Iga Swiatek has come under scrutiny for the perceived decline in her athleticism since her triumph at the 2022 US Open. However, Maciej Ryszczuk, the World No. 1’s fitness trainer and strength and conditioning coach, has shut down these criticisms.
Swiatek’s recent campaign at the 2024 Cincinnati Open ended in the semifinals, with a resounding 6-3, 6-3 defeat to eventual champion Aryna Sabalenka. The Pole also appeared far from her dominant best at the WTA 1000 event, dropping a set to Varvara Gracheva in her opening match and narrowly escaping against Mirra Andreeva in the quarterfinals.
With the US Open fast approaching, a clip from the Pole’s clash against Jule Niemeier during her title-winning run at the 2022 edition of the New York Major circulated on social media
The clip also caught the attention of tennis writer Tom Jones, who was taken aback by the perceived decline in Iga Swiatek’s athleticism, expressing his belief that the five-time Grand Slam champion’s defensive skills have “fallen off massively” due to the apparent reduction in her pace. Jones also speculated that the 23-year-old might be prioritizing strength over speed.
“It’s crazy to look back on this US Open in particular and see how much more athletic she was compared to now. Her defence has fallen off massively because she’s not got that same burst of speed she does here. Unsure why she’s lost it, maybe just strength>speed now or that injury?” Jones posted.
However, Iga Swiatek’s fitness coach Maciej Ryszczuk, refuted Tom Jones’ claims, asserting that they had no basis in reality.
“That’s actually not true at all,” Ryszczuk responded
