As Rybakina roars again in Slams, a rivalry rekindles

A three-way rivalry in women's tennis has been reignited with Rybakina's last-8 run in Melbourne

- Rutvick Mehta

Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina hits a return against Belgium's Elise Mertens during their Australian Open match in Melbourne on Monday.

(AFP)

Between the quiet sunset of the Big Three reign and the buzzing dawn of a young duopoly in men's tennis, women's tennis revelled in its own three-way rivalry at the top.

Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina gobbled up five straight Grand Slams between them through 2022 and 2023, and were ranked one, two and three, in that order, for a considerable period. Each brought their unique strengths, game style and distinct personality to this trilogy that stabilized the fickle world of women's tennis and played out frequently at the business end of big tournaments.

Over the last couple of years, however, even as Sabalenka bulldozed her way to the No.1 crown while Swiatek still held the fort of consistency in Slams, Rybakina lost a bit of ground to the other two and steam in her own progress.

At this year's hot and humid Australian Open, the 2022 Wimbledon champion has rekindled shades of her Slam-winning self and, with it, the spark of a riveting rivalry.