“It’s hard,” 3-time Roland Garros winner Iga Swiatek reveals she finds it difficult to adapt to different clay surfaces

Even though she is a heavy favorite on clay, she finds it difficult to adapt to different clay surfaces.

“It’s hard,” 3-time Roland Garros winner Iga Swiatek reveals she finds it difficult to adapt to different clay surfaces

Iga Swiatek (Image via Imago)

Iga Swiatek is bidding to win her third Rome Open title. Previously, winning her first trophy in Madrid, Swiatek talked about the prospect of winning back-to-back titles on clay. 

She started her campaign on clay at the Stuttgart Open to defend her title (having won in 2022 and 2023) but failed in her endeavors when World No.4 Elena Rybakina defeated her in the semifinals. 

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Then in Madrid, she easily made her way to the final to lock horns with World No.2 Aryna Sabalenka. The match was a thriller as Swiatek saved three match points to beat the Belarusian 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(9-7), avenging last year’s Madrid Open final defeat.

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For Swiatek, who has three Roland Garros to her name, playing on clay surfaces is not easy. Even though she is a heavy favorite, she finds it difficult to adapt to different clay surfaces.

It's hard because the conditions are totally different. You know, people think that clay is clay, but there are different kinds of clay. Adjusting between these two tournaments isn't easy. 
Iga Swiatek told TennisOne 

Swiatek will face America’s Bernarda Pera in the Round of 64 to kick-start her Rome Open campaign. 

Iga Swiatek complains of demanding WTA Tours

Iga Swiatek is happy to be in Rome, joking that she spent the first two days eating. However, like many players, Swiatek is finding the WTA Tour more demanding and blamed the mandatory rules made by the WTA and ATP. Both players on the WTA and ATP Tours have to play these mandatory tournaments, which many players have found too taxing. 

Iga Swiatek
Iga Swiatek (Image via Imago)

The Pole observed that players who win a tournament don’t have enough time to celebrate and rest, and they use the time in between the long-running tournaments as off days. Players like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have injured themselves and opted out of the Rome Open, and it’s uncertain whether they’ll play at Roland Garros or not. 

Even if I win (a tournament), it doesn't stick in my head. I celebrate for one day, then I'm off to another tournament…in my head. We don't have time to rest properly. You have to use these days and treat them a little bit like days off. 
Iga Swiatek said during the press conference ahead of her first-round match 

The 22-year-old has already lifted three titles this year (the Qatar Open, the Indian Wells Masters, and the Madrid Open).

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