Just how much the world No 2 has closed the gap on her rival could become clear on the slow clay in Italy
Early in the second set of the Madrid Open final, Aryna Sabalenka was in full flow. After planting herself inside the baseline, Sabalenka unloaded on her nuclear groundstrokes, slamming the ball from side to side. Each time she seemed to have landed the decisive blow, though Iga Swiatek would slide into view in the nick of time, her supreme defence keeping her alive. It took 10 strokes until Sabalenka finally drilled a crosscourt backhand winner past her.
The point was an example of the impact that Swiatek herself has had on the players beneath her. A year ago, the world No 1’s defensive prowess would have elicited an unforced error from Sabalenka in a similar situation. But the Belarusian spent her off-season working hard in Miami on pushing herself to new athletic heights with Swiatek in mind; her footwork was spectacular. Even when she was pushed back behind the baseline or out of position, she skipped around the ball with pristine footwork and gave herself sufficient space to unload again.