- The best in tennis history do not hide their admiration for Iga Švetek. Andy Murray directly says that Polish women are his favorite tennis player
- The 23-year-old is making waves, but some say she’s still struggling with certain aspects of her game. Martina Navratilova draws attention to this
- The record holder in terms of victories at Roland Garros, Chris Evert, has no doubt that the Pole will surpass his legendary achievement.
- More information can be found at Przegląd Sportowy Onet
The Roland Garros final was a display of Iga Świątek’s dominance. The champion did not give Yasmine Paolini any chance, as she beat her 6:2, 6:1. At the same time, she showed that she is not afraid of temporary problems. After the match, the greatest legends of world tennis expressed their admiration for the Polish women’s game and claimed that it would be very dangerous in this format for many years to come.
– Iga reminds me of Rafael Nadal and I would not be surprised if she wins a double-digit number of trophies in Paris – says Boris Becker to Eurosport, who expects years of the Pole dominating the courts in Paris.
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Iga Świątek was ‘impressive’
– The final was very tight for 15-20 minutes, but after that Światek was simply dazzling. Four titles at Roland Garros and she’s only 23 years old. I think he can win five, six or seven more titles in Paris. Her style is very modern, she uses a lot of spin and puts a lot of power into her shots. “That’s why you simply can’t beat her here,” the German continued, delighted with the Polish woman.
The praise was pouring in and no wonder, because Świątek played one of the best matches of the entire tournament. Despite the enormous pressure to play in the final, she did not give Paolini the slightest chance and showed that she wants to maintain her dominance in Paris.
Świętek is often compared to Rafael Nadal, who has won Roland Garros 14 times. However, for now, the best tennis player in the world can focus on surpassing Chris Evert’s historic feat. The American is also considered the dominant player at the French Open. She won the tournament seven times. No other woman has done this more than once.
The legend says it clearly: Iga Świątek must be careful
What’s even more interesting is that Everett is convinced that her record will soon become history. She is also happy with what Iga Švetek was able to achieve on the field in Paris. The Polish woman has previously won four titles at Roland Garros, and there is no indication that her dominance in Paris will end in the coming years.
– I think about it every day when I go to sleep – Evert joked in an interview with Eurosport, confirming that her record is in great danger. — Quite frankly, I think Iga will have a number of wins in Paris. Overcoming digital is clear. “That’s only three titles less than me, and she’s only 23 years old,” the former WTA world number one said directly.
Meanwhile, the American has warned the world’s best tennis player that in her pursuit of records she must remember to take care of her health first and foremost. “She has to take it easy and make sure she doesn’t get injured in the process,” Chris Evert concluded.
Świątek’s triumphant march towards a fourth title in Paris was not without complications. They appeared in the second round when the leader’s opponent was unseeded Naomi Osaka. The Japanese team unexpectedly caused her a lot of trouble, and even took possession of the match ball. The Polish woman saved herself in amazing style, as Eurosport expert Mats Wilander pointed out.
— Eija and Naomi, it was so amazing. I never thought Osaka would be this dangerous on clay. For Iga Świątek, this was the final warning, a warning signal. Girls who want to beat the leader will try to play just like Naomi. We must remember that, though, Świątek will probably win most of these matches – said Wilander, appreciating the impressive class of the world’s number one racket.
However, when Śvintek focuses and maintains the tempo of play, beating them seems beyond the reach of almost all of their competitors. Kim Clijsters, another former tennis player, has noticed this.
-She doesn’t really have any weaknesses and her matches are usually one-sided. No one threatens her unless they can knock her off the field with powerful shots. The 23-year-old Belgian player, who was happy with her game, said in an interview with Andy Roddick on his podcast: “I don’t think she will have any problems if she keeps her pace.”
-Her backhand is incredibly difficult to read. He can change direction whenever he wants. Kim Clijsters added: “You know how players play individually, and you anticipate how they will react to the situation on the field… but in her case, the appropriate reaction is really impossible.”
While most former tennis stars focus on the merits of Iga Światek and her incredible dominance, there are also those who see small flaws in the Polish woman’s game. One of these people is Martina Navratilova. One of the best tennis players in history, coming from the Czech Republic, sees things that Szvetek needs to work on.
“Iga Świątek must improve it”
-Iga plays hard on the finish line, but when playing on other surfaces, like grass, it’s not so easy. To become a more complete tennis player, she needs to play better at the net. She has already improved her serve, and she can definitely win on any surface, but she needs to expand her arsenal – Navratilova noted in an interview with L’Equipe.
Interestingly, the 18-time Grand Slam champion compares Iga Świątek’s development to that of Novak Djokovic. The Serbian has paid attention to his development for many years, thanks to which he has reached a level that the vast majority of his competitors cannot reach. Navratilova believes the same may happen in the case of Polish women.
-Novak initially played like Iga, but has evolved when it comes to playing at the net. This means that Iga can handle exactly the same thing if she devotes some time to him. The tennis legend added: “I’m sure he’s working hard on it already.”
– She should have already lost to Naomi Osaka in the second round, then swept her next two opponents off the court. It’s not unbeatable, but to beat it, you have to play a perfect match. You have to be very confident in defense and attack, which Sabalenka, Rybakina and Osaka can do. Navratilova said Paolini played too “short” and did not have enough power to hurt Świętek.
Justine Henin, another former tennis great, is not a fan of Iga Świątek’s game. The Belgian directly admits that she does not like the Pole’s playing style, but that does not prevent her from appreciating her class.
— Iga’s gameplay doesn’t always fit my aesthetic preferences. I’m not a particular fan of her playing style, but there’s more to the player than style. We have a great champion here, that’s for sure. She is very mentally strong and finds the resources to overcome challenges and find new solutions. “It’s really impressive,” Henin told the New York Times.
Świątek also has his fans among current tennis players. Andy Murray did not hide his impression of the leader’s excellent performance. The former ATP Rankings leader says openly that he loves watching matches with the Roland Garros champion whenever his busy schedule allows.
-I like to watch Iga Świątek. “She is my favorite player when it comes to female tennis players on the WTA,” the Scot said.
Iga Świątek will likely only return to the game during Wimbledon. The legendary British grass court tournament begins on July 1.
source:Onet Sports Review
Date of creation: 14 June 2024 07:20
Journalist for the newspaper Przeglad Sportuy One
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