This does not prove Zoro is superior over Sanji.
Sanji not making it to the roof had nothing to do with his strength or lack of strength by some people standards. Killer was on the roof too and now he is clashing with Hawkins.
Killer is owning Hawkings left and right btw. He may struggle now that Kid is being used as a hostage, that doesn't make Killer inferior to Hawkins though.
You say a rivalry does not necessary has to do with strength. That may be true with some rivalries but not Zoro and Sanji. They always try to outclass each other using their strength and combat abilities.
As far as I am concerned, the only thing Sanji's rivalry with Zoro proves in regards to strength is that he is not weak enough for Zoro to ignore him akin to someone like Franky or Usopp. Lucci had a similar and more intense dynamic with Jyabura, and we know for a fact that Jyabura is less than half as strong as Lucci.