Iga Swiatek’s clay movement ‘up there with Steffi Graf’ and has ‘Monica Seles-like concentration levels’
Iga Swiatek celebrations
Iga Swiatek kisses the trophy after winning the Italian Open
Iga Swiatek is turning into the “women’s version of Rafael Nadal on clay” with tennis great Todd Woodbridge saying she has similar traits to fellow legends Steffi Graf and Monica Seles.
Four-time major winner Swiatek is in the form of her life as she has become only the third women’s player since 2009 to win the Madrid Open-Italian Open double as she followed in the footsteps of Dinara Safina and Serena Williams.
She is now aiming to become only the second player after Williams in 2013 to win the Madrid-Rome-Roland Garros treble although greats Graf and Seles achieved a different version of that clay feat as they won the Rome-Berlin-Roland Garros hate
The 22-year-old Swiatek will head into next week’s French Open as the clear favourite as she is looking for her third consecutive title in Paris and fourth in total.
16-time Grand Slam men’s doubles champion Woodbridge explained why Swiatek is such a dominant force on the red dirt.
“Her game is just so well suited [to clay]. But more than anything for me, it’s her ability to slide and move on the surface that is far better than any other female player, and if not, possibly up there with the best, alongside a Steffi Graf,” Woodbridge told the official Australian Open website.
“She has the best defence on a clay court of any female player currently, and then as soon as she can get back into neutral, with her forehand she has the best offence.
“How do you beat that? The 8 players with the most WTA 1000 titles: Steffi Graf No 2, Iga Swiatek already joint sixth
And it is not just 22-time Grand Slam winner Graf, who won six titles in Paris, with whom Swiatek shares similarities as Woodbridge also referenced nine-time major champion Seles, a three-time winner at Roland Garros.
“If we go back in time and look at Monica, her concentration levels were incredible. Her ability to switch on from the first point, get momentum and not lose it, was as good as any player who has played the game,” he added.
“That is a little of what Iga is bringing to this modern game. I think she has that switched-on look from the first point when she’s confident, and when she gets ahead, she very rarely lets a lead get away from her.
But he was not done comparing her with legends as he feels she is becoming as dominant as 14-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal.
“They’re champion characteristics, and she has them,” the Australian said.
“Sometimes a player comes along and there is a court and a surface that they own, like Rafa at Roland Garros. Iga is becoming the women’s version of Rafa on a clay court.”
