For the first year since 2021, Iga Swiatek failed to finished as World #1 with Aryna Sabalenka taking her place. This is indicative of a fall from dominance from a once-unbeatable force. The Pole holds the longest winning streak on the WTA Tour, standing at 37 matches. Since then though, she has struggled to reacquire this sense of invincibility. Here on Last Word on Tennis, we analyse how she can return to these mammoth heights.
The Steps Iga Swiatek Must Make
While a Grand Slam total of five is nothing short of spectacular for a 23-year-old, considering the position she once held in the sport, that count could be even higher. Perhaps, and rather unfairly, the lack of diversity amongst those Slams will be a point of criticism. Of the five major successes she has enjoyed, four have come at the French Open.
A Rafael Nadal fan at heart, it’s almost poetic how she has turned the Paris clay courts into her very own back garden.
Clearly her game on grass is a work in progress to be polite; her movement seems restricted, and her strokes look rushed. Why, though, on the hard courts has she found it so tough to translate her game onto the biggest stage? Besides, it’s not as though it’s been a heart-breaking story of near misses. Of the eight she hasn’t won, she has reached two semifinals, made the quarterfinal on one occasion, and exited earlier the other five times.
One plausible explanation, and quite a popular one at that, is the lack of flexibility in her game plan. Clearly, she understands that her game must develop, as she has tweaked technical elements from time to time, especially with her serve. However, in the heat of the moment she struggles to adapt when things aren’t falling her way.
In tennis there is a fine line between belief and delusion; sometimes the lack of a Plan B can be paraded as a strength. One may say it shows an unwavering amount of self-belief. At what point though does it border into insanity and self-sabotage? We see this in other sports–the idealist versus the pragmatic football manager is always a fascinating clash.
Another explanation though could be her mentality. Truthfully, the World #2 had things all her own way for so long that the ability to fight back wasn’t a necessity; she was breezing through matches.
This could be part of the reason that matches can quickly fall out of her grasp. Despite her immense talent she hasn’t developed the ability to win from behind.
Another example would be when she lost to Jessica Pegula 6-2 6-4 at the US Open and burst into tears on court. On one hand it shows how much the game means to her, but it also could reveal a fragility that most other players at the top of the game either don’t have or keep bottled up. There is such a thing as caring too much.
On the other hand, it is likely more of a technical issue. On her favorite clay courts, she has shown moments of immense mental strength, including her three-sets comeback against Naomi Osaka earlier this year.
One of Many Exciting Stories to Anticipate in 2025
As tennis fans, we are set for a whirlwind 2025 season, there are so many storylines; Swiatek is just one of them. Elena Rybakina will try to rediscover her spark as she pairs with Goran Ivanisevic. Coco Gauff and Qinwen Zheng will look to continue their form into next year. Meanwhile Naomi Osaka, Bianca Andreescu, Ons Jabeur, and Paula Badosa will look to restate their place at the top of the game. Not to mention the likes of Emma Navarro, Diana Shnaider, and Mirra Andreeva showing terrific promise this season.
