Andy Roddick shares what has him concerned about Iga Swiatek following her heavy Madrid Open defeat

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Iga Swiatek’s latest defeat sent shockwaves around the tennis world.

The World number two is usually very comfortable on clay, her most successful surface.

But Swiatek suffered defeat to Jelena Ostapenko in Stuttgart to begin her clay court season, before Coco Gauff claimed an emphatic 6-1, 6-1 victory in Madrid.

There is cause for concern around the five-time Grand Slam champion’s recent results, including from 2003 US Open champion Andy Roddick.

Why is Andy Roddick concerned for Iga Swiatek after her Madrid Open defeat?

In Madrid Iga Swiatek took on Gauff to try and reach her first final since losing to the American at the United Cup.

The 23-year-old had never lost to the American on clay before their meeting in Madrid, and Gauff put an emphatic end to that streak.

Swiatek managed to win just two games as she hit an astonishing 21 unforced errors while winning just 35% of her first serve points.

At one moment during the match Swiatek was in tears as she struggled to lift her game and Andy Roddick saw this as a cause for concern with Swiatek’s French Open title defence on the horizon.

”It is weird because for the last however many years, half a decade, the conversation has been Iga vs the field. Maybe that is the prediction. I remember us having that conversation on this show last year and I think I took Iga against the field,” Roddick said via his ‘Served Podcast.

“If you put Iga against Sabalenka right now, I think… I try not to be a victim of the moment, and I am not the one who is going to get hyperbolic about Iga on clay too quickly, but a one on one loss against somebody that you have dominated that rivalry up until the last three or four matches is cause for concern.

“There’s no chance she walks off that court and thinks my cup is full of confidence. So I think it makes the tournament a little more interesting. We are not starting from the answer.”

Iga Swiatek hopes to return to winning ways at the Italian Open

Swiatek claimed the Madrid, Rome and French Open titles in a historic 2024 clay court season.

The Pole will not be able to replicate that feat in 2025, but she still has a chance to win the French Open and defend the Italian Open title.

Her campaign in Rome will commence this week and should she get through her opening round, the dangerous Danielle Collins could be lying in wait.

Elina Svitolina could be Swiatek’s opponent in round four, and the quarterfinals could see Swiatek play Madison Keys or Naomi Osaka.

Jessica Pegula or Swiatek’s nemesis Jelena Ostapenko could be semi-final opponent, while Gauff or Aryna Sabalenka or Gauff may be on the other side of the net in the final.