The expert is delighted with Ig ± wi ± tek. Lists the advantages of a Polish woman. Specifically. “Let the rival worry”

– The huge consequence we saw in her game was decisive for her victory. It was clearly visible, for example, in the Simona Halep service. The Polish woman used Romania’s weaker second pass. She played great on the retour, especially in key moments: with the set ball in the first game and when she broke Halep at 5: 4 in the second set – says Joanna Sakowicz-Kostecka, former tennis player, tennis commentator and expert at Canal Plus in an interview with Sport.pl Sport, which commented on the meeting of Świątek – in Indian Wells.

That’s how you have to play with Simona Halep

Swiatek in both sets had to make up for the losses. In the first game, Halep had two sets of balls in the tie-break. In the second, she was leading 4: 2. – Iga also showed great mental strength. Weaker trades, fragments of the game where she had mistakes, were not able to throw her off balance. She remained calm all the time. She believed in the tactical plan she had created with Tomek [trener Tomasz Wiktorowski – przyp. red.] – our interlocutor points out.

According to Sakowicz-Kostecka, engaging in longer exchanges with Halep would not work. – Like counting on making fewer mistakes than a Romanian woman. Iga had to be aggressive from the very beginning. She showed that in clashes with such regular opponents as Halep, it is important to exert pressure and consistency – says the expert.

A trainer like a safety cushion

The beginning of the season is excellent for Iga ¦wi ± tek: semi-final in Adelaide, semi-final in Australian Open, victory in Doha and at least the final in Indian Wells. These are all successes already achieved under the leadership of coach Tomasz Wiktorowski, who replaced Piotr Sierzputowski in December. What has changed in the game of Polish women?

– First of all, you can see that Iga is not afraid to be aggressive. She understood that the most important thing is what she makes during the match, not whether she makes a mistake or throws the ball over the line by 10 cm. The key to whether the decision was right or the plan was right. If the thoughts of “attack or play safely” appear during the retour, such moments of hesitation often contribute to mistakes – notes Sakowicz-Kostecka

– Tomek Wiktorowski always repeats that coaches judge tennis players for decisions. If he took a certain burden of responsibility from Iga, then her recent better results may also result from this. It works like this: the coach says to the player: “I am your coach, you have to play this and so.” these were his recommendations. From the perspective of the competitor, there is such a safety cushion that this responsibility does not only fall on him – adds our interlocutor.

There are still reserves

Świątek continues the excellent series. She won the last 10 games in a row. He plays probably the best tennis in his career so far. What can be improved in her game? – Iga delights with maturity and consistency on the court. However, this offensive first serve can still be better. When she missed him in the game against Halep, she changed her approach and tried to play safer. It is also important that she has come to terms with the lack of a more effective strong pass. There were also some mistakes or nervous plays in the game against Romania, but it happens in every game. It is worth analyzing, but of course in a different situation – not now, not right before the final of a grand tournament. They will probably come back to it with the coach when there will be a longer break in the competition – says Sakowicz-Kostecka.

Chances for another title

Swiatek will now have a chance for the fifth title in his career. So far, it has won Roland Garros and the events in Adelaide, Rome and Doha. It does not lose the finals it comes to. The tournament in Lugano is an exception, but it took place in spring 2019, when the Polish woman was just taking her first steps in the WTA games.

Her final rival in Indian Wells will be Maria Sakkari. If he defeats the Greek, she will also move up to second place in the WTA rankings. – It would be better to play against Badosa in the final. However, I think that Iga is not thinking about the second place in the ranking at the moment. For her, the goal is to win the entire tournament, and a possible vice-leader position will be a nice addition. I think that Iga has shown in recent weeks that she can play with rivals like Sakkari or Badosa – offensive, regular, who change the rhythm. In fact, they should be worried, not our player – our interlocutor concludes.

The final of Christmas – Sakkari on Sunday at 21:00. Broadcast on Canal Plus Sport.