Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina have been the two most dominant WTA Players on the Tour so far this year.
Elena Rybakina picked up from where she left off in 2025, defeating Aryna Sabalenka to claim her second Grand Slam title at the Australian Open.
Sabalenka and Rybakina met once again on Sunday, this time in the Indian Wells final. On this occasion, Sabalenka emerged victorious, defeating the Kazakh 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 in the Californian desert.
Following Rybakina’s run to the final, the Kazakh has now overtaken Iga Swiatek in the WTA rankings, becoming world number two for the first time in her career.
Swiatek has struggled for form at the start of this year and is yet to win a title.
However, tennis fans should not underestimate the Polish superstar.
Iga Swiatek should not be underestimated
Iga Świątek has been in this situation before.
Just last year, the Pole’s Grand Slam winning credentials were being questioned as she headed into the grass-court season.
The 24-year-old subsequently dispelled any inkling of doubt in tennis fans’ minds, romping her way to the Wimbledon Ladies Singles title.
Swiatek’s achievement was particularly impressive considering she had struggled on grass in the past and the surface was widely considered to be her weakest.
Remarkably, the Pole won the final three sets of her Wimbledon campaign by a score of 6-0, 6-0, 6-0 – a remarkable feat for any player, let alone an individual who has struggled on grass courts in the past.
When in top form, Swiatek remains the most devastating force in tennis: an individual who can annihilate her opponents without much fuss.
And while the 24-year-old’s form at the start of 2026 has failed to inspire so far, history has proven that Swiatek can turn her fortunes around very quickly.
Iga Swiatek’s run to the 2025 Wimbledon title
- Round One: def. Polina Kudermetova — 7–5, 6–1
- Round Two: def. Caty McNally — 5–7, 6–2, 6–1
- Round Three: def. Danielle Collins — 6–2, 6–3
- Round Four: def. Clara Tauson — 6–4, 6–1
- Quarter-final: def. Liudmila Samsonova — 6–7, 7–5, 6–2
- Semi-final: def. Belinda Bencic — 6–2, 6–0
- Final: def. Amanda Anisimova — 6–0, 6–0
