© Getty Images Sport – Clive Mason
Serena Williams’ childhood coach Rick Macci says Iga Swiatek is “a cut above” the rest of the competition and compared the Pole’s clay-court game to “something like Martina Hingis on steroids.” Swiatek, who turned 22 in May, is a four-time Grand Slam champion, with three of her four Slams coming at the French Open.
After going 18-1 on clay last year and winning the French Open, Swiatek went 19-2 on clay this year and also managed to defend her title at Roland Garros. Apart from her clay success, Swiatek has also established herself as a very strong force on hard and she is widely considered the best player in women’s tennis.
The 2023 season wasn’t easy for Swiatek but the 22-year-old still managed to finish the season with a maiden WTA Finals title and beat out Aryna Sabalenka for the Year-End No 1 spot.
Macci: Swiatek on clay is something like Hingis on steroids
“Well, first off, Iga [Swiatek] has proven herself with four Slams, you know, mentally she has proven herself and she’s not going anywhere.
I think she is a cut above, no one’s going undefeated, okay, but I think she is much better mentally than the rest of the field. [Aryna] Sabalenka can…
