"She's going to learn how to play better on it": Wilander believes Swiatek could be a success at Wimbledon without winning it multiple times
WTA
Seven-time Grand Slam winner Mats Wilander has backed world number
one Iga Swiatek to win Wimbledon despite not having a great record while
playing on the grass court.
The 22-year-old is the top-seed player in the women’s singles
category for this year’s mega-event, ahead of the likes of defending champion Elena
Rybakina.
Wilander, who never went on to win Wimbledon in his career,
while talking to Eurosport, believes that the current world number one can
still win the mega-event despite not having the best record while playing on
the grass court.
“She's going to learn how to play better on [grass] it,” he said.
“Is she ever going to be a better grass court player than a clay court player?
No. Is she going to be a better grass court player than a hard court player?
Most probably not. That doesn't mean she can't win the tournament.
“So, I think for her, the dream might not be there where ‘I
might win six or seven Wimbledons’, but she knows that the dream is alive. ‘I
can win Wimbledon.
"I know how to play on a grass court’. But she needs to keep
developing her game and she needs to realise that you're never going to feel
perfect on a grass court, not with her game.
“No one really does unless you hit aces and hit winners
because you're slipping and sliding. So Iga is a threat. She can Wimbledon
multiple times.”
Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.
He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.
In addition to his editorial work, Azeem has extensive experience as a data analyst in live sports broadcasting—particularly in cricket—where he combines analytical precision with creative storytelling. He has collaborated with multiple production companies and cricket boards worldwide, delivering real-time insights and data-driven narratives during live match coverage.
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