Ash Barty has noticed two big improvements that Iga Swiatek has made at Wimbledon this year

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Ash Barty discussed the ways in which Iga Swiatek has improved since their last match.

The Australian is commentating on Wimbledon this year and she was courtside to watch the World number one in the second round.

The Pole entered the grass court Grand Slam with no matches played on the surface in the lead up.

But she has made a solid start to her most recent campaign at SW19 and Barty was one of those most impressed.

How does Ash Barty think Iga Swiatek has improved her game?

Barty had been the WTA’s World number one for over 100 weeks until she announced her shock retirement in 2022. Swiatek took over and since then has been the top-ranked player for all but eight weeks, when Aryna Sabalenka became the number one in 2023.

She has established herself as the sport’s most dominant player who is incredibly difficult to beat on any surface.

Analysing what has helped Swiatek become such a phenomenal player, Barty looked at the shots she has improved since she retired from the tour.

“I think the biggest improvement has been her serve and her forehand,” the three-tme Grand Slam champion said.

“Her backhand has always been world-class. Her ability to be positioned behind the ball in her backhand — you can see how strong she is when she throws herself into her open stance.

“But her ability to have more consistency, more heaviness on her forehand, she really forces you to pick a side to try and break down because they’re both very solid now.”

What is Ash Barty and Iga Swiatek’s head-to-head record?

Barty and Swiatek played one another twice before the Australian chose to retire in March 2022.

Their first contest came in 2021 at the round of 16 in Madrid, which Barty won 7-5, 6-4. It would take three years before Swiatek claimed the title in the Spanish capital for the first time.

The following year the pair contested the semi-final at the Adelaide International, prior to the Australian Open.

Barty claimed a 6-2, 6-4 victory and went on to win the title, before becoming the first Australian woman since Chris O’Neil in 1978 to win at Melbourne Park to the delight of the home crowd.