Former WTA star reveals one key component Iga Swiatek must add to her game following her struggles in the Middle East swing
Iga Swiatek exited the Dubai Tennis Championship after losing 3-6, 3-6 to teenage sensation Mirra Andreeva in the quarter-finals.
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Iga Swiatek (Image via X)
Iga Swiatek has been a dominant force on the WTA Tour over the past two years. She has always begun the year on high and achieved more during the clay season. But, this season she’s yet to win a title. Former World No.9 Andrea Petkovic, who has been her admirer, revealed a component of her game she needs to work on.
Swiatek arrived in Qatar for the Middle East swing as a favorite to win the title, having won it on three occasions. Surprisingly, the former World No.1 fell to familiar foe Jelena Ostapenko in straight sets in their semifinal match. It was the fifth time Swiatek lost to the Lativian star in as many meetings.
She was hoping to bounce back at the Dubai Tennis Championship WTA 1000 event. The Polish star played excellently in her first two opening matches, but against Mirra Andreeva in the quarter-finals, she was nowhere he best level. She lost to the teenager in straight sets, which will see her drop points in the WTA rankings.
Andrea Petkovic revealed during an interview that she was surprised at the manner in which Swiatek lost her semifinals match against Ostapenko. The former WTA star added that Swiatek is missing a slice in her tennis.
This is the first time. I have never thought about Iga’s game that she needs to add a slice. That was the first time I thought, ‘She is missing a slice. If Iga had a slice, even if she doesn’t feel comfortable with putting it up high, maybe with a slice she could gain some time. You either have to overpower her like Amanda did because she [Ostapenko] hates other big hitters; she always loses to Osaka as well. So you have to overwhelm her with pace, or if you can’t do that, then you have to junk her.
Andrea Petkovic said via Tennis Gazette
Swiatek now has a tough task at hand as she heads to the Indian Wells Open which she has to win to close the gap between her and her rival Aryna Sabalenka. The Polish star is known to play her best on clay than on hard fast courts.
Iga Swiatek blames lack of enough practice for her quarterfinal exit in Dubai
Iga Swiatek‘s quarterfinal defeat against Mirra Andreeva at the Dubai Tennis Championship left her very disappointed. The World No.2 failed to defend her last year’s semifinal points, meaning she lost 390 points. The points dropped may prove a big hurdle for her as she aims to regain her World No.1 place.
However, after her straight sets loss against Andreeva, she blamed it on a lack of enough practice after the Australian Open. Swiatek enjoyed a good run in Melbourne reaching the semifinals before losing to champion Madison Keys.
Before, I lost in Australia early, so I had time to do some stuff. This year I didn’t. Honestly, I’m not that direct usually, but I would blame this performance on the lack of practice before because I didn’t have time.
Iga Swiatek said to the media
Swiatek’s next event is the Indian Wells Masters, which is slated to start on the 2nd of March. She now has at least nine days to prepare adequately ahead of the WTA 1000 event.
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Victor Okechukwu
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