“Even though she’s No. 1 in the world, it’s almost like her career has been undersold to this point,” Andy Roddick says of Iga Swiatek.
By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Thursday, March 21, 2024
Iga Swiatek carries a piece of Roger Federer with her every time she steps court.
The world No. 1 wears On shoes and clothes, the Swiss brand co-owned by Swiss Maestro Federer.
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Swiatek’s connection to Federer runs deeper than shared apparel, says former world No. 1 Andy Roddick.
Writing in his Betway blog, Roddick says Swiatek shares the same supreme closing skills Federer owned.
The 22-year-old Swiatek stormed through eight consecutive games sweeping Maria Sakkari 6-4, 6-0, to capture her second BNP Paribas Open championship in the last three years on Sunday.
Swiatek, the first top seed to win Indian Wells since Victoria Azarenka in 2012, did not drop a set winning Indian Wells to improve to a WTA-best 20-2 in 2024.
Reigning Roland Garros champion Swiatek is a fierce front-runner as was Federer, says Roddick.
“Iga Swiatek didn’t drop a set on her way to the women’s title and is such a good front-runner,” Roddick wrote in his Betway blog. “It’s similar to Roger Federer – once he got a break in the first set and got comfortable, it was tough to lasso him and bring him back in.
“Iga is the same way. Her confidence grows exponentially when she gets out in front and, when she gets into tournaments, she becomes very tough to beat.”
Avid baker Swiatek dispensed three bagels in 11 completed sets en route to the Indian Wells title.
At the WTA Finals in Cancun last fall, Swiatek served up three bagels in 11 sets, all against Top-7 ranked opponents.
Consider Swiatek owns four Grand Slam championships, a 19-4 career record in finals and eight WTA 1000 titles— all this at age 22—and you have to believe the powerful Pole is underrated, Roddick asserts.
“She has now gone deep in her last three events,” Roddick wrote. “With four majors, eight Masters 1000s titles and 19 tournament wins, she is very quickly entering the realm of passing some heady names, and she’s still only 22 years old.
“If she wins one Slam this year then she’ll match Maria Sharapova. If she wins two, then she’ll be right behind Justine Henin and Venus Williams on seven. Even though she’s No. 1 in the world, it’s almost like her career has been undersold to this point.”
Photo credit: On
