“The way she bagels people it scares me!”: Brit Star reflects on the intimidating power of Iga Swiatek

From a young age, Iga Swiatek has shown a remarkable ability to win sets without conceding any games, or to achieve big victories in many of her performances. Former World No. 84 Jodie Burrage commented that she is intimidated by the 5-time Grand Slam champion because of her ability to bagel her rivals.

The Brit spoke with Tennis365, and one of the topics discussed was facing the top players in the world, after her recent breakthrough into the top 100. Burrage has already faced players like Coco Gauff, Paula Badosa, and Aryna Sabalenka, although she admits her biggest fear is facing Swiatek, whom she has not yet played.

The Polish player not only boasts an incredible win-loss record (342-7 career, 61-9 in 2024), but has also highlighted her ability to bagel her opponents. In 2022, she won 22 sets 6-0, in 2023 she won another 23, and this season she has secured 14 sets without conceding any games. In total, in the past three seasons, she has achieved 59 bagels, more than any other player on the WTA Tour.

This is not new for Swiatek, who, during her junior days, earned the nickname "Eviswiatek" from some fans for how she would "eviscerate" her rivals.

Burrage, who was top 100 earlier in the year, spoke about the barrier she still feels when playing against the best players in the world. “They are a different gravy,” said Burrage. “It feels like I can’t actually compare myself to them yet.”

“When I played against Sabalenka in the second round of the US Open last year, I really wasn’t happy with how I played, but it was still only 6-3, 6-2,” she recalled. “I had a few break point chances and other opportunities. I wasn’t happy about how I hit my forehand in that match, and yet I still managed to win games and create chances.”

Burrage has a 1-3 record against top-10 players. Her only win was at the Eastbourne International, where she used her grass-court experience to defeat Paula Badosa (6-4, 6-3) when Badosa was World No. 4. She then lost in 2023 to Coco Gauff, Daria Kasatkina, and Aryna Sabalenka. “After playing them, you do realise they have holes in their game, but they are very good.”

However, for Burrage, perhaps the biggest threat on the WTA Tour is Iga Swiatek. Although the Polish player finished the year as World No. 2, she continues to demonstrate her ability to dominate most of her opponents with consistent 6-0 or 6-1 results. “Iga (Swiatek) scares me. The way she bagels people, it scares me!”

“I watch a lot of tennis now, and that’s something that has changed for me in recent years. I think it helps when you see what those guys do and how they play,” Burrage added. “So when I played Sabalenka at the US Open, it helped that I had watched her play a lot and knew what she would do.”

The 25-year-old Brit is preparing to start the season in the ASB Classic qualifiers, which begin on December 30. After finishing her participation in the tournament, she will head to Melbourne to prepare for the Australian Open, which she has entered with her protected ranking (No. 85) after being sidelined by an injury for several months between February and September 2024.