Iga Swiatek has endured a tough start to the year, again struggling to threaten for elite titles.
It marks a continuation of her underwhelming 2025 campaign, which was admittedly saved by a shock summer where she won both Wimbledon and Cincinnati.
Sadly, it seems like the former world number one has stumbled back into old patterns and is slowly getting left behind by the likes of Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina.
However, Serena Williams’ former coach has offered his ray of optimism, suggesting that she has at least made a smart decision with her schedule just a week after Swiatek announced she had split with her coach.
Serena Williams’ former coach praises Iga Swiatek
Taking to X, it was Rick Macci, who led the formative development of both Serena and Venus Williams, who jumped to the defence of the seven-time major champion.
After all, having seen that Swiatek had decided to withdraw from Billie Jean King Cup duty, he suggested: “Very smart the Polish Punisher is not playing the next event.
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“Iga has been there done that. She has delivered the mail. She knows the drill. She feels the temperature. She is a champion. She will dive in the deep end when she is ready and the Punisher will be firing and on dirt oh so steady.”
He is clearly predicting a strong clay-court swing from the 24-year-old, having failed to make an impact this time last year on her favourite surface.
How Iga Swiatek can turn her form around
Iga Swiatek’s Wimbledon title seemed wholly random, and there had been no build-up to the event where anyone was really looking at her as a serious threat to win the entire thing.
That kind of unlikely triumph, whilst exceptional, is not where the Polish superstar will want to be.
After all, years ago, she was like a force of nature, particularly on clay.
People were terrified of facing her because they knew they’d be in for a gruelling affair, and that fear factor helped her claim so many titles despite being the overwhelming favourite.
Do you think Iga Swiatek will win a Grand Slam this season?
She needs to rediscover that simple but effective play style, and that starts with a new coach.
The number one candidate to be Swiatek’s new coach has been identified, but confirmation seems some way off.
She needs to find consistency, both on and off the court, and this clay-court swing could provide the perfect opportunity to do that.
