Mats Wilander puts Ash Barty ahead of Iga Swiatek revealing the factors where the Pole is yet to fill the Australian’s shoes
Follow Us
Mats Wilander, Ashleigh Barty, Iga Świątek
World No. 1 Polish tennis player Iga Swiatek has already achieved a lot in her professional career at the mere age of 21. Swiatek’s WTA tour-level titles tally stands at a record 11 and has already won three Grand Slam singles titles. That’s not all, the Polish player is the first player representing Poland to win a major singles title and has also recorded a 37-match winning streak – the longest on the WTA Tour in the 21st century.
Despite all these achievements, as far as Mats Wilander, the Swedish former world No. 1 is concerned, the Polish player still falls behind now-retired Australian star Ashleigh Barty. Speaking about the favorites for the Australian Open victory at Diryah Tennis Cup, Wilander picked Iga Swiatek as the favorite for the Australian Open after the withdrawal of Ash Barty from tennis.
Wilander picked Swiatek as his favorite to win the Australian Open 2023. “After what she showed in 2022, Swiatek starts clearly in front of all,” he said and also pointed out the difference between her and Ashleigh Barty. “Iga is very strong, and good at all the things she does, but she inevitably cannot excite as the Australian did”, Willander explained making it clear that the Pole has to go a long way to fill the Australian’s shoes.
He also mentioned the overall loss of the tennis world following the retirement of Ashleigh Barty. “Personally then, I believe that the WTA circuit is paying a lot for Barty’s retirement. Ash had a beautiful game to look at, with that classic backhand worthy of the great champions. Above all, she was one of a kind in the female scene,” Wilander said.
Earlier this year, the three-time singles Grand Slam winner unexpectedly announced her retirement from tennis at the age of 26, surprising the whole tennis world.
Iga Swiatek reveals how Rafael Nadal’s Australian Open triumph inspired her
World No 1 Iga Swiatek admitted that it was very inspiring to witness Rafael Nadal’s stunning comeback in the 2022 Australian Open final. The Spanish great’s stunning win from being two sets behind was one of the greatest comebacks in history. Swiatek, who captured two Grand Slam titles this year was in the stands and said she was lucky to witness the final.
“Rafa is my idol, I feel like I’ve learned a lot (from him). I was lucky to watch his final of the Australian Open this year and the way he comes back when I thought it was going to be impossible, is pretty amazing,” Swiatek told Life & Leisure.
On the off-court news, recently Iga Swiatek has crowned the WTA player of the year in Express Sport’s 2022 tennis awards. The 21-year-old had an exceptional 2022 season. She became just the tenth woman to clinch the French Open singles title more than once in the Open Era.
Read Also: Emma Raducanu reveals her ‘New Year Resolution’ in hopes of a bountiful 2023 season
Stay Updated!
FS Desk
(8023 Articles Published)