In the opening round of Thursday’s final four, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and four-time French Open winner Iga Swiatek square off against complete opposites in terms of skill and mentality, making for an exciting matchup.

In the head-to-head match, the 24-year-old Pole is ahead 8–4. The clay puts Sabalenka’s power game to the test, and she has had trouble finishing on the scoreline on the right side here for a variety of reasons, including upset stomachs and tantrums.

The two top women in the game, ranked not by rankings but by major titles achieved, will compete against the steadiest ship in the women’s tour using their disparate skill sets, which include serve and howitzer strokes.

The five-time major winner Swiatek seems to have settled into clay. She is now having her worst surface run since her initial victory here in 2020. In the fourth round, she defeated Elena Rybakina in a bold three-set match, revealing that although she may have entered the clay court Slam without a championship in the first five months, she was prepared to compete.

While Swiatek, a bookworm, is more of an introvert, the 5′ 11″ Belarusian, who has become friends with Paula Badosa and Ons Jabeur, is a popular figure in the locker room and enjoys dancing and making jokes.

Last year at the WTA Finals in Riyadh, Sabalenka asked Swiatek to do a dance video. “We are getting along better now, but before there was no communication or practice with her” , Sabalenka stated.

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