Iga Swaitek has recently emphasized the importance of tennis players becoming skilled in both attack and defense, following the examples set by Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Swiatek is currently participating in the 2023 Madrid Open, where she secured her sixth consecutive victory on clay this season by defeating American Bernarda Pera with a 6-3, 6-2 score on April 30th.
Changes in gameplay on the WTA tour
During her post-match press conference, Swiatek was asked about the increasing number of aggressive counterpunchers emerging in recent years, and how her own game has changed. She responded by saying that players are now incorporating more speed into their gameplay, reacting faster, and improving their physical fitness.
Role models in Nadal and Djokovic
The World No.1 also expressed that players should aspire to become strong in both offense and defense, like Nadal and Djokovic. She said that the ability to be patient and attack well should be every tennis player’s goal, which is why many are now focusing on improving their serve and hit speed.
Iga Swiatek’s next match and her previous encounters
Swiatek will now face Ekaterina Alexandrova in the fourth round of the 2023 Madrid Open on May 2nd, following her victory over Bernarda Pera. This will mark their third meeting, with their head-to-head record currently tied at 1-1. Swiatek, the reigning Roland Garros champion, is only playing in Madrid for the second time, while Alexandrova was a semifinalist in the Masters 1000 tournament the previous year.
