Women’s tennis has been lacking a captivating rivalry in recent years. With Serena Williams dominating the sport for so long, no one was able to truly challenge her on a consistent basis. Even her sister Venus, who came closest to matching Serena’s prowess, couldn’t create a rivalry that captivated fans. While they had a few memorable matches, it wasn’t enough to create a catalog of rivalries that the sport could rely on. If only Naomi Osaka had emerged during Serena’s prime instead of towards the end of her career.
However, there may be hope on the horizon. Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka are emerging as potential rivals that could fill the void in women’s tennis. They recently faced off in the business end of a second consecutive Grand Slam tournament, with Sabalenka ultimately winning the Australian Open semifinal. While it wasn’t as epic as their classic US Open Final showdown from last September, it showcased the potential for a compelling rivalry.
So, what makes Gauff and Sabalenka the perfect candidates to create a much-needed rivalry in women’s tennis?
1. Styles make fights: A good tennis rivalry, like any other sports rivalry, requires contrasting styles of play. The Federer-Nadal rivalry worked because their styles were so different. Federer was elegant and graceful, while Nadal was forceful and relentless. Gauff and Sabalenka offer a similar contrast. Sabalenka relies on pure power with a huge serve and big groundstrokes, while Gauff excels in defense and has the ability to chase down every ball. Their different approaches to the game create a push and pull dynamic that can make for exciting matches.
2. A slight level of annoyance: While it doesn’t have to be personal, a rivalry benefits from a level of annoyance between the players. In their recent encounters, Sabalenka has shown signs of frustration when her shots, which would typically be winners against other opponents, are repeatedly returned by Gauff. Gauff’s ability to retrieve seemingly impossible shots forces Sabalenka to redouble her efforts, leading to more errors. This irritation only adds fuel to the rivalry and makes for compelling matches.
3. Frequency: Both Gauff and Sabalenka seem destined to face each other frequently in the coming years. Sabalenka has been a consistent presence in the latter stages of Grand Slam tournaments, while Gauff has made back-to-back Grand Slam semifinals. Both players are now ranked in the top five, and if they continue to perform at their best, their paths are likely to cross often. With their rising status in the tennis world, they have the potential to create a long-lasting and memorable rivalry.
While women’s tennis has been lacking a great rivalry in recent years, Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka have the potential to change that. Their contrasting styles of play, the slight level of annoyance between them, and the likelihood of frequent encounters make them the perfect candidates to fill the void. Tennis fans can look forward to thrilling matches and a renewed sense of excitement in women’s tennis thanks to this emerging rivalry.
