Tennis legend Mats Wilander has shared his thoughts on the upcoming US Open, suggesting that world No. 1 Iga Swiatek is a strong contender for the title, despite some recent struggles on the court. Wilander expressed some concerns about Swiatek’s current form, noting that she is “vulnerable” as she prepares for the final Grand Slam of the year.
Swiatek, who has enjoyed success on clay courts, including a victory at Roland-Garros earlier this year, has faced challenges on hard courts, most notably suffering a defeat at the hands of Qinwen Zheng in the Paris Olympics. Wilander pointed out that Swiatek’s recent performance at the Cincinnati Open, where she fell to Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-finals, further highlights her vulnerability.
“We actually really did think that she was going to have a really good chance to win Wimbledon,” Wilander told Eurosport. “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.”
The tennis great suggested that Swiatek could benefit from adopting a similar approach to her idol Rafael Nadal, who has excelled on multiple surfaces. Wilander emphasized the importance of Swiatek finding a way to adapt her clay-court style to other surfaces in order to achieve success.
Despite Swiatek’s recent challenges, Wilander believes that she and Aryna Sabalenka are the main contenders for the US Open title. He praised Sabalenka as a “huge favourite” for the championship, noting her consistent performance in various tournaments. Wilander acknowledged that Sabalenka’s aggressive style of play makes her a formidable opponent on hard courts.
In terms of Sabalenka’s skill set, Wilander commented, “I think technically you would have to say that she has stagnated slightly. Her serve didn’t improve as much as we thought. Her forehand didn’t improve as much as we thought.” However, he highlighted Sabalenka’s fighting spirit and predicted that the energy of the US Open, coupled with the support of American fans, could motivate her to deliver a strong performance.
As the tennis world eagerly awaits the start of the US Open, Wilander’s insights into the current landscape of the women’s game provide valuable perspectives on the potential contenders for the prestigious title. With Swiatek and Sabalenka poised to make their mark on the tournament, fans can expect an exciting and competitive showcase of top-level tennis.