The media Maria Sharapova, winner of five majors and number one in 2005, mentioned in her day that she, in particular, did not quite see the idea of getting along with the rivals on the circuit. “I find it difficult to have dinner with someone one night and have to play against them two days later, because at the end of the day it is an individual sport and we are all very competitive. The typical thing in sport is that we try to beat each other…”, the Russian ironically pointed out, following the traditional line of the old paradigm of a very equal discipline in which every last detail counts; Everything, even any trifle or any nuance of behavior, can be a clue for him or the person opposite. This does not seem to matter too much to Paula Badosa and Aryna Sabalenka, who will meet in the semifinals in Australia this Thursday (9.30, Eurosport and Max).
“We handle it quite normally, calmly. Many times we write messages to each other before games. We know how to separate things very well. We admire and respect each other. It’s going to be a battle on the court, of course, but off it, our relationship is very good,” says the Spaniard, who met the Belarusian three years ago in Los Angeles. From there, friendship arose and both have competed on more than one occasion as a doubles couple, in addition to sharing dances on social networks and good times all over the world and in Dubai, where they reside. “We are friends, but on the court we are competitors and there is no room for friendship,” clarifies the one from Minsk, champion of the last two editions of the tournament and superior overall of the seven matches they have played so far; 5-2 in their favor, the five wins in a row.
The good vibes between them escapes the old trend and expresses that in new times players tend to get closer, beyond the logical distances marked by the competitive environment. There continue to be frictions and disagreements, but the change in the game is also accompanied by a new relational model, in which the players do not see themselves so much as enemies, but rather come closer to the term used by Sabalenka herself: competitors. Logically, the stratum usually defines the greater or lesser narrowness between some and others, but generation Z tends to get closer. For example, the link between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, marked by good tone and praise; different, without going any further, than what has existed between Nadal and Djokovic or the Serbian and Federer, for example.
“At first they didn’t accept me. “I understood the message: we are rivals, nothing more,” the man from Belgrade recently explained in an interview with the magazine GQ. “They are all very nice, but this is what competition has. Tennis is very competitive and in the end, it is like that; It is a sacrifice that must be made with so much activity, week after week. Really, I don’t have friends on the circuit, it’s difficult to make them,” Garbiñe Muguruza explained at the time, who found ice and contrasted the same recipe in full challenge to Serena Williams. “I have known very well how to put aside fascination when competing against her,” she described in a letter published by Morning Express when the North American said goodbye three years ago. For China’s Qinwen Zheng, the current world number five, friendship with teammates is simply inconceivable.
Equipment and islands
“I decided not to make friends here,” she admitted in December, within the framework of the Teachers’ Cup. “I’m here to compete, to win, so I prefer to keep my distance. I feel like if I make friends with someone and then have to play against them, I won’t be able to concentrate and fight 100%. When I had to shout ‘come on!’, I wouldn’t be able to do it because I would feel a little weird. There are many people outside of tennis. Sometimes I congratulate them [a las rivales] for their great season, but I don’t talk to them. I’m not looking to do it,” said the Asian tennis player, far from the conciliatory discourse of players like Coco Gauff or Ons Jabeur. “It’s not difficult for me. I think that most of us girls, I would say 99%, strive to be good on and off the court, because in the end, we are going to be co-workers for 10 or 15 years,” reasons the American.
Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert faced each other 80 times (43-37 for the first) and symbolize one of the bitterest rivals in history. There was maximum friction between them in sports, beyond the fact that the second ruled out competing together in doubles to avoid giving unnecessary clues, but outside the courts they have shared a message and reciprocal support. In contrast, the sparks that flew on the men’s circuit in the eighties are well known. However, one of the icons of that time, Mats Wilander, considers that today professionals are islands due to the type of structure that is articulated around them. “When you’re up there you isolate yourself, although my rivals ended up becoming my friends,” he told Behind the racquet; “But today, all the players are isolated in their teams.”
For the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, it is not entirely easy to make friends in the professional field: “I would love to have friends on the circuit, but I don’t identify with many of them because of my vision of life.” In return, the racket has brought him love. His romantic partner, Badosa, however, tends to empathize with numerous players, although none like Sabalenka. “She is the best,” says the 27-year-old Spaniard. “And she is my favorite,” goes to number one, 26. “I think what she and Swiatek are doing [en el trono durante 125 semanas, hasta que fue desbancada por la bielorrusa en septiembre, coincidiendo con la consecución de su tercer major] It has a lot of value and helps our sport. Fans need references,” the Spanish woman answers to this newspaper.
This Thursday, Badosa faces a superlative challenge, taking into account that Sabalenka has had 19 consecutive victories in Melbourne, where she has not lost since the round of 16 in 2022. “Aryna is showing why she is number one. She is being very consistent, very aggressive, very intense. It is always very difficult to face her. I did it last year, but I don’t think I was as fit as I am now. I’m really looking forward to the match,” says the Catalan, reciprocated by the WTA boss, who suffered in the previous round: “Paula is a great player and has been through a lot. He has recovered his best game and that makes me happy. I have watched his games and he is doing very well, but I have to focus on myself. I have to be aggressive and put a lot of pressure on him. “I’m definitely looking forward to playing.”
