointed out, “Neither player played last week, but still, Sabalenka was so incredible… She’s back to number one!”

Now that Iga Swiatek has rejoined forces with Wim Fissette as her new coach, the big question is whether she can take down her rival. Will she regain her footing and challenge Sabalenka, who is riding high on recent success? Only time will tell!