World No. 1 Iga Swiatek has once again secured her spot in the WTA Finals after a breathtaking season. She has won three Masters 1000 titles, a Grand Slam, and an Olympic bronze medal in 2024.
However, the label of ‘one surface wonder’ doesn’t seem to be fading in her case. Swiatek has won five Grand Slam singles titles, four of which have come on clay. American tennis legend John McEnroe has provided insight into Swiatek’s struggles in adapting to non-clay surfaces.
One issue for me is she doesn’t want to play defense at all. At times, she should pull back when the offence isn’t going as well as it can do on clay. She keeps trying to hit out, which is somewhat surprising for someone who prefers a slower surface. I was a little surprised that she is either unwilling or unable to make adjustments on the faster surfaces.John McEnroe said on Eurosport
To be fair to Swiatek, 2024 presented challenges in surface adaptability for all the players who participated in the Paris Olympics. After her return from Paris, she reached the semifinals of the Cincinnati Open and the quarterfinals of the US Open.
I don’t know if she had a dip in confidence, but if you saw someone like Iga digging in and defending as well as she attacks, that would be hard opponents to overcome. I’m a little surprised she has not made that adjustment, but she is young. Hopefully she can make that adjustment and improve a little at the net.John McEnroe added
When considering the men’s field, the situation was even more challenging, as Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic were knocked out in the first week in New York. Meanwhile, Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka, who were both absent in Paris, went on to win the US Open titles.
Iga Swiatek congratulates Aryna Sabalenka on her US Open win
Five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek has sent a congratulatory message to newly-crowned US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka. The second seed overcame home favorite Jessica Pegula 7-5, 7-5 to win her third singles Grand Slam title.
Congratulations @SabalenkaA Amazing run.Iga Swiatek’s tweet on X
Swiatek and Sabalenka have been the standout performers in 2024, winning three of the four Grand Slam titles and a combined total of four Masters 1000 titles. The pair have faced each other three times in 2024, with the World No. 1 holding a 2-1 lead.
Swiatek won both of their matches on clay, in the finals of Madrid and Rome. However, Sabalenka turned the tables in the semifinals of the Cincinnati Open. The Pole participated in the Paris Olympics, where she won the bronze medal for her country. Sabalenka, on the other hand, missed both Wimbledon and the Olympic Games.
