Can Swiatek Succeed at Wimbledon? Fellow Clay Queen Evert Weighs In

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday June 25, 2024

As Wimbledon approaches Iga Swiatek will look to broaden 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 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 means 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 may see why the duty forward is so daunting.

“She performed plenty 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 gained Wimbledon thrice throughout her storied profession, is aware of higher than any girl the perils of enjoying Wimbledon after a taxing grind in Paris.

“There’s a letdown if you win the French Open, if 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 now and then. @rolandgarros pic.twitter.com/uVWxdAbdb4

— Iga Świątek (@iga_swiatek) June 9, 2024

Including complexity to this 12 months’s equation is the truth that Swiatek and lots of others will head again to the clay this summer time to arrange for the Paris Olympic Video games. Possibly there’s a hazard that some gamers – Swiatek included – won’t totally immerse themselves within the quest for grass success as they might have in different, much less busy seasons.

“Behind her thoughts, she’s most likely enthusiastic about the Olympics,” Evert stated. “I’m wondering 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 little bit 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 plenty of free factors along with her serve, and that’s going to harm her as properly. The fantastic thing about her recreation was the way in which she was sliding on the clay, then the way in which she received 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 sector could have extra confidence that they’ll defeat Swiatek, who owns a 9-4 lifetime file 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 plenty 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 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 12 months on the grass, it doesn’t suggest the American legend cannot image Swiatek elevating the Venus Rosewater dish on Saturday July 12.

“There’s no one stronger than her mentally,” Evert stated of Swiatek. “She has an amazing 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 12 months are foolish.”

A pair of @rolandgarros champions follow 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 acknowledged his perception that Swiatek’s unwillingness to regulate techniques in opposition to 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 abilities to debunk her attackers.

“When she is aggressive and she or he’s on, she’s just about unbeatable,” McEnroe stated. “If somebody can out-hit her, it’s nearly like she desires 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 desires to. He can even sit again and play a little bit bit extra of a defensive recreation, utilizing his pace.

“If she truly took a step again and performed a little bit extra proportion tennis, used her pace and her guile, she might win matches and win majors like Wimbledon or the Australian Open by doing that.”