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Elena Rybakina, Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek have all enjoyed excellent starts to the season.
Sabalenka bagged the Adelaide International 1 and Australian Open titles. It was then Swiatek's turn as she won the Qatar Open and finished runner-up at the Dubai Tennis Championships.
Rybakina made the Australian Open final in January and clinched the Indian Wells title on Sunday (March 19), beating Swiatek and Sabalenka en route.
With each player at the top of their game, tennis fans are excited about the prospect of an intense rivalry developing between the trio. However, Rybakina has opined that it is too early to frame it as a rivalry considering the season has only just begun.
"I mean, I think it's still too early because it's too many tournaments ahead . Yeah, I mean, for now it's like this but as I said, the season is still too long. So, we'll see how it's gonna end," she said in a conversation with the WTA Insider Podcast.
Rybakina remarked that the real challenge is about who can maintain their level in the long run.
"For sure three of us are in a very good start to the season and the question is who can maintain this level," said the World No. 7.
She continued:
"Yeah, of couse the start of the season is important because it gives bit more confidence but at the same time, it's still not easy, the changes in surface."
Elena Rybakina, Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka to take part in Miami Open 2023
Elena Rybakina, Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka will next be seen in action at the 2023 Miami Open. Main-draw matches are set to commence on Tuesday (March 21).
The trio have earned direct entry to the second round owing to their seeding. Their Round of 64 opponents are yet to be decided.
Swiatek enters the tournament as the defending champion. She trounced Naomi Osaka 6-4, 6-0 in the final last season.
Sabalenka and Rybakina, on the other hand, had disappointing outings in Miami last year. The Belarusian lost 6-4, 6-4 against Irina-Camelia Begu in the second round while the Kazakh fell in the third round at the hands of Jessica Pegula, 6-3, 6-4.
