I know that she always berates Zoro as she (rightfully) assumes that he looks down on women
We already argued about this, and if you keep up with this idiocy I will put you on my ignore list.
This trully was unnecessary since unrelated with the point I am making, with which I simply want to aklowledge Tashigi as one of Zoro's rival in his journey, and you typed it just to knowingly provoke me.
unlike Tashigi, Koby had consistent focus in the narrative and power since Marine Ford. Tashigi hasn't been relevant for a decade, and has no impact on the narrative. I should also mention that Koby had more exponential growth and is stronger than even Smoker at this point. There's no reason to believe Tashigi will be in any way notable in strength.
You can't be serious. The last thing you can describe Koby's growth with is the word "consistent": he is an inept kid on vol. 1, appears 400 chapters after Ennies Lobby later and he suddenly has grown up, but all the way to Marineford combat-wise he stays patetic. Then reappears now and has a huge growth in fighting capability and ap.
He is obviously more important than Tashigi because he is related to Luffy and not Zoro, that's not rocket science, but narratively wise? Both have the same role, rivals to the protagonists of the opposing faction.
You are simply holding double standards for them.
- And I will go as far as saying, so far the most important of the two has instead been Tashigi. Koby didn't have an active role in any of the Straw Hats arc, while Tashigi had two (Alabasta, Punk Hazard), and she had interactions not only with Zoro but also Nami and Sanji, while Koby only talked with Luffy and only barely knows Zoro, he is unknown to the rest. -
Tashigi hasn't been relevant for a decade
This doesn't take away anything from her character. There are countless of characters in One Piece that do not have relevant screentime for decades and more, it does not harm their role in the story taken as a whole, nor does it invalidate what they have been.
when did she show interest in defeating Zoro as of recent?
You are grasping for straws here.
What does it matter of the last time was recent, in Punk Hazard, in Logue Town or at Ipponmatsu's shop? Tashigi and Zoro interactions at Logue Town are as important as anything that comes after, you can't belittle it for simply being not recent...
Tashigi declared that she will defeat Zoro and take from him the Wado Ichimonji, then with the latest interactions between them it only became much and more personal, especially from her, who justifies him looking down on her on the fact that she is a woman, but the truth is simply that she is not a threat for him, YET.
So what exactly do you need more? Or are you just denying it for the sake of it?