“Good luck on clay, everybody”: Former Serena Williams coach confident in Iga Swiatek’s 2025 clay dominance
WTA
Rennae Stubbs is confident that Iga Swiatek will enjoy another successful clay swing after her Australian Open semifinal disappointment. The world No. 2 had been on an impressive run in Melbourne, dropping just 14 games in five matches (and only seven in the four matches before the semifinals).
However, she ran into an inspired Madison Keys, who saved a match point to advance to the final, where she later secured her first Grand Slam trophy by defeating Aryna Sabalenka in three sets. Once again, Swiatek fell short in Australia.
Despite the loss, the five-time Grand Slam champion can take positives from her strong performances on hard courts at the start of the year, dominating players like Emma Raducanu (6-1, 6-0) and Emma Navarro (6-1, 6-2).
Stubbs praises Swiatek’s best-ever hard-court match
Former Serena Williams coach Rennae Stubbs discussed Swiatek’s level at the start of the season on her podcast. “I have not seen Iga Swiatek play a better quality match on hard court,” she stated. “There were a couple of points here and there, a forehand on match point and in the tiebreak, but we nitpick.”
“We nitpick at the person who loses. I honestly think that is the best match I have seen Iga play on hard court ever. And she won the US Open,” Stubbs added. “She was hitting the ball so well; everything was working. She arguably should have won the match—she had a match point on her serve and didn’t hit a bad serve, went to the backhand, to the weaker side, but Madison crushed a return.”
The American coach believes Swiatek’s impressive hard-court level suggests she will once again dominate the clay swing, where she is a specialist. “There was nothing that you could seriously critique, and it makes me think that Iga Swiatek is not going to lose a match on clay this year. If she plays like that on hard courts, good luck on clay, everybody.”
Swiatek had a particularly dominant clay season in 2024, securing her fourth French Open title. However, it wasn’t just her Roland Garros performance—she posted a remarkable 21-1 record on clay, with her only loss coming in the Stuttgart Open semifinals against Elena Rybakina.
After falling short in her first clay tournament, Swiatek rebounded to win the WTA 1000 Madrid Open and Rome Open—both times defeating Sabalenka in the final. She capped off her season with the Roland Garros title and currently holds a 19-match winning streak on clay.
This means Swiatek has a significant number of ranking points to defend—4,185 in total—so she will need to replicate her outstanding results to keep pace with Sabalenka in the battle for world No. 1.
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.
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