Keys on Swiatek’s Secret Weapon

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Thursday, Might 2, 2024

Iga Swiatek owns sufficient weapons to fill her Tecnifibre racquet bag.

World No. 1 Swiatek is among the sport’s speediest gamers, possesses a hellacious topspin forehand, flat backhand and various serve.

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The highest-seeded Swiatek’s most underrated weapon?

Swiatek is a champion compressor, says Madison Keys.

Within the aftermath of Swiatek’s 6-1, 6-3 sweep of Keys in at this time’s Mutua Madrid Open semifinals, the 2017 US Open finalist detailed the problem of going through Swiatek.

The four-time Grand Slam champion’s constant depth, mixed with the very fact she’s so expert hitting the ball on the rise, squeezes each area and response time for opponents.

“I feel she would not appear to be she’s ever actually going for that a lot, however I used to be additionally actually impressed at this time along with her depth and her shot placement,” Keys stated of Swiatek. “I imply, each single ball was principally an inch from the road, and you may’t actually ever acquire any court docket when that is the ball that is coming at you.”

Pinned behind the baseline by Swiatek’s topspin can power opponents to drag the set off too shortly and play low-percentage drives down the road, Keys stated.

Consequently, as Swiatek grows sharper, opponents error counts can pile up as they go greater.

“So I really feel like she makes her opponents begin going for a bit bit an excessive amount of in making an attempt to do issues that they do not actually have the ball for,” Keys stated. “I feel, you already know, you win a degree or two, and you must work so exhausting to try this or you must play such an excellent level to win the purpose that it is exhausting to constantly do this when each ball that is coming again at you is, you already know, it is coming fast, it is coming deep, it is coming with good margin.”

Picture credit score: Porsche Grand Prix Tennis Fb