Tennis legend Mats Wilander recently shared his thoughts on world No. 1 Iga Swiatek’s chances at the upcoming US Open, expressing both belief and concern. Wilander acknowledged Swiatek’s vulnerability, stating that she is still in search of her best form following her triumph at Roland-Garros earlier this year.

Despite Swiatek’s dominant performance on clay, where she clinched her fourth French Open title, her results on hard courts have been less impressive. A notable upset at the Paris Olympics final against Qinwen Zheng on clay also contributed to her recent struggles.

“We actually really did think that she was going to have a really good chance to win Wimbledon,” Wilander remarked. “Of course, she was going to the Olympics on her favourite surface, on her favourite stadium, and she didn’t win. And now she didn’t win in Cincinnati, which, again, is not her favourite surface. It plays very fast.”

Wilander emphasized the importance of Swiatek adapting her game to different surfaces, drawing parallels with Rafael Nadal’s clay-court dominance. He suggested that Swiatek needs to adjust her style to perform well on hard and grass courts, much like she does on clay.

In terms of the US Open title contenders, Wilander pointed to Aryna Sabalenka as a strong favorite alongside Swiatek. He highlighted Sabalenka’s consistent performance and potential to succeed on various surfaces.

“[Sabalenka] is becoming the big favourite in most tournaments, to be honest, even when it’s on clay,” Wilander said. “I still put her at 50-50 with Iga Swiatek, but I think that there are more players that can beat Sabalenka on a clay court than there are that can beat Swiatek.”

Reflecting on Sabalenka’s technical skills, Wilander noted some areas where she may have room for improvement. However, he praised her fighting spirit and predicted that the buzz surrounding the US Open would motivate her to perform well.

“I think her fighting spirit is there and the US Open is going to fire her up. And can you imagine the American fans, how they are going to support her, mainly because she is not playing well. I think they’re going to be so much on her side that it’s really going to help her.”

Wilander’s insights shed light on the competitive landscape awaiting tennis fans at the US Open, where Swiatek, Sabalenka, and other top players will battle for glory on the courts of Flushing Meadows.