Mats Wilander thinks WTA players have “figured out” how to play Iga Swiatek and the forced break might benefit the Pole ahead of the clay season. Last year, Swiatek enjoyed one of the most dominant seasons in recent memory and she finished the season with eight titles and just nine losses.
But Swiatek hasn’t been that dominant at the start of the 2023 season as she has just one title and owns a 16-4 record. “I think the explanation why Swiatek hasn’t been winning as much this year as she did last year, it’s because the players have figured out how to play her.
I think it started with Pegula in the United Cup in Sydney just before the Australian Open. Of course, it was continued by Rybakina in the Australian Open and then again continued by Rybakina in Indian Wells. So I think that’s the first thing,” Wilander told Eurosport.
Wilander: Swiatek’s injury break might be a good thing for the Pole
On Wednesday, Swiatek announced she was withdrawing from Miami and the Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers due to a rib injury. Next on Swiatek’s schedule is a clay tournament in Stuttgart, which starts on April 17th.
Considering how the start of the season has been for Swiatek, Wilander thinks the Pole might actually benefit from the injury break. “And then the second thing, I’m glad that she’s getting a time to take a break. I think it comes at a great time in a way – of course, nobody wants anybody to not feel 100% – but for her tennis, I think it might be a good thing.
Because people keep asking her, ‘Hey, last year you won 37 matches in a row. This year you’re not winning 37. What’s wrong? What’s happening? Can you not handle the players that I just mentioned, the big power when they go hard to your forehand on a faster [court]?’ And I think for her it would be a great time to step away, start practicing on a clay court, take her time and get back in it,” Wilander explained.
