One element decided about the defeat of Iga ¦wiątek. The commentators were right

Shortly after the match of the third round of the Australian Open with Cristina Buksa (6:0, 6:1) Iga ¦wiątek unexpectedly went to training. As reported by Sport.pl correspondent from Australia, Agnieszka Niedziałek, coach Tomasz Wiktorowski wanted to practice the serve. The guardian of the Polish tennis player knew what he was doing. In the match against Elena Rybakina, the serve was one of the most important elements.

The service decided

Iga ¦wiątek served checkered in this match. Sometimes very well – as in the seventh game of the second set (4:3). At times, however, far too predictable for the rival, who threatened her with strong returns. Kazaszka’s returns shattered the tactical plan of the Polish woman. After these plays, Świątek lost the application at the beginning of the match, as well as in the second set.

It’s hard not to agree with Dawid Celt, who commented on this meeting together with Marek Furjan in Eurosport. They both emphasized that Iga Świątek’s service was not very diverse in this meeting. There were no passes to Elena Rybakina’s forehand side. Too often, the Polish woman’s service was predictable for the rival.

A tennis player born in Moscow, but representing Kazakhstan, it must be given that she did an excellent job on the serve. Not always – because she let the Polish woman break twice – but at key moments her application did not fail. Serving at 5:4 in the first and second set, however, she did not give Świątek any chance. Strong serves, aces, short actions and more points went to Rybakina’s side.

The will to fight is not everything

Rybakina didn’t hit the first serve very often (56 percent), but her pass was more dangerous. Like the backhand moves she used to win important rallies. It’s scary to think what this match would look like if the tennis player from Kazakhstan hit the court from the serve even more often.

It cannot be said that Iga Świątek played a bad game (not counting the application). She impresses with her defense game, she moves well on the court again. She was very motivated and energized, a bit like Rafael Nadal. She probably remembered the recent unfortunate loss to Elena Rybakina at the exhibition tournament in Dubai (3:6, 1:6). This time Kazaszka’s calmness won with the volcano of energy of the Polish tennis player.

Correct the application

The leader of the ranking was looking for solutions. She went down to the court after losing the first set, and on her way back she was holding a notebook with notes. She fought as best she could. That day, however, she was unable to show more. After last year’s semi-final of the Australian Open, he will lose 540 points, because this time he returns from Melbourne after the fourth round.

However, one should not dramatize this defeat. In the end, Iga Świątek lost to the current Wimbledon champion. A tennis player who is admittedly 25th in the WTA ranking, but if you add 2,000 points for her success in London (and these were not awarded due to the exclusion of Russians and Belarusians from the tournament) she would be eighth in the world. Then she would not meet Świątek in the fourth round, and at the earliest in the quarterfinals.

Unfortunately for Polish fans, Elena Rybakina will perform in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open 2023. Her rival will be Jelena Ostapenko, who unexpectedly defeated Coco Gauff. Świątek leaves Australia knowing that he has to correct his application. Determination and the will to fight can’t always move mountains.