BY JAMES BECK
How did Iga Swiatek get so good?
There’s no question that she’s the best player in women’s tennis.
Six years ago, she was among the forgotten ones on the WTA Tour. She played mostly ITF tournaments.
There she was in 2018, ranked No. 412 in the world and needing to win three matches in qualifying to make the main draw of an $80K ITF event at Ben Navarro’s LTP Tennis complex in Mount Pleasant S.C.
FROM 412 TO NUMBER ONE – A FANTASY?
A win by Swiatek over hometown hero Emma Navarro didn’t mean much in those days. Navarro was still in high school, and Swiatek was only 17 years old herself.
Swiatek won two other matches to earn a bout against Madison Brengle in the LTP semifinals, winning only two games.
The small crowd at LTP Tennis that day couldn’t have dreamed that the No. 412 player in the world one day would become the best player in the women’s game. And certainly not a fixture atop the WTA rankings.
But that’s Swiatek.
BECOMING A FIXTURE AT THE TOP?
Swiatek is the winner of her last 18 matches, and apparently headed to her third straight French Open final and looking for a fourth French Open title in five years on Saturday morning against little-known Italian 28-year-old Jasmine Paolini.
Swiatek already owns four Grand Slam tournament titles and has won her last 20 matches at Roland Garros.
Iga is almost in a league by herself after dominating 21-year-old Coco Gauff, 6-2, 6-4, in Thursday’s French semifinals. After all, Gauff had been expected to become women’s tennis’ next great champion any day.
Who would have believed that Swiatek could become such an impressive power player? The Polish star actually matched every serve that Gauff hit her way, keeping pace with the athletic Gauff in powerful serving and hard hitting.
ALL ABOUT THE FOOTWORK
Swiatek took the game one step farther after making a couple of changes to her game. She out-hit and out-served Gauff. Swiatek kept pace with everything Gauff threw her way.
It’s all about her precision footwork, quite possibly the best in women’s tennis.
Just another 5-9, 23-year-old young woman who looks like just another teacher or professional in the business world? No way.
Oh, yes, she does mean business when she takes the tennis court.
Swiatek is simply amazing. Her quickness, near-perfect serves and precision ground strokes all together are unmatched on the tour. She may be the quickest player on the tour in turning defense to offense.
And she plays every point the same way, whether winning big or just winning.
—
James Beck was the 2003 winner of the USTA National Media Award for print media. A 1995 MBA graduate of The Citadel, he can be reached at Jamesbecktennis@gmail.com.
