Andy Roddick has described what he feels is an under appreciated talent in Iga Swiatek’s game after the Madrid Open last week.
In a tournament that featured several unfortunate injuries, the WTA’s top two players contested a championship final in the Spanish capital for the second successive year.
It was Swiatek that prevailed in a three-hour classic and further established herself as the undisputed World number One.
The 22-year-old is particularly formidable on clay and she captured her first Madrid Open title with her Roland Garros title defence just around the corner.
Since becoming the WTA’s top-ranked player following the retirement of Ash Barty in 2022, no other player has been able to match the Polish star’s consistency.
Roddick explains an underrated aspect of Iga Swiatek’s game similar to Rafael Nadal
Swiatek has now been Number One for over 100 weeks and is showing no signs of slowing down. Her talents have impressed Roddick, who outlined one of Swiatek’s underrated Rafael Nadal-like qualities that is at the foundation of her success.
“Swiatek is really good at a lot of things. But the thing she is most talented at hasn’t been discussed, at least not given the credit that it should have,” the American said on his Served Podcast.
“There is a talent in the ability to be and stay disciplined, that is her superpower, she was talking about it after she won this match. Her idol is Rafael Nadal and she has that mentality where it’s like ‘head down’, next point. That is talent.
“To be able to do that, to be self aware enough and to go in even on your bad days and just get to the next point, the talent of her discipline from where Is it is unmatched. That side of talent doesn’t get talked about enough.
“That is a huge separation tool between the Iga Swiatek who is on her way to becoming one of the best ever and other players.”
Roddick makes a bold Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka prediction
Swiatek was determined to avenge her Madrid Open final loss to Aryna Sabalenka in 2023 and though she achieved her goal, it did not come without a fight.
The Belarusian contested five three-set matches in Madrid this year and came agonisingly close to defeat against Danielle Collins and Elena Rybakina.
She was one point away from beating Swiatek on three occasions, but the four-time Grand Slam winner saved all three match points before sealing a thrilling 7-5 4-6 7-6(7) win.
That win was the 20th title of Swiatek’s career and Roddick praised the finalists for their achievements in the game in a major way – by suggesting both were already hall of famers.
“We’re in the upswing now of legend’s careers. Sabalenka is now someone who has won two slams, has been number one in the world and won a bunch of masters 1000s, she’s a hall of famer already, she just is,” he added.
“My dumba** is in, she’s in. Swiatek, four majors, nine masters 1000 titles already, 20 total titles. 100 and more weeks at number one since Ash Barty retired. Swiatek is on the way to becoming one of the best players of all time.”
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