“It scares me for everybody else on tour”: Tennis presenter remarks on Iga Swiatek going from hunted to hunter as World No.2
ATP
Tennis
commentator Blair Henley remarked that Iga Swiatek without the pressure of
being the world No. 1 is a concern for the rest of the WTA Tour.
The
4-times Grand Slam champion recently lost her position at the top of the
rankings after 75 weeks, with Aryna Sabalenka taking over the No. 1 spot when
Swiatek was unable to defend her 2022 title and after Sabalenka reached the
final at Flushing Meadows.
Swiatek
subsequently mentioned that it can be positive to relieve herself of the
pressure, given that she is currently the player chasing Sabalenka, and coming
from a slightly lower position to compete. Tennis expert Blair Henley expressed
the opinion that she may even improve further from this position:
“It
scares me for everybody else [on tour] to be honest when Iga’s like ‘Well let’s
see what else I can improve now that I’m not necessarily the hunted one, the
No. 1, now I can do a little bit of hunting. Maybe change my outlook when I’m
working in the court a little bit’,” Henley said.
“She hit
zero unforced errors in the match. It was interesting that many people saw her
en route to that title using some different tools. One of them being the fact
that if she wanted to take her foot off the gas slightly and be more of a
backboard, she has the capability to do that.”
"Iga
Swiatek has the capability to come to the net more," he said.
"Her
volleys maybe aren’t one of the strongest, haven’t been the strongest part of
her game, there’s room for improvement there and we saw that… the more you come
in to the net, the better those things are going to get," Henley added.
At the
moment, Swiatek is just over 600 points behind Sabalenka and still has a chance
to finish the year as the world No. 1. Both she and the Belarusian have only
the WTA Finals left on their calendars, although the Polish player would need a
perfect campaign and hope for Sabalenka to be eliminated in the Round Robin
stage. It's a challenging scenario for Swiatek, but she still keeps her possibilities
open.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
claps 0visitors 0
Just In
Popular News
Latest Comments
- Wtf? Why is there no reason? And what about the men's?Bel08-11-2026
- One step by another step -- WTA continues to 'lose the plot'. Too many hi-tech microphones being installed at most venues!!! Remove them (especially those along the hallways, sidewalks, and pathways throughout the venues. Not to mention (most of all) remove the mic's from the Players/Coaches Box.
mandoist06-11-2026 - Enough of her bullshit. Go marry someone.mandoist06-11-2026
- Don't you just love this young lady!? We fans often expect athletes to be supermen and superwomen, often forgetting that they WILL GET TIRED! I love Alex's perspective. Tiredness for an athlete should never be viewed as a negative, especially if you are healthy, taking care of your body and mental health and putting in the work. What a mature perspective. Good for you, Alex!Rapunzel05-11-2026
- Jess is absolutely correct! But the disrespect is a trait I have noticed in most of the Russian players. Mirra is good but very immature and lacks humility. Conceivable needs to get a handle on that!Rapunzel05-11-2026
- Having spent weeks and weeks through the years on tour, I can say with confidence that Conchita was (is) one of the very few who realize the surprising level of maturity (and sometimes lack of) which Mirra seems to have developed in such a demanding adult world of Pro-Tennis. While at the same time reminding herself (Conchita, that is) that Mirra is still young and developing mentally and physically. The general public may forget at times, or not at all realize, these modern era young athletes do not have a 'normal' Youth. It's a major sacrifice, among countless sacrifices, these athletes must make. People who blow-off that fact are ignorant and unfair when they blurt out, "They choose fame so they have to put up with the intrusions on their lives". No, they do not.mandoist05-11-2026
- Okay... someone with a camera was EAVESDROPPING on a private conversation. Shouldn't that be the point of discussion here? Regardless of the sensationalist crap by media, Pegula (and anyone) has a right to an opinion. There used to be an expectation that private conversations were respected, regardless of 'stardom' and whatever other defensive excuses media tries to shove in our faces. Boo-hoo if feelings are hurt. BTW: Having been employed at various tourney venues, etc., I can't tell you how nasty and offensive players can be when discussing their opponents and colleagues... in "private". Well, I could, but won't. I also challenge anyone to deny what Jessica said is false.mandoist05-11-2026
- Vacherot is Mongasque, rather than Swiss. The tournament was Swiss :DTrwd7702-11-2026
- After a couple decades traveling to IIHF tourneys overseas... our family is done with it... and I will not be the only one!! Bad enough the NHL allows Ovachenko (a Putin Supporter and Campaigner) to live and play in the USA. Let's not forget the STATE SPONSORED RUSSIAN DOPING PROGRAMS still in effect today.mandoist31-10-2026
- Osaka's mental state apparently does not allow her to reach any more Quarter Finals? I mean, she doesn't really have the time for tennis with all the pre-planning that must go into her 12 year-old "fashion" goals.mandoist29-10-2026
