John McEnroe was left puzzled by Iga Swiatek's Australian Open exit as he didn't expect it but he was also surprised by the Polish player seeming unsure of what to do.
There seemed to have been a lot of doubt in Swiatek at the start of this year and it's not something that was there during her incredible run last year. McEnroe saw her as the clear favourite to win the event yet it didn't happen and it's left him puzzled as to what is going on. Speaking for Eurosport, the former player noted:
“I was surprised she lost. It did seem like she wasn’t settled as emotionally and has spoken about the pressure of being No 1. I covered Wimbledon last year and Rybakina is the kind of player who can take the racket out of your hand and she is playing at the level she was when she won Wimbledon."
He doesn't think she's been figured out:
"I don’t think the other players have worked out how to beat her. She covers a tennis court better than anyone I’ve seen. To me, with Swiatek, it is more mental than physical at this point. It’s about what is going on in her head. She seems unsure for some reason. Any time you win a couple of majors and become No 1 unexpectedly because a player retires, that is a massive change. I hope she can take a step back, appreciate what she has done and want to get back on the court and compete again."