Iga Swiatek 'the Rafael Nadal of women's big three' with Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka - Mats Wilander

Updated 23/03/2023 at 07:46 GMT

Iga Swiatek to assume the mantle of Rafael Nadal in a new 'women's big three'? That's the view of Mats Wilander, who also sees a bit of Novak Djokovic in Elena Rybakina. Chris Evert put forward the suggestion to Eurosport of a new trio leading the way at the head of the women's game, and it's not hard to see why as Swiatek, Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka hoover up the wins in 2023.

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Iga Swiatek is going to be "the Rafael Nadal of the women's 'big three'", thinks Mats Wilander.

Wilander's fellow tennis legend Chris Evert recently shared her opinion to Eurosport that a triumvirate - akin to that of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic - could be in the process of forming in the women's game, namely Swiatek, Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka.

"I see a rivalry with those three that could be very interesting," Evert said.

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"We thought when Serena [Williams] retired, 'oh, my gosh, women's tennis is in trouble, and where's the next champion going to come from?' I think we're looking at where the next champion is going to come from - if not three great champions."

And Wilander has now gone one further, assessing who might assume each role of the revered male trio.

"That's an incredible credit to Sabalenka, Rybakina and Swiatek," Wilander, talking to Eurosport's Arnold Montgault, begun.

"When Chris Evert calls them Roger, Rafa and Novak, the 'big three' already, I can see what she means because they all have their own weapons, and when they are playing at their best, I don't think there is a women's player out there that can disturb them at the moment.

"I think you need someone like [former world No. 1] Justine Henin to be able to destroy the rhythm that Sabalenka, Rybakina and Swiatek get into sometimes.

Elena Rybakina holds the trophy at the 2023 Indian Wells Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 19, 2023 in Indian Wells, California

Image credit: Getty Images

"There are different surfaces where they're going to be better and I think they've proved that already.

"I think Swiatek is going to be dominating, and she's going to be the Nadal of the 'big three'.

"I think Sabalenka needs a little bit faster courts because I believe that she moves a little bit better than Rybakina, but she's not as consistent in terms of her strokes and her serve. So a faster court would be better for her, which is still the Australian Open.

"And now you see Rybakina, she can play on anything. Absolutely. And she might be the one in the end that the other two are most worried about because Rybakina is calm, huge serve, so complete in terms of the groundstrokes and willing to learn more things.

"But it's the attitude that I think makes her maybe the Djokovic out of the three, meaning she's not really worried about the other two."