For years, Serena Williams’ shadow has loomed large over women’s tennis—not just through her 23 Grand Slam triumphs but through the sheer dominance she brought to every ranking chart. Now, in 2025, Aryna Sabalenka has carved out a chapter of her own that demands comparison. With her entry into the elite 10,000-point club, the Belarusian powerhouse joins a rare lineage that once included names like Serena, Iga Swiatek, and Ashleigh Barty. But how close is she to Williams’ once-unreachable standard?

A few years ago, Sabalenka was known for her raw aggression and untamed power—a force capable of destroying anyone on her day, yet equally prone to self-destruction. Fast forward to now, and that wild energy has been refined into championship steel. Her consistency over the past two seasons—with multiple WTA 1000 titles and Grand Slam deep runs—has transformed her from an unpredictable contender into the undisputed face of the WTA Tour. This year, she won four singles titles (including the US Open triumph) and managed to put up a win-loss record of 59-11.

Owing to this impressive run of form, Aryna Sabalenka has now become the eighth player to join the elite 10k club. 

So, as things stand, Sabalenka is still 3,215 points behind reaching Serena Williams' staggering record achieved in the 2013 season. In that season, Williams reached 13 finals and won 11 titles. She won the French Open title and the US Open that year and finished the year as the world number one.

For the defending champion, Aryna Sabalenka, it was a good chance to increase her points at the 2025 Wuhan Open, but her title defense came to an end at the hands of America’s Jessica Pegula. As a result of that, she dropped 610 points. So, as things stand, Sabalenka now has a 1,632 lead against Swiatek in the Live WTA Rankings. The Belarusian will most probably end the year as the world number one. But how does the tennis world look at the performances of both Swiatek and Sabalenka in 2025?

Tracy Austin rates Aryna Sabalenka’s season in comparison with Iga Swiatek

If we take a look at their records this season, both of them have managed to win one Grand Slam title each, but Aryna Sabalenka has won four titles in total, in comparison to Iga Swiatek’s three. Sabalenka has a win percentage of 84.3% this year, but for Swiatek it’s 80.3%.

Due to Sabalenka’s dominance on the WTA Tour, former pro Tracy Austin claims the Belarusian has had a better season than the Pole. During an interview with Tennis Channel, Austin said, “Without a doubt, it’s Sabalenka. Sabalenka has won four titles, so she’s won more than Swiatek. Swiatek has won three; it’s kind of come at the end of the year, kind of towards the middle, and towards the end. Also, four other finals, [Sabalenka] has gone deeper in the majors.”

She further added, “[Sabalenka] has been the most successful player this year, with the most wins, and I think that’s why it was so important for her to cap it off with that US Open title. But it was good to see Swiatek start to play better.”

However, if we take a look at their overall record in major tournaments, Iga Swiatek has so far managed to win six Grand Slam titles, but that number is currently four for the Belarusian.

With the 2026 AO just a few months away, Aryna Sabalenka will be keen to regain her dominance on the major stages. But having said that, recently, when she was thrown a random question about matching Serena Williams’ staggering 23 Grand Slam record, she said, “Of course, I want to (break records), but it’s going to be really tough to compete with the Grand Slam titles that Serena has.”

What are your thoughts on this honest opinion from the current world number one? Do you think she can really close the gap with Serena Williams by winning a few more major titles next year? 

Also, as the Belarusian queen continues to crush forehands and silence doubters, one thing is clear: 10,000 points is not her finish line—it’s just the next launchpad.

Written by

Sayantan Roy

Sayantan Roy is a seasoned tennis journalist at EssentiallySports. He brings a deep tactical understanding to his coverage, breaking down head-to-head records, match dynamics, and on-court strategies with precision. For more than two years, Sayantan has been a key member of the Live Events desk, delivering real-time insights and data-backed predictions for the platform’s Matchday Preview section. His analytical approach has sparked editorial debates and drawn recognition from respected tennis voices, including commentator and analyst Olly_Tennis. Combining his experience in writing with a passion for insightful sports journalism, Sayantan’s work serves as a trusted reference point for tennis fans around the world.

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Edited by

Shrabana Sengupta