In Rome, Sabalenka puts everyone in agreement

Aryna Sabalenka's 2024 season is following a rather original trajectory. A finalist in Brisbane (beaten by Rybakina) and, above all, a champion at the Australian Open, the Belarusian enjoyed a near-perfect start to the season. But then things went wrong. Losing some of her motivation and then suffering the death of her ex-partner in March, Sabalenka found it hard to stay focused on her tennis. In fact, prior to Madrid, the world number 2 had won just 4 of her 7 matches.

Fortunately, she's back on the winning track. Having arrived in Madrid lacking in confidence, Sabalenka was able to string together a series of often difficult victories. Reinvigorated by this positive spiral, she is once again a scarecrow. After a string of victories over Collins, Andreeva and above all Rybakina, the 26-year-old finally stalled in the final of the Spanish tournament against the world's best player, Iga Swiatek (7-5, 4-6, 7-6).

Entering a tournament in Rome which she has never won, the Belarusian is as impressive as ever. Buoyed by the Italian public's fervent support, she seems unflappable. Thanking her fans after almost every match, she will be in the final this Saturday. Alternating between quiet victories and much more difficult matches, Sabalenka has always been there. Indeed, she saved match points against Svitolina before perfectly mastering Ostapenko and Collins.

Now more than ever world number 2, she has earned the right to a rematch with her Madrid tormentor, Iga Swiatek.

In what is becoming a classic final, the two best players on the planet will meet for the 11th time in their careers, two weeks after their first encounter in Spain. One thing is certain: Sabalenka is establishing herself as the only player capable of regularly challenging the Pole's dominance.