‘With me and Iga Swiatek, it’s a good combo of an introvert-extrovert’: Bethanie Mattek-Sands


‘With me and Iga Swiatek, it’s a good combo of an introvert-extrovert’: Bethanie Mattek-Sands

Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Iga Swiatek

Former No.1 doubles player Bethanie Mattek-Sands has always been on the lookout for interesting and capable partner to play in the women’s doubles as well as mixed doubles.

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The American doubles specialist even partnered 2020 French Open champion Iga Swiatek in Miami earlier in the year. Speaking to tennis.com, sands opened up on how she hooked up with the young Pole to form a formidable pair.

“I went through about four different people, and I was going down the rankings when I saw Iga’s name. She texted me back, ‘I think we’d have to sign in in about 20 minutes, right?'” Bethanie Mattek-Sands said.

Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Iga Swiatek
Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Iga Swiatek

“Next time, I said, I’ll give you at least a couple more days to think it over with the team, but right now you only have 20 minutes to decide!” Mattek-Sands added.

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Given the form of Swiatek and the experience of Mattek-Sands, the pair immediately tasted success by reaching the semifinals in Miami. Later, they also made the finals at the recently concluded French Open, before going down to Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova.

Mattek-Sands reveals her learnings from Swiatek

Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Iga Swiatek
Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Iga Swiatek

Both Mattek-Sands and Swiatek are contrasting personalities. While the American is vivacious and goofy, the Pole is very reserved. “It’s actually good when extrovert meet an introvert, because it helps us. She’s the kind of person that can actually have great contact and relationship with anybody, I guess, because she’s really open with people. It’s something that I have to learn from her,” the five-time doubles Grand Slam champion explained.

It will be interesting to see how the newly-formed doubles pair goes about their business at the Wimbledon Championships. Mattek-Sands has won all the Grand Slams, but for Wimbledon, where she made the semifinals in 2010.

Meanwhile, Swiatek has been making a steady move in the WTA rankings. Currently, she is ranked No.9 and will be keen to perform well at the All England Club, especially after she failed to defend her title in Paris.

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Also read: WATCH: Throwback to Mansour Bahrami’s trick underarm serve at Wimbledon 2019