Coach Tomasz Wiktorowski revealed Iga Swiatek’s decision-making was the thing that was making him the happiest throughout the season but admitted there were two matches where he felt the Pole didn’t do well in that area.
Swiatek, 21, enjoyed a stunning 2022 season as she went 67-9 this year. Of those nine losses, coach Wiktorowski felt seven came because her rival was the better player on that particular day. But in two matches, Wiktoroski felt Swiatek sustained defeats because she played “irresponsibly.”
Those two defeats came against Alize Cornet in the Wimbledon third round and against Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinal at the WTA Finals, respectively. At Wimbledon, Cornet famously stunned Swiatek 6-4 6-2 to end the Pole’s impressive run of 37 consecutive wins.
“I’m most happy with how Iga made decisions on court, with her responsibility. I offered a more aggressive game. She decides well when to accelerate how and in which direction. This responsibility was absent in match against Sabalenka in WTA Finals and Cornet in Wimbledon.
These are two matches in which Iga played ‘irresponsibly’ She lost only 9 matches. Seven was just a better performance of the rival, and Iga’s not best. Those two with Sabalenka and Cornet were winnable,” Wiktoroski told Polish sports journalist Dominik Senkowski.
“These are two matches in which Iga played “irresponsibly” She lost only 9 games. Seven was just a better performance of the rival, and Iga’s not best. Those two with Sabalenka and Cornet were winnable.”
2/2 — Dominik Senkowski (@dsenkowski07) November 29, 2022
Wiktorowski knew Swiatek was destined to achieve major things
After the 2021 season ended, Swiatek fired her coach of five years Piotr Sierzputowski and added Wiktorowski to her team.
That move made wonders for Swiatek, who won two Grand Slams this year and there was also a period during which she went on a run of 37 consecutive wins. “I expected Iga to reach such results. I didn’t know if it would be with me or next coach.
A year ago I hardly knew Iga personally. It’s weird that we passed each other but that’s how it turned,” Wiktorowski explained.
Parts of my interview with coach of Iga Swiatek @iga_swiatek , Tomasz Wiktorowski
“I expected Iga to reach such results.
I didn’t know if it would be with me or next coach. A year ago I hardly knew Iga personally. It’s weird that we passed each other but that’s how it turned”. pic.twitter.com/9ix2X53DD5 — Dominik Senkowski (@dsenkowski07) November 29, 2022
Before Wiktorowski met Swiatek, he first had a conversation with her father.
“Our tennis life turned out in such a way that I once had contact with her dad, but not really with Iga. We spoke maybe three times before we met at a collaboration talk. But I knew her tennis well. I commentated on TV.
It helped me. Starting work I had a ready idea for Iga,” Wiktorowski revealed.
“Our tennis life turned out in such a way that I once had contact with her dad, but not really with Iga. We spoke maybe three times before we met at a collaboration talk.
But I knew her tennis well. I commentated on TV. It helped me. Starting work I had a ready idea for Iga” — Dominik Senkowski (@dsenkowski07) November 29, 2022
