THE WAY IT IS NOW IN WOMEN’S TENNIS, IGA SWIATEK IS STILL MY CHAMPION. SHE IS SO GRACEFUL DELIVERING SHOTS AFTER SHOTS AND WITH PRECISION. UNEQUALED,SO FAR.
Tennis legend Martina Navratilova believes there is one “key factor” why Aryna Sabalenka is the favourite ahead of Iga Swiatek for this year’s US Open.
Swiatek is the top seed ahead of Sabalenka for the final Grand Slam of the year as she has been at No 1 in the WTA Rankings since the start of the year, but most people have tipped the Belarusian to win the title at Flushing Meadows.
The two-time Australian Open champion is on a high after winning the Cincinnati Open and she defeated Swiatek in straight sets en route to lifting the WTA 1000 title.
Eighteen-time major champion Navratilova is one of those who feel the hard-hitting Sabalenka will be the player to beat at the US Open as she will be “fresher than everybody else” as she didn’t compete at the Paris Olympics.
Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, Jasmine Paolini and Zheng Qinwen all featured on the clay at Roland Garros while Sabalenka played at the Citi DC Open.
“For sure [Sabalenka is the favourite],” Navratilova told the official WTA website. “Last year’s final might have been the worst match Sabalenka’s played in any big match, and she will have learned her lesson – and will be extremely motivated.
