Iga Swiatek defeated Karolina Pliskova 6-1, 6-3, in the second round of Wimbledon.
Wimbledon legend, Martina Navratilova, was impressed by Swiatek’s performance.
“I think this sends a message. Iga Swiatek was really sharp and focused. She was light on her feet, and she did not look nervous. The serve was a little dicey for my taste, a bit too predictable. She needs to mix it up as the matches progress,” she said during the BBC’s Wimbledon coverage.
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“Overall, though, I would give her an A+. Her return quality was 9.5! It was crazy! And she can still improve on the other end with her serving and moving forward. It was a great effort from Swiatek, and she looks every bit the defending champion right now.”
During her post-match interview, Swiatek was asked for her thoughts on Navratilova’s rating.
Iga Swiatek gives herself a B rating for her win over Karolina Pliskova at Wimbledon
“When legends like that say something like that about you, it means a lot, and it is why you try and be the best tennis player possible for people to appreciate it,” said Swiatek.
“I am really happy she is saying that.
“I don’t know if it was A+.
“It was a tricky game with the wind; sometimes the ball was really far away from you, especially in the last game. I felt like I played so many tricky shots.
“Maybe it was not A+ but B, I would say!”
Iga Swiatek vs Karolina Pliskova – Match stats
| Stats | Iga Swiatek | Karolina Pliskova |
| Aces | 0 | 2 |
| Double faults | 5 | 5 |
| 1st Serve % | 75% | 78% |
| Win % on 1st Serve | 69% | 43% |
| Win % on 2nd Serve | 86% | 33% |
| Break points | 6/8 | 2/4 |
The Pole knows she still has room to improve, and as Navratilova rightly pointed out, her serve should be the focus.
Swiatek made five double faults and not a single ace against Pliskova.
If she wants to make a deep run in the competition and potentially defend her title, those numbers must improve.
Still, Swiatek was happy with her second-round performance, keeping control of her emotions better than she did in round one.
“I’m feeling more stable today, and that’s good. The first round was really emotional for sure, but today I felt like it was another day in the office and I needed to be ready, be charged and make good decisions,” she said.
“It is always better when you’re able to think like that, and it was a good day for me. I was consistent, and I had a good level of focus, so I’m really happy with my performance.
“Honestly, I just believed I could be the most solid player on court. Even when she was playing fast and flat, I knew that my spin gives me control.
“I had things to challenge her with, and that gave me a lot of belief. In the moments when it got a little tight, I knew I could use it, and I’m really happy about that.”
Swiatek can now look forward to round three, where she will take on one of the most popular players in the women’s game.
Iga Swiatek prepares for Alex Eala test at Wimbledon
Next up for Swiatek is the Filipina sensation, Alex Eala.
After dominating Renata Zarazua in her Wimbledon opener, Eala beat the Serena Williams conqueror, Maya Joint, in round two.
Swiatek and Eala have met twice before, at WTA 1000 events last year.
Eala won their first encounter in the Miami Open quarter-finals, before Swiatek got her revenge at the Madrid Open shortly after.
With the head-to-head tied at one apiece, you certainly won’t want to miss their third-round clash on Friday, July 3.
