By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday November 1, 2024
Photograph Supply: Matthew Calvis
As she ramps as much as play for the primary time since this 12 months’s US Open, issues will likely be very totally different on the floor for Iga Swiatek. Gone from her teaching field is Tomasz Wiktorowski, the person who helped information her to 4 of her 5 main titles. In is Wim Fissette, one other supercoach with a extremely regarded pedigree.
Chatting with reporters forward of this 12 months’s WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Swiatek says that we shouldn’t anticipate an excessive amount of too quickly from the change – her resolution was made with long-term progress in thoughts.
“I spent this time nonetheless enjoying tennis and for certain specializing in discovering new coach,” she stated of the time between in the present day and the top of her US Open, the place she misplaced to Jessica Pegula within the quarterfinals. “Making this transition, it is at all times tough. For me it is a resolution hopefully for years as a result of I have a look at my profession form of long-term.”
What kind of issues does the five-time Grand Slam champion and former World No.1 hope to study from Fissette?
“I believe it is form of apparent,” she stated. “I for certain wish to enhance my serve, as I have been doing for previous years. I really feel like I nonetheless have to proceed that. For certain I am not an entire participant. I believe tactically there are lots of methods I might go and have extra selection on courtroom. Wim has some good concepts.”
Swiatek, who’s 54-7 on the season with 5 titles, says she’s joyful to take issues gradual. The true deep dive will occur within the pre-season leadup to the 2025 Australian Open.
“Truthfully for now we have simply been getting ready for this event and attending to know one another,” she stated. “The true modifications, we’ll speak about them throughout the low season as a result of that is the correct time to do it. For now I have been making an attempt to simply be in the most effective form for this event. Some technicalities, we’ll work on them within the pre-season.” The Hunt for No.1 a Non-Issue
The media likes the narrative of a duel for the No.1 rating on the WTA Finals. They’ve it this 12 months because the Pole might recapture the No.1 rating from Sabalenka by making a title run, however Swiatek says it isn’t essential for her in the intervening time.
Does she know what number of factors she must take again the highest spot from Sabalenka?
“I do not. I wish to play the most effective form of tennis. That is what I have to do,” she stated, including: “She’s an excellent participant. She additionally form of deserves to be world No. 1. For certain I’ll combat for me to be in that place.”
