Iga Swiatek draws comparison with Carlos Alcaraz while explaining the deficiencies in one aspect of her game

Iga Swiatek kick-started her campaign on the clay swing in an emphatic fashion, breezing past Jana Fett to reach the quarterfinals.

Iga Swiatek draws comparison with Carlos Alcaraz while explaining the deficiencies in one aspect of her game

Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Swiatek (Image via X/The Tennis Letter, BNP Paribas)

Iga Swiatek is working on her drop shots but she admitted that she’s yet to master the technique like Carlos Alcaraz. Swiatek and Alcaraz, both of who lifted the French Open last year, have started their campaign on the clay swing.

Swiatek, who is participating at the Stuttgart Open, arrived in the German city after a disappointing run in the two Sunshine Double tournaments. Alcaraz too was trophyless in the two ATP Masters 1000 events in the United States but was successful in lifting his first Monte Carlo Masters title.

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The Pole, after easing into the quarterfinal with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Jana Fett, was asked whether she has been trying to hit the drop shot more. Swiatek said she has used the drop shot one time but it didn’t work.

Yeah, that’s the idea, but it’s not like something new. I always wanted to do that, but for sure the technique isn’t perfect yet. If I haven’t been doing that since I’m a kid, like Carlos, for example, then it’s a bit harder to force it, you know, later on. So, yeah, I want to try because this is the only way to improve that and to learn how to do that.

Iga Swiatek said at the press conference

After winning the title in The Principality, Alcaraz arrived in Barcelona where he knocked out America’s Ethan Quinn to schedule his career’s second match against Serbia’s Laslo Djere. Alcaraz is bidding for his third title of the season (after the Rotterdam Open) as well as his third title of the Barcelona Open following his success in 2022 and 2023. Last year he skipped the home tournament because of an injury.

Iga Swiatek makes her feelings known about players’ demand for an increase in the percentage of Grand Slam revenue

The top 30 players want the Grand Slam tournaments to give a better share of the profits to the players. At present, players get an average of 15 percent of the revenue.

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

Several top players have argued that they deserve to be paid more and that the share of profits should at least match the ATP events. Some players said not receiving a better share is unfair, while others believe lower-ranked players will benefit if they get paid more. Iga Swiatek too is of the same opinion though she chose not to divulge the details.

Well, I think, like, there’s some data available on the internet about the comparison between tennis and other sports. For sure, we’ve been discussing with Grand Slams about many topics. Yeah, I mean, it could be better, but I’m not going to say a lot because, first of all, we need to figure it out kind of internally. For sure, there’s some time needed to do that.

Iga Swiatek said at the press conference

The players signed a letter to the Grand Slam events following the Novak Djokovic-backed Professional Tennis Players Association’s (PTPA) lawsuit against the ATP, WTA, ITF, and the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA). In the class-action lawsuit, the PTPA, along with 12 former and current players accused the tennis bodies of not taking care of the well being the players. They want changes in certain rules and regulations, including the constant ball change in tournaments and the tennis schedule.

Swiatek is chasing her first title of the season; as well as the first title since winning her fourth French Open title last year. She surprisingly has not yet progressed to a final since the Roland Garros. Last year on the clay swing, the 23-year-old lifted three titles: in Madrid, Rome, and Paris.