"Save it": Andy Roddick backs Iga Swiatek to come good on hard court despite Australian Open heartbreak

Former world number one Andy Roddick has backed Iga Swiatek to produce the goods on the hard court, just like she has done on the clay court. The 23-year-old is already regarded as one of the best women’s tennis players in the singles category, along with the likes of the reigning world number one, Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka.

Swiatek has recently participated in the ongoing Australian Open, where she narrowly missed a spot in the final of the first Grand Slam of the year for the first time in her career as she lost in the semifinal to America’s Madison Keys with a score of 5-7, 6-1, 7-6. It was the second time Swiatek failed in the semifinals stage, as previously, in 2022, she lost in the last four clash to America’s Danielle Collins in straight sets with a score of 6-4, 6-1.

Former world number one Roddick has been recently quoted in a report where he backed Swiatek to produce the goods on the hard court as well. The 42-year-old, who won one major title in his career, suggested that just because the current world number two is not as good on the hard court as she is on clay doesn’t mean that she is not good at all. Roddick further predicted that the Warsaw-born star would finish her career with nine French Open titles as well as three or four major titles in the other courts.

"Save it, just because she's not as good on a hard court as she is on a clay court, doesn't mean she isn't good on hard courts,” said Roddick. “One point away from being in the (Australian Open) final with a real shot, I don't know maybe Sabalenka is a slight favorite if she gets through but Swiatek is gonna win nine French Open and she is gonna win three or four other Majors."