Sam Querrey has made a strong statement about Iga Swiatek after her disappointing Madrid Open.
Swiatek broke a Serena Williams record after winning her opening match in Madrid, as she continues her work with new coach Francisco Roig.
However, her tournament came to an abrupt end after Swiatek retired from her next match against Ann Li due to illness and left the court in tears.
Swiatek has now won only two of her four clay court matches so far this year, and now former Wimbledon semifinalist Querrey has reiterated a controversial opinion he has about the Pole right now.
Sam Querrey claims Iga Swiatek is not one of the top five clay courters on the WTA Tour right now
Swiatek is the current world number four and is a four-time French Open champion, but Querrey does not believe she is one of the top five clay court players on the WTA Tour right now.
Querrey stated this on the Nothing Major Podcast, admitting he had received some criticism for making this comment recently.
Steve Johnson also gave his opinion on Swiatek’s current situation, claiming that he is now ‘officially hitting the panic button’ after the Madrid Open.
Where do you think she will be ranked?
“I am officially hitting the panic button,” said Johnson.
Querrey responded, “On Tennis Channel we were going over the top five clay courters right now and I didn’t have Iga in my top five.
“I got some pushback from it, because of her clay court results over the last five years. She has been the best over the last five years. But right now, she is not.
“I think confidence is the most important trait in tennis. She came into Madrid having not made a semi-final! She could not have been coming in very confident right now.”
Johnson added, “I’d put her in at five out of respect, but I don’t think she is a close five. I would put her on past results but I don’t think she is the fifth best player right now. I was not hitting the panic button until this week but we have officially hit the panic button now.”
Where is Iga Swiatek in the race to the WTA Finals?
Although recent results have not gone the way of Swiatek, she is actually confirmed to rise up the rankings after the Madrid Open and overtake Coco Gauff as the world number three.
However, Swiatek is in a much worse position in the race to the WTA Finals, which only tracks ranking points earned in 2026.
Will Elena Rybakina win the French Open?
If not, who do you think will?
Swiatek is currently 10th in the live race to the WTA Finals, but could fall even lower before the end of the Madrid Open.
The 24-year-old will have an opportunity to make up some ranking points at the Italian Open next week, where Swiatek is a three-time former champion, but lost in the third round last year.
Swiatek will then return to the French Open, where she has won the title in four of the past six years, but saw her 26-match winning streak come to an end against Aryna Sabalenka last year.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
