Former 23-time Grand Slam doubles champion Pam Shriver thinks Iga Swiatek’s forehand is now the most feared shot in the women’s game. Serena Williams is one of the most complete players in tennis history but her serve is one of her weapons that stand out.
“It’s like Steffi Graf or Nadal, when a forehand is your best shot, it is really intimidating,” Shriver told the WTA Tour website. “I mean, after Serena’s serve hasn’t been seen in 10 months, I feel like Iga’s forehand is the most feared shot in women’s tennis”.
Swiatek elevated her game to another level
Swiatek has been a strong force on clay since Day 1 on the WTA Tour but this year she has elevated her game to a whole new level and now she is dominant on hard as well. After the 2021 season, Swiatek focused on adding more aggressiveness to her game and it has been paying off massively in 2022.
“She’s finishing the slide as she hits the ball,” Martina Navratilova said of Swiatek. “What happens then is your body’s not actually moving when you’re hitting the ball, which makes it a more stable shot.
Then, as soon as she follows through, she can go back to the middle of the court. Others, they’re still sliding so they’re later getting back into the court – and more vulnerable.” Swiatek feared that her new game style might not work on clay.
That hasn’t been the case so far as Swiatek is 9-0 this clay season and has won two clay titles. “She trusts that she’s not going to be burned when she gets inside the court, that she can handle the next shot.
And she’s quick enough to recover from any position, so that allows her to be more adventurous going forward,” Navratilova said. Swiatek enters the French Open on a 28-match win streak.
