Former Serena Williams coach says Swiatek plays like ‘Hingis on steroids’ on clay

Respected tennis coach Rick Macci once coached Serena Williams, so he’s seen a lot of great tennis players, but for him, it’s not like that on clay. Iga Swiatek is another story.

We’ve known Swiatek and clay since she won the COVID-19 Faroland Garros following the U.S. Open as a teenager. It was an amazing match that saw her defeat the likes of Simona Halep to win her first Grand Slam title.

Fast forward a few years and Swiatek, who won Roland Garros earlier this year, has now won three French Open trophies and is even better now. The key to her success on clay is her baseline stability and excellent movement.

March was a guest on Canada’s Match Point Tennis Podcast, where he talked about the Polish superstar.

Well, first of all, Iga (Swiatek) has proven herself with four Grand Slams, you know, mentally she’s proven herself and she’s not going anywhere. I think she’s a cut above the rest, no one is undefeated, okay, but I think she’s in a much better mental state than the rest of the guys on the floor. (Aryna) Sabalenka can get in and out, (Elena) Rybakina can spray a little bit. (Coco Gauff’s) forehand is a little tricky.

Madge Gough

Despite Swiatek’s prowess on the field, March thinks the sport is very fluid. He wouldn’t be surprised to see things change quickly with the emergence of some other players. It’s the nature of tennis, especially women’s tennis, that the court looks flatter compared to men’s tennis.

But I think the women’s game is very fluid because not a lot of people have done it there. You know what I’m talking about, (players) have that pedigree, winning two, three, four or five majors. So every woman who goes in, you have a chance.

Maybe not on clay, because on clay, Iga is like (Martina) Hingis on steroids, she just cuts off the angle and then cuts you like a Thanksgiving turkey. She’s by far the best, but those are the ones I’ll focus on. But it’s so open and all women know it.