Iga Swiatek has been backed to raise her game even further and beat “complete player” Aryna Sabalenka at the French Open with Mats Wilander saying there are a couple of key reasons why he favours the Pole.
Following disappointing Madrid Open and Italian Open campaigns, Swiatek slumped to No 5 in the WTA Rankings with many believing she would struggle to defend her title in Paris.
But the four-time Roland Garros champion has produced some clinical displays so far as she won four of her five matches in straight sets.
She also showed her comeback spirit against Elena Rybakina in the fourth round as she was a set and a break down before winning 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 against the 12th seed.
With a seeding of five, the Pole was always going to have a tough draw and next up is world No 1 Sabalenka in the semi-final.
The 24-year-old leads their head-to-head 8-4, but Sabalenka won their most recent encounter in straight sets at the Cincinnati Open last August.
Seven-time Grand Slam winner Wilander feels the Pole is finding form when it matters the most.
“She’s [Swiatek] not back for her best, but she’s definitely peaking at the right time,” he told TNT Sports. “I think she can play better, but I think she will play better.
“I mean, because she’s playing better in every match and I think she’ll play better in the match against Sabalenka. I like what I see from her. I think she’s playing great.
“She’s playing a little bit further back behind the baseline, gives herself a little more time to play these loopy shots.
“Plus, it’s windy, they’ll definitely suit Iga too. I don’t think Iga likes wind, nobody likes wind, but Iga plays great in the wind.
“Because the way that she plays when it is windy with a lot of topspin and then she can hit hard into the win, which gives her a lot of confidence because it doesn’t fly off her. So, the wind is perfect for Iga.”
WTA News
Iga Swiatek’s stunning French Open milestones as she extends immense streak
Alexandra Eala makes honest confession as she compares herself to Iga Swiatek
Besides the wind favouring Swiatek, Wilander also feels the fact that Sabalenka will give the Pole “time” during points.
The Swede added: “She can beat Sabalenka because Iga’s hitting high, but she’s not the same as Rybakina.
“She plays the ball way more. She hits hard at times, really hard, but then she has moments in between when she doesn’t, where she just puts the ball back in play, whereas Rybakina doesn’t have those moments at all.
“And so does Ostapenko. So that’s what Iga doesn’t like – is when you have no rest at all. It’s just every shot is at full.
“Sabalenka, you have a little bit of time. She hits it hard, but not every shot. So, I think she’s going to have time.
“It’ll be tough, but Sabalenka defends so well as well these days. She’s so complete. That’s the problem about playing her, that she’s so complete these days. So that will be a very tough one to come by.”
Watch every moment of the French Open live and exclusively on TNT Sports and discovery+
The post Former world No 1 ‘likes what he sees from Iga Swiatek’ – ‘She can beat Sabalenka’ appeared first on Tennis365.
Tennis News – Tennis365