Iga Swiatek analyzes her current form as she returns to her ‘favorite’ clay courts

Iga Swiatek has yet to win a title or reach a final this season. The last time she won a trophy was at the 2024 French Open.

Iga Swiatek analyzes her current form as she returns to her ‘favorite’ clay courts

Iga Swiatek (Image via X @JJlovesTennis)

Iga Swiatek hasn’t been in the best form this season. Even though she is having good runs at tournaments, where she either gets to the quarter-finals or semi-finals, she is yet to win a title. By this time last year, she already had two titles in her cabinet. Heading into clay season opener in Stuttgart, she admits that there are quite some challenges she’s going through.

The former WTA World No.1 has played exactly 100 matches on clay in her career. She has won 89 of them and lost 11, making the record the best clay winning percentage in the current women’s circuit.

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Out of her five Grand Slam titles, four have come at the Roland Garros. The Polish star has made the surface her strength, while minimizing her weaknesses.

But this season has been far from great for Swiatek. She’s yet to reach a tournament final and has failed to defend two titles. Despite beginning well at the Australian Open, where she got to the semi-final, she has failed to reach expectations. She’s currently at the WTA 500 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix to open her clay season.

Swiatek is a strong favorite to win the title because of her great record in Stuttgart. In fact, she has won the title twice in her career and last year reached the semi-finals. Nonetheless, she still has doubts about her good clay form due to her current run of disappointing results.

It remains a challenge because it’s not like I come to play and everything is suddenly perfect. We play on hard courts most of the year, so I need time to adapt to clay, but I am confident that I am in the right place. With a good amount of work and focus, I will be able to start playing my game. Each year is different because most years, I didn’t have much time to make the transition. This year I was able to do it with a bit more calm, and I am happy to have had the opportunity.

Iga Swiatek said via Porsche Tennis Press

Swiatek earned a first-round bye at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, so will begin her her campaign in the second round against a qualifier or Donna Vekic. The World No.2 is in desperate need of a title to kick start her season and has not lifted a trophy since the 2024 French Open.

Iga Swiatek focused on her game after being distracted by pressure and expectations of fans

Swiatek has a commanding form each time she plays on clay. The Polish star has averaged two titles on the surface since the 2020 season. However, the pressure and expectations of the 2025 campaign have got to her. She has been seeking to overtake Aryna Sabalenka in No.1, but that seems like a future target as she seeks to focus on her game.

Iga Swiatek
Iga Swiatek (Image via X/The Tennis Letter)

The preparation obviously worked in previous years, so it has been similar. The only difference is that this year I have had more time to play on clay. Certainly, my goal is to focus on myself. It hasn’t been easy in recent months because after having such good seasons, I have been in the spotlight and judged for everything, expectations are high. My goal is to focus on myself and the process, on what I want to change on the court.

Iga Swiatek said

Swiatek will also set her target at other tournaments after the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. She will feature at the Madrid Open, Italian Open, and French Open, all of which she won dramatically last season.

Iga Swiatek has a tough draw at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix

The Pole ace will kick off her clay season in Stuttgart against either a qualifier or Donna Vekic. She will then have a potential meeting against Emma Navarro or Jelena Ostapenko. Swiatek will hope to meet Navarro, who she has a comfortable record against, as she has lost her last five meetings against Ostapenko.

Iga Swiatek
Iga Swiatek (Image via WTA/X)

If she does get beyond the quarter-finals of the tournament, she will face either Jessica Pegula or Mirra Andreeva. Swiatek will obviously have to step up against either player. Pegula has been in tremendous form this season and has won two titles already. Furthermore, she defeated Swiatek in their last meeting at the 2024 US Open quarter-finals in New York.

Likewise, Andreeva has been in top form since February. She has just lost one match in two months and recently defeated Swiatek in the semi-finals of Indian Wells. However, if Swiatek does beat any of them, she is predicted to face Aryna Sabalenka in the final. Sabalenka, on her part, is seeking her first Porsche Tennis title after finishing as runners-up three consecutive times.