Elena Rybakina has emerged as the most challenging rival for Iga Swiatek, according to her coach Wim Fissette. Despite Swiatek’s dominance in recent years, Rybakina holds a rare winning head-to-head record against the Polish star, showcasing her evident ability to thrive in high-stakes matchups.
The reigning French Open champion has maintained a stronghold over the WTA Tour, with five Grand Slam titles and an impressive 150 weeks at world No. 1. However, Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, has repeatedly disrupted Swiatek’s otherwise commanding record, holding a 4-2 advantage in their head-to-head battles.
Swiatek claimed their first meeting in Ostrava in 2021 with a straight-sets victory and added another win in the Doha final earlier this year, triumphing 7-6(8), 6-2. Yet Rybakina’s consistent ability to challenge Swiatek’s strengths has led to memorable wins, including back-to-back victories at the Australian Open and Indian Wells in 2023. The Kazakh ace also secured a hard-fought win in Stuttgart this spring, handing Swiatek her only clay-court loss of the season.
Rybakina’s unique record against Swiatek places her among an elite group of players capable of troubling the world’s best. While Aryna Sabalenka, the current world No. 1, trails Swiatek 4-8 in their rivalry, Rybakina has managed to exploit key moments in their encounters. Even Jelena Ostapenko, another tough opponent for Swiatek, leads their rivalry 4-0 but perhaps lacks the consistency on tour that Rybakina has demonstrated.
When asked about Swiatek’s most difficult opponent, Wim Fissette didn’t hesitate: “Rybakina.” So no sign of the 2 others, Aryna Sabalenka (8-4) or Jelena Ostapenko (4-0). As someone who has coached Grand Slam champions like Naomi Osaka and Angelique Kerber, his assessment highlights the Kazakh’s rise as a consistent threat to the top players. Swiatek’s incredible mental toughness and dominance against most rivals make Rybakina’s achievements all the more striking.
As Swiatek and Fissette continue to refine their partnership, the rivalry with Rybakina promises to add another compelling layer to the WTA Tour in 2025. Both players will aim to sharpen their games with new coaches in their corners: Wim Fissette for Swiatek and none other than Goran Ivanisevic for Rybakina.