By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday June 25, 2024
As Wimbledon approaches Iga Swiatek will look to develop her Grand Slam empire to the hallowed lawns of the All England Membership. The World No.1, now a five-time main champion, may have her palms full, nevertheless.
With a recreation seemingly constructed for the purple clay, Swiatek should now begin a Grand Slam journey with no aggressive matches on grass below her belt, whereas being simply three weeks faraway from a taxing romp by way of 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’ll see why the duty forward is so daunting.
“She performed a variety 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 lady the perils of taking part in Wimbledon after a taxing grind in Paris.
“There’s a letdown once you win the French Open, once you win a significant,” 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 from time to time. 🫶🏼 @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 plenty 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 totally immerse themselves within the quest for grass success as they’d have in different, much less busy seasons.
“Behind her thoughts, she’s in all probability fascinated by the Olympics,” Evert stated. “I’m wondering the place her head is true now so far as Wimbledon.”
Even with out the Olympics looming, Wimbledon could be a problem for Swiatek as a result of on grass she provides 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 definitely is essentially 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 bit decrease. She has to hit the ball between the ankle and the waist. With that western grip, it’s actually onerous to get beneath the ball and to get some form on it.
“She doesn’t win a variety of free factors along with her serve, and that’s going to harm her as properly. The great thing about her recreation was the best way she was sliding on the clay, then the best way she bought again into level, again into the courtroom so properly. That’s going to be onerous to do additionally on grass.”
Evert believes that the sphere may have extra confidence that they’ll defeat Swiatek, who owns a 9-4 lifetime document at Wimbledon, in comparison with 35-2 lifetime on the Parisian clay, on the grass.
“I simply suppose 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 variety of confidence, she’s by no means achieved 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 profitable 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 fantastic return of serve. I believe she will be able to win Wimbledon. I believe she will be able to. Those who rely 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 towards large 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 nearly like she needs to out-hit them much more. That’s the place she will get into issues.
“I believe she ought to watch Novak Djokovic, for instance, on grass. Djokovic can play offensive if he must and if he needs to. He may sit again and play a bit bit extra of a defensive recreation, utilizing his pace.
“If she truly took a step again and performed a bit extra proportion tennis, used her pace and her guile, she may win matches and win majors like Wimbledon or the Australian Open by doing that.”