Tim Henman has insisted that Iga Swiatek is still facing one big issue in her game.
Iga Swiatek began her WTA Finals title defense with a comeback win over Barbora Krejcikova, overcoming a challenging start to her first match in two months.
The world number two, pipped to top spot by Aryna Sabalenka, hadn’t played a match since her quarter-final loss to Jessica Pegula at the US Open in September.
Initially struggling, she was broken in the opening game of both the first and second sets.
Down 3-0 in the second set against the Wimbledon champion, Swiatek appeared in trouble but managed to turn the match around, claiming 13 of the next 17 games to seal a 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 victory.
Tim Henman highlights key Iga Swiatek weakness
Entering the deciding set, Swiatek quickly built a commanding 5-0 lead, putting herself in control.
While it was Krejcikova who struggled throughout with the intensity and length of the match, she did manage to break back to keep her hopes just about alive.
A composed Swiatek however ultimately closed out the win in just over two and a half hours, keeping alive her hopes of regaining the world number one ranking from Sabalenka with a tournament victory in Riyadh.
Striking a surprising ten aces – her serve being something Swiatek explained she’d been looking to improve – Tim Henman provided his own analysis, suggesting the victorious Pole was still struggling with something crucial.
He explained on Sky Sport’s tennis podcast: “I think it’s mentally as much as physically and technically. When I look at her game it’s so sound there doesn’t look like there is much which could go wrong. She is so aggressive off both wings and has a very good second serve,” he said.
“But I think she can overcomplicate it mentally,” Henman suggested. “There are times when she is on the court and I think she almost doubts herself. So I think that off season will be a great opportunity to lay the foundation for a big year in 2025.”
With Swiatek having hired Wim Fissette as her new coach, she is already targeting a big 2025 season, hoping to add to her five major titles.
Iga Swiatek has a tough test next against Coco Gauff
Swiatek faces a formidable challenge next as she takes on Coco Gauff in her second WTA Finals match.
Both players have recently brought new coaches on board – Gauff has hired Matt Daly – hoping to rediscover that Grand Slam title winning feeling.
Gauff, in particular, has started positively with her new coaching setup, claiming the Beijing title and showing impressive form since then, with a run to the Wuhan Open semi-finals.
While she demonstrated her dominance in her opening WTA Finals match with a convincing win over Pegula, Gauff has historically struggled against Swiatek, winning only once in their 12 career encounters.
Swiatek, who didn’t play any of the Asian events, may well be the fresher of the two, but Gauff’s recent momentum could make for an intense showdown.
