Rick Macci knows a thing or two about tennis greatness after coaching Venus and Serena Williams, and now he has his eyes on Iga Świątek. The Polish star finished her 2025 campaign at World No. 2 following a fifth consecutive WTA Finals appearance, where she beat Madison Keys but fell to Amanda Anisimova and eventual champion Elena Rybakina.
Despite that finish, Macci isn’t worried about her ranking. He sees a mental shift coming that won’t just put her back on top; it could make her terrifying to play against in 2026.
Can Iga Świątek Reclaim the World No. 1 Ranking?
The seven-time USPTA National Coach of the Year took to social media to share his bold outlook. Macci revealed through a recent X post that the Warsaw native will start the new season with a more rigid mindset. He believes her resilience and focus will drive her back to the summit. Specifically, she is expected to reach her prime just a few months after January.
Macci also warned that her improved game spells trouble for the rest of the tour. He noted that her superior form could pose a massive threat to the current top contenders. This list includes World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, and Rybakina, along with other top-nine threats like Anisimova, Jessica Pegula, Keys, Jasmine Paolini, Mirra Andreeva, and Ekaterina Alexandrova.
READ MORE: Iga Świątek Continues Her Criticism of WTA Schedule As She Plans To Skip Events in 2026
“The Polish Punisher will hit number one on the planet because her mind will be even stronger granite. By the end of May, if not faster, she will be at the top, ripping and for others a disaster. Number one is down the street because the Punisher has the mind and the feet. @WTA”
Before that chase for the top spot begins, she heads to Australia for a team competition. Świątek will join Hubert Hurkacz, Daniel Michalski, Jan Zielinski, Katarzyna Kawa, and Katarzyna Piter at the 2026 United Cup, which runs from Jan. 2 to 11.
How Will New Skills Change Świątek’s Game?
The winner of 25 WTA singles titles admitted she is still adjusting to recent changes in her playstyle. During an interview with “The Guardian” last month, Świątek revealed that adding new weapons to her arsenal came with some growing pains. The six-time major winner noted that she acquired new skills but faced challenges implementing them during matches.
She added, “There is a lot of stuff I learned this year that I started doing, but couldn’t really mix it well with how I’ve been playing for the past seasons. My goal overall will be to combine that with good balance, still keep my good game on the slower surfaces … to really feel more comfortable with the variety I’ve got and know exactly where to use what skill.”
Finding that rhythm remains the priority moving forward. She aims to expand her game by striking the correct balance and utilizing those fresh skills effectively alongside her established dominance.
