"Iga Swiatek is to Rafael Nadal as Aryna Sabalenka is to Roger Federer" - Fans react to growing friendship between WTA's top 2 duo with new revelation
Tennis fans recently reacted to the growing friendship between Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka. In 2024, Sabalenka and Swiatek finished the year as the World No. 1 and World No. 2 respectively.
Both Swiatek and Sabalenka are currently in Australia to kick off their 2025 season. The Belarusian will start her season at the Brisbane International which will begin from December 30, 2024, while Swiatek will be representing Poland at the United Cup.
During a press conference ahead of the commencement of the WTA 500 hard court tournament in Queensland, Sabalenka opened up about her friendship with Swiatek. She shared that their bond started during the 2024 WTA Finals when she invited Swiatek to join her in a TikTok video, to which the Pole happily agreed.
“Yeah, it was fun. It all started on the Finals. I asked her to do TikTok. I was, 'Okay, whatever, I'm going to ask and see what happens.' I thought we have to stay together and have fun and just enjoy our rivalry, not be too tough on each other. So I asked. We did it," Aryna Sabalenka said.
Sabalenka also revealed that Swiatek later asked to join her during training and thus their friendship blossomed.
“Since that we have already practiced a couple of times. Then I was doing fitness after our hit. She was like, 'I can join you guys.' I am like, yeah, let's do that. It's been becoming more chill between us, too. I have to say she's really nice person . It was fun get to know each other," she added.
Tennis fans were delighted to witness the camaraderie between the top two WTA players. They took to social media to express their joy and thoughts on the same.
One fan likened the friendship between Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek to the bond between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
“Iga is to Rafa as Aryna is to Roger, in the making," a fan posted.
Another fan humorously compared Sabalenka befriending Swiatek to an extrovert making friends with an introvert.
“When extroverts adopt introverts. Sometimes all you have to do is ask," a fan wrote.
Some fans jokingly credited TikTok for playing a significant role in fostering Sabalenka and Swiatek's friendship.
“Who would have thought TikTok would play a huge role in this!! 😂 😂 😭 😭 ," a fan posted.
“Aryna asked Iga to make tiktok. Iga broke Aryna’s phone while making the said tiktok. Sabatek was born!" a fan wrote.
Many fans stated that they are loving Sabalenka and Swiatek's friendship.
“I f***ing love this," a fan posted.
“Too cute," a fan wrote.
“Sabatek gang rise uppp," a fan posted.
A look into Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka's head-to-head record on the WTA Tour
![Aryna Sabalenka & Iga Swiatek at the 2023 WTA Finals [Source: Getty]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/12/8dfc7-17354206824650-1920.jpg?w=500)
Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka have competed against each other a total of 12 times on the WTA Tour, with the Pole emerging victorious in eight of those matches.
Swiatek and Sabalenka went up against each other three times this year - in the finals of the Madrid Open and the Italian Open which the former World No.1 won.
Their most recent match-up was in the semifinal of the Cincinnati Open, which Sabalenka won. She then went on to secure the title by defeating Jessica Pegula in the final.
Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka have only faced each other only once at the Grand Slam stage, in the semifinals of the 2022 US Open, which the former World No.1 won. She then went on to defeat Ons Jabeur in the final to secure her third major title.