‘Iga Swiatek suffocates her opponents’ declares 2-time Davis Cup champion
Fabrice Santoro has dubbed newly-crowned WTA number one Iga Swiatek as unique in her all-around capabilities on court.
The Pole recently became just the fourth woman to complete the elusive ‘Sunshine Double’ of winning Indian Wells and Miami back-to-back before topping the women’s rankings immediately after.
She is also the first woman to win the first three WTA 1000 level events of a season consecutively, just one thing that makes Swiatek special in the eyes of Santoro.
He told L’Equipe: “In my opinion, Swiatek is the only player today capable of winning a match by attacking or defending.
“In general, it is she who puts pressure on her opponents, who attacks.
“[She attacks with] the service, on return of the second serve.
“It feels like her opponents are running out of oxygen because it’s going too fast.
“But she is also able to defend because she has exceptional physical qualities.”
Swiatek has already accrued an impressive 26-3 win-loss record so far in 2022.
Moreover, she is currently enjoying a win streak of 17 and counting since exiting the Dubai Open in mid-February.
After Barty’s retirement pushed Swiatek into the number one position, the 20-year-old now leads her closest points challenger, Barbora Krejcikova, by 1,736 points.
All this heading into perhaps Swiatek’s best surface, the red clay of Europe, where she claimed her maiden Slam title at Roland Garros 2020.
She is scheduled to play for her nation next in the Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers as Poland take on Romania on 15th and 16th April in Radom, Poland.
Next on tour she is entered in the WTA 500 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix next, an event which kicks off on 18th April.
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