By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday June 25, 2024
As Wimbledon approaches Iga Swiatek will look to increase her Grand Slam empire to the hallowed lawns of the All England Membership. The World No.1, now a five-time main champion, could have her palms full, nonetheless.
With a recreation seemingly constructed for the pink clay, Swiatek should now start a Grand Slam journey with no aggressive matches on grass beneath her belt, whereas being simply three weeks faraway from a taxing romp by the clay that noticed her play occasions in Stuttgart, Madrid, Rome and Roland-Garros.
Add to that the truth that the Pole has by no means been past the quarterfinals at Wimbledon, and you may see why the duty forward is so daunting.
“She performed a whole lot of tournaments. I do know she talked about how exhausted she was,” 18-time main champion Chris Evert stated in a convention name to advertise ESPN’s protection of the Championships on Tuesday.
Seven-time Roland-Garros champion Evert, who received Wimbledon thrice throughout her storied profession, is aware of higher than any girl the perils of taking part in Wimbledon after a taxing grind in Paris.
“There’s a letdown whenever you win the French Open, whenever you win a serious,” she stated. “There’s an actual letdown. There’s put on and tear on the physique. You’re exhausted.”
🇫🇷 Merci Paris. You’re my favourite place to play, smile and put on some good outfits every so often. 🫶🏼 @rolandgarros pic.twitter.com/uVWxdAbdb4
— Iga Świątek (@iga_swiatek) June 9, 2024
Including complexity to this yr’s equation is the truth that Swiatek and lots of others will head again to the clay this summer season to organize for the Paris Olympic Video games. Perhaps there’s a hazard that some gamers – Swiatek included – won’t absolutely immerse themselves within the quest for grass success as they’d have in different, much less busy seasons.
“At the back of her thoughts, she’s most likely fascinated with the Olympics,” Evert stated. “I ponder the place her head is correct now so far as Wimbledon.”
Even with out the Olympics looming, Wimbledon can be a problem for Swiatek as a result of on grass she offers up a number of the aggressive benefit that she enjoys on her beloved clay.
Evert believes that grass is difficult in some ways for Swiatek.
“It actually is probably the most difficult of all of the majors [for her] due to a number of issues,” she stated. “Her candy spot once more is shoulder excessive the place she hits her winners. Proper now the grass courts bounce a bit of bit decrease. She has to hit the ball between the ankle and the waist. With that western grip, it’s actually laborious to get beneath the ball and to get some form on it.
“She doesn’t win a whole lot of free factors together with her serve, and that’s going to harm her as properly. The great thing about her recreation was the way in which she was sliding on the clay, then the way in which she acquired again into level, again into the court docket so properly. That’s going to be laborious to do additionally on grass.”
Evert believes that the sphere could have extra confidence that they’ll defeat Swiatek, who owns a 9-4 lifetime report at Wimbledon, in comparison with 35-2 lifetime on the Parisian clay, on the grass.
“I simply assume grass is an equalizer for her,” she says. “The opposite gamers, like Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff, they’re going to really feel like she doesn’t have a whole lot of confidence, she’s by no means finished higher than the quarterfinals.”
Then once more, there’s a sure confidence that comes with being a five-time main champion, and Swiatek made important enhancements to her grass-court recreation in 2023, a season that noticed right here reel off a career-best successful streak of seven on the floor earlier than she fell to Elina Svitolina within the quarterfinals at Wimbledon.
Simply because Evert is aware of of the challenges that Swiatek will face this yr on the grass, it does not imply the American legend cannot image Swiatek elevating the Venus Rosewater dish on Saturday July 12.
“There’s no person stronger than her mentally,” Evert stated of Swiatek. “She has a terrific return of serve. I feel she will win Wimbledon. I feel she will. Those who depend her out this yr are foolish.”
A pair of @rolandgarros champions apply at SW19 🤩#Wimbledon | @iga_swiatek | @carlosalcaraz pic.twitter.com/8P1TQ3Ozck
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 24, 2024
A tactical shift?
Talking on the identical ESPN convention name, Patrick McEnroe said his perception that Swiatek’s unwillingness to regulate ways in opposition to massive hitters has led to her downfall. He thinks she ought to take a web page from Novak Djokovic’s playbook and use her world-class motion and racquet expertise to debunk her attackers.
“When she is aggressive and he or she’s on, she’s just about unbeatable,” McEnroe stated. “If somebody can out-hit her, it’s virtually like she needs to out-hit them much more. That’s the place she will get into issues.
“I feel she ought to watch Novak Djokovic, for instance, on grass. Djokovic can play offensive if he must and if he needs to. He may also sit again and play a bit of bit extra of a defensive recreation, utilizing his pace.
“If she truly took a step again and performed a bit of extra share tennis, used her pace and her guile, she may win matches and win majors like Wimbledon or the Australian Open by doing that.”
