“She plays more like a man,” Jessica Pegula believes Iga Swiatek bases her playing style on that of Rafael Nadal

Pegula, who is set to miss the clay Grand Slam, gives insight into Iga Swiatek's style of play.

“She plays more like a man,” Jessica Pegula believes Iga Swiatek bases her playing style on that of Rafael Nadal

Iga Swiatek and Jessica Pegula (Via Imago)

World No. 5 Jessica Pegula has given insight into what it feels like to share the court with World No. 1 Iga Swiatek. The American ace recently withdrew from Roland Garros to recover from her injuries.

Pegula spoke to NBC Sports shortly after her decision to withdraw from the second Grand Slam of the year. The 30-year-old was full of praise for the Polish star, particularly for her recent performances on clay.

Yes, I played it on clay and hard court. She is a clay court player. It is on this model that she plays. She was inspired by Rafael Nadal. It was his idol. So, his topspin shots, his athleticism and his ability to transform defense into attack, that comes from him. Not only his defense, but also his ability to get in and out of the corner so quickly, turn the point and take the ball early. I think it's something special. And on clay, she has more time to do it. It fits her game, with heavy lifts, and she plays more like a man, to be honest.
Jessica Pegula said

Pegula decided to withdraw from the French Open as she was unable to recover from her injuries, which hampered her clay court season. Considering she has a heavy schedule leading up to the US Open, she made this tough decision.

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The American now eyes a return to grass. She is expected to play at least one WTA tournament on grass before heading to Wimbledon. Afterwards, she will return to Paris for the Olympic Games. Pegula hasn’t gone beyond the quarter-finals in a Grand Slam in her singles career.

Is Iga Swiatek the utmost favorite for Roland Garros 2024?

Roland Garros is about to start in 24 hours, and in the women’s field, the tennis fans are asking: can anybody stop Iga Swiatek? Well, judging by her last two tournaments, the fans can give little hope to her opponents.

Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka
Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka (Via Imago)

The World No. 1 won the last two Masters 1000 tournaments in Madrid and Rome. As a result of these titles, she became the first WTA player since Dinara Safina and Serena Williams to win both the Madrid and Rome Masters back-to-back.

Judging by the field, Aryna Sabalenka can prove to be the biggest challenge for the Polish star. However, if you ask the Belarusian tennis player, even she will dread coming up against Swiatek. The Polish star beat Sabalenka in the finals of both Madrid and Rome.

However, Sabalenka has won the Australian Open earlier this year, so she must have the belief that she can do it in majors.

Apart from the World No. 2, the field includes Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina, and Marketa Vondrousova. Roland Garros also welcomes back Naomi Osaka, who returned to the tour in January after a hiatus last year.

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