Things have not gone according to plan for Iga Świątek this year, with the Pole down to eighth in the WTA rankings and facing a very real possibility of missing the WTA Finals.
Tennis legend Kim Clijsters has now weighed in on the possible reasons for the six-time Grand Slam champion’s struggles and how she can find her way back to the top.
Kim Clijsters Shares Thoughts on Iga Świątek’s Recent Woes
Świątek is going through a rough spell at the moment. She was sent packing by Alexandra Eala in the third round of the Wimbledon Championships, following her fourth-round exit at the French Open. Clijsters believes that the 25-year-old’s struggles could be down to her “obsession” with winning and the pressure she puts on herself.
“It almost feels like she wants it too much where it becomes such an obsession. After her first-round win at Wimbledon, it was almost such a relief that she got through. It just shows how much tension there is on winning and trying to win another Slam. It’s just really hard under that kind of pressure that she puts on herself,” Clijsters said on the latest episode of the “Love All” podcast.
Building on that, the four-time Grand Slam champion opined that Świątek does not look as comfortable on the court as she did when she was dominating proceedings on the WTA Tour.
“I never feel like she’s comfortable or confident. She’s very much pushing, ‘I’ve got to try harder; I’ve got to move my feet faster.’ It’s not always the most efficient way or the flowy, easy-going way, which she had a little bit more when she was dominating,” she added.
As she looks to regain her confidence, Clijsters said it might be better for Świątek to slow things down rather than try to play her way back into form.
“It’s very hard. She’s very hard-working, wants to play and get better all the time. I just think sometimes it becomes a little bit too much, and you have to work a little bit smarter. You can talk to yourself and put less pressure on yourself, take breaks, try to have fun, but it’s mostly what goes on between the two ears,” Clijsters said.
MORE: Alexander Zverev Unwinds With Rafael Nadal During Scenic Boat Trip Days After Wimbledon Heartbreak
Świątek parted ways with Clijsters’ former coach Wim Fissette after the Sunshine Swing and appointed Francisco Roig. The partnership got off to a decent start, with the Pole reaching the Italian Open semifinals.
But after an early exit at Roland-Garros and a poor grass-court swing, Iga Świątek seems to be back at square one ahead of her Cincinnati title defense and the US Open. A former champion at Flushing Meadows, Świątek will look to take inspiration from four years ago as she tries to return to her best in the coming months.
