WTA star feels ‘special’ Iga Swiatek is ‘the real No 1’ over Aryna Sabalenka
Liudmila Samsonova has claimed that Iga Swiatek is still the “real” world No 1 despite losing top spot in the WTA Rankings to Aryna Sabalenka.
The world No 15 has revealed she “felt something special” when she started to know Swiatek better and “got closer” to the Polish star.
Samsonova has lost all three of her meetings with four-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek, with the first clash a close three-set battle in the 2022 Stuttgart semi-finals.
The Polish star then crushed the 24-year-old Russian 6-1, 6-0 in the last 16 in Dubai in February this year, before the pair faced off again in Beijing this month.
In the final of the China Open, Swiatek earned a convincing 6-2, 6-2 triumph over Samsonova to win her sixth WTA 1000 tournament in her eighth final. Samsonova was competing in her second WTA 1000 final, having lost to Jessica Pegula in the Canadian Open title match in August.
Swiatek lost the world No 1 ranking to Aryna Sabalenka following the US Open last month, with her last 16 defeat to Jelena Ostapenko at Flushing Meadows confirming the end of her first reign at the top. Her 75-week streak was the third-longest in WTA history for a first-time No 1, behind Steffi Graf and Martina Hingis.
Speaking to the media ahead of the WTA Elite Trophy, Samsonova did not hesitate to pick Swiatek when asked who she felt was the best player in the women’s game.
“Iga, 100%. I’m feeling she’s the real No. 1. We were speaking together in the final of Beijing. She came to me and she was very nice during the ceremony. It was like, ‘I know sometimes it’s tough.’ When I started to know her better and maybe be closer to her, I felt something special,” explained the Russian.
Samsonova：Iga swiatek is the best player in the world. pic.twitter.com/R07kliJqz9
— TennisMao (@AfiSeer73403) October 26, 2023
Samsonova was also asked if she holds respect for the Pole after losing to her, to which she replied: “Yes, a lot. A lot.”
The world No 15 is competing this week at the WTA Elite trophy in Zhuhai – the second-tier women’s year-end championships.
She defeated Chinese wildcard Lin Zhu 2-6, 6-2, 6-1 in her opening match on Thursday and is currently in action against compatriot Veronika Kudermetova in the final Group D match. A victory would ensure Samsonova’s progress to the semi-final stage of the event.
