Swiatek Not Anxious About Rating, Targeted on Lengthy-Time period Development as Fissette Period Begins

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday November 1, 2024

Picture Supply: Matthew Calvis

As she ramps as much as play for the primary time since this 12 months’s US Open, issues will probably be very completely different on the floor for Iga Swiatek. Gone from her teaching field is Tomasz Wiktorowski, the person who helped information her to 4 of her 5 main titles. In is Wim Fissette, one other supercoach with a extremely regarded pedigree.

Chatting with reporters forward of this 12 months’s WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Swiatek says that we shouldn’t anticipate an excessive amount of too quickly from the change – her choice was made with long-term progress in thoughts.

“I spent this time nonetheless taking part in tennis and for positive specializing in discovering new coach,” she mentioned of the time between at this time and the tip of her US Open, the place she misplaced to Jessica Pegula within the quarterfinals. “Making this transition, it is at all times difficult. For me it is a choice hopefully for years as a result of I have a look at my profession form of long-term.”

What sort of issues does the five-time Grand Slam champion and former World No.1 hope to study from Fissette?

“I feel it is form of apparent,” she mentioned. “I for positive wish to enhance my serve, as I have been doing for previous years. I really feel like I nonetheless must proceed that. For positive I am not an entire participant. I feel tactically there are numerous methods I might go and have extra selection on courtroom. Wim has some good concepts.”

Swiatek, who’s 54-7 on the season with 5 titles, says she’s completely happy to take issues sluggish. The true deep dive will occur within the pre-season leadup to the 2025 Australian Open.

“Actually for now we have simply been making ready for this match and attending to know one another,” she mentioned. “The true adjustments, we will speak about them through the low season as a result of that is the correct time to do it. For now I have been attempting to only be in one of the best form for this match. Some technicalities, we will work on them within the pre-season.” The Hunt for No.1 a Non-Issue

The media likes the narrative of a duel for the No.1 rating on the WTA Finals. They’ve it this 12 months because the Pole might recapture the No.1 rating from Sabalenka by making a title run, however Swiatek says it isn’t vital for her in the intervening time.

Does she know what number of factors she must take again the highest spot from Sabalenka?

“I do not. I wish to play one of the best form of tennis. That is what I must do,” she mentioned, including: “She’s an important participant. She additionally form of deserves to be world No. 1. For positive I’ll battle for me to be in that place.”