By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Monday, February 12, 2024
Streaking proper, Iga Swiatek flicked a full-stretch forehand to increase the purpose, ultimately rifling a forehand to finish it.
Defending the sidelines with defiance and delivering declarative strikes from contained in the baseline, Swiatek confirmed very good all-court abilities in her 6-1, 6-1 sweep of Sorana Cirstea on the Qatar Open right this moment.
Extra: Richard Evans Q&A
Two-time defending champion Swiatek scored her ninth straight Doha win in her first match since falling within the Australian Open third spherical final month.
Afterward, Swiatek mentioned enjoying her greatest tennis is a balancing act.
Great timing and athleticism enable Swiatek to step into the court docket, take the ball on rise and play attacking tennis.
On the identical time, Swiatek’s distinctive pace and court docket protection and her skill to play heavy topspin forehands empower her to play nice protection.
Is Swiatek at her greatest as a point-extender or point-extinguisher?
She believes it is a steadiness of each.
“I’ve occasions the place I really feel, yeah, like, I am enjoying typically even too aggressively,” Swiatek informed the media in Doha. “So I am nonetheless studying find out how to steadiness that to make use of all these benefits that, you understand, being a terrific protection participant and having this, you understand, skill to play excessive topspin and the balls which are going to push my opponent farther from the baseline and then again having the ability to typically go ahead and play extra flat.”
The world No. 1 is celebrating her ninetieth week on the high of the rankings.
Making use of her all-court abilities on the proper time is one thing Swiatek says she’s nonetheless studying to handle. Working with coach Thomasz Wiktorowski, Swiatek mentioned it is about unlocking the suitable ways for the opponent, floor and match circumstances at hand.
“I really feel like I can do each, however I really feel like I nonetheless have to be taught, you understand, find out how to handle it the easiest way and decide the suitable options and proper tournaments and proper surfaces,” Swiatek mentioned. “However my coach is basically good and he has eye, so he at all times tells me what would be the most suitable choice, in order that’s actually useful.”
Three of Swiatek’s 4 Grand Slam titles have come on Roland Garros’ crimson clay, however the 2022 US Open champion has received 10 of her 17 titles on laborious court docket.
This week, Swiatek is bidding to change into the primary lady to three-peat as champion on the Tour-level since Serena Williams received three consecutive Miami Open crowns from 2013-2015.
Photograph credit score: Robert Prange/Getty
