Iga Świątek sent shockwaves through the tennis world after her dominant Cincinnati Open run. The Polish star refused to lose a single set throughout the tournament, capping things off with a commanding 7-5, 6-4 victory over Jasmine Paolini in the final. This performance caught everyone’s attention, including a former US Open champion who now thinks Świątek is the woman to beat at the upcoming US Open.
The 24-year-old’s Cincinnati triumph marked her 24th career title and first hard-court victory since Indian Wells in 2024. More importantly, this win launched her back to world number two, displacing American Coco Gauff and locking up the second seed for the US Open.
Why Does Andy Roddick Think Iga Świątek Is the US Open Favorite?
Former US Open champion Andy Roddick wasted no time praising Świątek’s recent form and made a bold prediction about her chances at Flushing Meadows. Speaking on his Served by Andy Roddick podcast, he highlighted how Świątek has completely flipped the script on her career in 2025.
“Swiatek- dominant, didn’t drop a set in Cincinnati, and she’s flipping narratives all over the place, right? It used to be, okay, Clay’s the thing, she’s going to win some outside of it,” Roddick observed on his show. The 2003 US Open champion was impressed with how Świątek has evolved from being labeled purely as a clay court specialist.
“How about winning Wimbledon and then backing it up with maybe the fastest hard court tournament of the year without dropping a set, in Cincinnati?” Roddick continued, emphasizing the remarkable turnaround in Świątek’s career.
Roddick also praised Świątek’s improved serve. “She spent some time on this very show a couple of weeks ago, saying, ‘I served really well at Wimbledon. I hope I can keep doing it. I hope I can keep making serves when I’m ramping it up to 115 or 120.’ She did it,” he stated.
The former world number one delivered his strongest endorsement yet: “I would be hard-pressed to bet against her in New York. Not saying she won’t lose in New York, but I think she’s the favorite based on current form, based on the relief of turning the year around at Wimbledon.”
Roddick also noted the improvement in Świątek’s game under coach Wim Fissette. A year ago, she averaged 103 mph on her first serves in Cincinnati, but this year she consistently hit 110 mph. Her serve speed peaked at 115-118 mph during matches, showing significant growth in her arsenal.
How Did Świątek Turn Around Her 2025 Season?
Earlier in 2025, Świątek had tumbled to number eight in the world rankings and hadn’t captured a title for over a year. However, her summer surge has been nothing short of spectacular.
The Wimbledon victory marked her first grass court Grand Slam title, achieved historically with a rare “double bagel” victory over Amanda Anisimova in just 57 minutes. This breakthrough was followed immediately by her Cincinnati success, making her one of only a few players to win titles on grass and hard courts in the same season.
At Cincinnati, Świątek’s dominance was evident as she converted all six of her break point opportunities in the final against Paolini and fired nine aces compared to Paolini’s zero. The match lasted one hour and 49 minutes, with Świątek maintaining her perfect 6-0 record against the Italian player.
Following her Cincinnati victory, Świątek faced an immediate challenge. She had to catch a late-night flight to New York to prepare for the US Open mixed doubles event, where she’s partnering with Norway’s Casper Ruud. The duo faces American favorites Madison Keys and Frances Tiafoe in their first-round match.
