STARNBERG, May 20, 2022 (by Alex Jack)
No player has been in better form in 2022 than Iga Swiatek. The Polish player has risen to the top of the WTA rankings, and she is a long way clear of second-placed Barbora Krejcikova.
Following her success in the Italian Open, Swiatek has won her last 28 matches on court. During that run of victories, she has lifted five titles, including the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells and Miami Open.
The player will be hoping to carry her form into the Grand Slam events this season. The 2020 French Open winner is the odds-on favourite at 10/11 in the bet on tennis odds for the tournament at Roland-Garros this year.
Success in the biggest events in the tennis calendar will cement her position as the best in the women’s game at the moment. So far, she has just one Glam Slam win to her name and has only twice reached the semi-final of the big four events. She got through to the last four at the Australian Open earlier this year, before losing to Danielle Collins.
Clay Her Strongest Surface
Although Swiatek has proven this year she is comfortable on all surfaces, it is clay where she is at her best. The world number one has dominated the clay season to date. Her style of play is suited to the slower conditions.
Swiatek is bidding to become just the 10th multiple winner of the French Open in the modern era. She is the number one seed in the draw and will face a qualifier in the opening round.
When she won her title in Paris in 2020, Swiatek did not drop a set in what was an impressive performance throughout the tournament. She had wins over Marketa Vondrousova, Simona Halep and Sofia Kenin. She was unable to defend her title 12 months later, as she was beaten by Maria Sakkari in the quarterfinals.
The eight-time singles winner also took part in the women’s doubles event at Roland-Garros last year. Along with Bethanie Mattek-Sands, she reached the final in 2021, but the pair were beaten by Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova.
Ashleigh Barty’s Retirement Opens Door For Swiatek To Dominate
Former world number one Ashleigh Barty surprised the tennis world earlier this year when she announced she was retiring from the sport. The Australian won three Grand Slam singles events before deciding to hang her racquet up at the age of just 26.
Barty’s decision gives the opportunity to Swiatek to dominate the women’s game for the foreseeable future. She is likely to keep on improving on the court, which is bad news for her rivals.
Swiatek opted to change coach at the end of 2021. She parted ways with Piotr Sierzputowski and began to work with Tomasz Wiktorowski. That decision is proving to be a good move as her results have improved since she started working with the man who formed a great partnership with Agnieszka Radwanska.
The future is very bright for the former French Open winner. It will be Grand Slam events she will be desperate to win now to prove she is one of the best female players of her generation.
