{"id":1834885,"date":"2026-03-19T13:15:36","date_gmt":"2026-03-19T10:15:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1834885"},"modified":"2026-03-19T13:15:36","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T10:15:36","slug":"former-world-no-9-reveals-fantasy-for-womens-tennis-as-she-names-potential-big-four","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1834885","title":{"rendered":"Former world No 9 reveals &#8216;fantasy for women&#8217;s tennis&#8217; as she names potential Big Four"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"ps-article-content rounded-lg lg:mt-5 lg:border lg:border-card lg:bg-card lg:shadow-primary\">\n<header>\n<h1 class=\"py-4 text-xl font-normal text-title sm:text-2xl\">Former world No 9 reveals \u2018fantasy for women\u2019s tennis\u2019 as she names potential Big Four<\/h1>\n<div class=\"my-2 flex items-center justify-between\">\n<div class=\"flex items-center\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/author\/shahidaj\" class=\"text-sm font-normal !text-author\"><br \/>\n                            Shahida Jacobs                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <time class=\"ml-3 text-sm font-normal text-info md:ml-4\" datetime=\"19 Mar 2026 1:15 PM\" data-ps-date=\"19 Mar 2026 1:15 PM\" data-ps-datetime=\"1773926136\"><br \/>\n                            19 Mar 2026 1:15 PM                        <\/time>\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"hidden justify-end space-x-4 text-xl sm:flex sm:!opacity-100\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 hidden dark:block h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_dark.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 dark:hidden h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_light.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/former-world-no-9-reveals-fantasy-for-womens-tennis-as-she-names-potential-big-four\" class=\"!text-info hover:!text-brand\" aria-label=\"Share to facebook\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tennis365.com%2Ftennis-news%2Fformer-world-no-9-reveals-fantasy-for-womens-tennis-as-she-names-potential-big-four\" class=\"!text-info hover:!text-brand\" aria-label=\"Share to twitter\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        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<\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"sm:hidden flex items-center space-x-5\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 hidden dark:block h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_dark.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 dark:hidden h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_light.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <button id=\"t365-article-share-btn-hidden\" class=\"mr-2 hidden h-6 w-6 appearance-none border-none !text-share-icon outline-none hover:!text-share-icon-active sm:hidden\" data-title=\"Former world No 9 reveals \u2018fantasy for women\u2019s tennis\u2019 as she names potential Big Four\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/button>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5 border-b border-page\"><\/div>\n<section>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5\">\n<figure class=\"aspect-h-9 aspect-w-16 relative\">\n                                        <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1320\" height=\"742\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"w-full h-full object-cover object-center !my-0\" src=\"https:\/\/d2me2qg8dfiw8u.cloudfront.net\/content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Elena-Rybakina-and-Aryna-Sabalenka-1320x742.jpg\" alt=\"Pictured: Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka with Australian Open trophies\">                <\/figure><figcaption class=\"flex items-center space-x-3 border-b border-mobile-caption px-3 lg:border-caption\">\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"my-1.5 break-words !text-xs !text-content\">\n                                Rybakina and Sabalenka with Australian Open trophies                            <\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<div class=\"ciam-article-t365\">\n<p>Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina are currently the \u201cmain rivalry\u201d on the WTA Tour, but former player Andrea Petkovic believes women\u2019s tennis could see a \u201cfour-player rivalry\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>The duo have met in three of the biggest finals in recent months as Rybakina beat Sabalenka at the WTA Finals last November and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/australian-open\/elena-rybakina-explains-key-change-australian-open-final-win-over-sabalenka\">the Australian Open in January<\/a> before the Belarusian hit back with victory in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/aryna-sabalenka-elena-rybakina-prize-money-ranking-points-indian-wells-open\">last week\u2019s Indian Wells Open final<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The WTA 1000 final in California was a highly entertaining encounter as it went to three sets with Sabalenka saving a match point before winning to secure her 23rd career title.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/elena-rybakina\">Rybakina<\/a> also had plenty of reason to celebrate despite finishing runner-up as she broke into t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-features\/wta-rankings-elena-rybakina-and-every-woman-to-peak-at-world-no-2\">he top two of the WTA Rankings<\/a> for the first time in her career after the tournament and there is no doubt that the top two have separated themselves from the chasing pack.<\/p>\n<p>Former world No 9 Petkovic told Tennis Channel: \u201cYes, I do think this is the main rivalry in women\u2019s tennis right now. I think that\u2019s what women\u2019s tennis was lacking \u2014 those recurring matchups where the top players face each other over and over again in big finals.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Unlike on the ATP Tour, where Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner dominate the big titles, the women\u2019s events are usually spread more evenly as four different women won Grand Slams last year, while seven players won WTA 1000 titles.<\/p>\n<p>The German added: \u201cThat was the one thing we didn\u2019t have. We had top players winning consistently, and fewer surprises \u2014 for example, all eight seeds making the quarter-finals at the Australian Open this year, which hadn\u2019t happened in 16 years.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut this is what we needed \u2014 a real, defining rivalry.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>WTA Features<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/wta-rankings-race-to-riyadh-aryna-sabalenka-closes-gap-elena-rybakina-victoria-mboko-coco-gauff-iga-swiatek\"><strong>WTA Rankings Race To Riyadh: Sabalenka closes gap to Rybakina, Mboko 5th, Gauff &amp; Swiatek trailing<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/wta-miami-open-predictions-sabalenka-rybakina-rivalry-continues-swiatek-faces-more-disappointment\"><strong>Miami Open Predictions: Sabalenka &amp; Rybakina rivalry continues, Swiatek faces more disappointment<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Swiatek has dropped to No 3 in the rankings as she is yet to win a singles title this year while Coco Gauff sits at No 4, but both have lacked consistency in recent months.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI wouldn\u2019t make it a direct comparison to Alcaraz vs Sinner, though,\u201d Petkovic said. \u201cI still think players like Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek, and even Jessica Pegula can break through that rivalry more than others can on the men\u2019s side.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPart of that is the format \u2013 best-of-five sets in men\u2019s tennis makes dominance more consistent. If the women played best-of-five, I think it might look different.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She continued: \u201cI would put Amanda Anisimova slightly behind them for now, because she still needs to develop her defensive game.\u201d For the Dubai champion, age is against her. \u201cJessica Pegula is right there in terms of level, but she\u2019s a little older \u2014 that\u2019s probably why I\u2019d leave her just outside that core group.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor me, the dream scenario is a four-player rivalry \u2013 if everyone reaches their full potential. That would be my fantasy for women\u2019s tennis.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Former world No 9 reveals \u2018fantasy for women\u2019s tennis\u2019 as she names potential Big Four Shahida Jacobs 19 Mar 2026 1:15 PM Rybakina and Sabalenka with Australian Open trophies Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina are currently the \u201cmain rivalry\u201d on the WTA Tour, but former player Andrea Petkovic believes women\u2019s tennis could see a \u201cfour-player [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,249],"class_list":["post-1834885","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-tennis365-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1834885","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1834885"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1834885\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1834885"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1834885"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1834885"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}