IGA SWIATEK

Is Building A Reputation

AS A BIG-MATCH PLAYER

In my view, it is non-negotiable that women’s tennis across the past decade has come of age in a multitude of ways. The level of speed, power and anticipation among the top 100 players in the world is stupendous, the athleticism exhibited by these performers spectacular, the contests they play against each other riveting. Count me in as an ardent admirer of the women’s game.

But one drawback in recent years has been the lack of continuity at the top.

For five years in a row, from 2017-21, no player was able to take two Grand Slam titles in an annual campaign. But that pattern changed last year. Poland’s perspicacious Iga Swiatek was victorious at both Roland Garros and the US Open. This young player of growing stature started the 2022 season with 37 match wins in a row and established herself unequivocally on auspicious occasions.

Now Swiatek has raised her reputation significantly by virtue of her triumph at the 2023 French Open. Not only was this her fourth major title run, but also her third at Roland Garros. Ever since Swiatek came to the forefront of tennis in 2020 with her first major title run in Paris, she has been the embodiment of what a champion is supposed to be, utterly consumed with the game, deeply determined to succeed.

What made this latest Roland Garros triumph stand out was the way she achieved it. In all three of her previous finals at the Grand Slam tournaments, Swiatek prevailed in straight sets. Swiatek’s extreme prowess from the backcourt and almost tangible will to win were twin virtues.

But this time around at Roland Garros she took on a resurgent adversary in Karolina Muchova in the title round contest. Muchova had engineered an astounding comeback to oust No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals, rescuing herself from 2-5 down in the final set, saving a match point, collecting 22 of the last 27 points to prevail 7-6 (5), 6-7 (5), 7-5.

Muchova almost produced a similarly astounding comeback against Swiatek. The top seed was ahead 6-2, 3-0 in the final, seemingly headed inexorably toward a comfortable victory. But Muchova battled back to win nine of the next eleven games for a 2-0 final set lead. Swiatek found her range again to lead 3-2, then behind 4-3. And yet, when she was ominously close to defeat, Swiatek redefined herself, fighting back with quiet ferocity, ultimately succeeding with immense character. She swept three consecutive games to complete a hard earned 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 win.

By claiming the crown at Roland Garros once more, Swiatek moved to 4-0 in major finals. Only two other women (Monica Seles and Naomi Osaka) had been victorious in their first four finals on Grand Slam stages since Open Tennis started in 1968. This was only her 17th career appearance at a major, making her achievement all the more remarkable. Moreover, Swiatek, 22, established herself as the youngest woman to secure four Grand Slam singles titles since Serena Williams in 2002 at the US Open.

No one in women’s tennis is better from the baseline. Swiatek blends stinging offense with superior defense unassailably. As John McEnroe said on NBC during the French Open final, “Iga is one of the best athletes I’ve ever seen on the tour. She moves in and out of the corners better than anyone on the tour.”

Swiatek has grown into her success with increasing comfort, confidence and class. The view here is that she will reside at and near the top of the rankings for the next decade, and perhaps longer. She is nowhere near the peak of her powers. Swiatek is highly motivated, thoroughly professional and singularly dedicated to her craft. The public identifies with familiar figures: great, durable and authentic champions. Consider this: since the middle of 2003, Roger Federer (20), Rafael Nadal (22) and Novak Djokovic (23) have taken 65 of the last 79 majors collectively. Examining the modern game, Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova each claimed 18 singles titles at the majors, Steffi Graf took 22, Serena Williams went one better than that and Margaret Court is alone at the top with 24. That kind of continuity across long stretches is extraordinarily important.

If Swiatek can travel into double digit territory at the places of prestige and become a champion of enduring excellence, dedicated fans will be wearing wide smiles on their faces while fully appreciating her unparalleled discipline, determination and professionalism. *