Sunday, December 22, 2024

Having mirrored Nadal at Roland Garros, can Swiatek replicate Rafa at Wimbledon?

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“Swiatek has also changed her serve technique; she’s not standing still here, and this is why she’s such a great champion.

“If her second-serve points won percentage just creeps above 50 per cent this year, that could be really compelling. If her first-serve-unreturned percentage – the ability to generate cheap points on her serve – rises, say, from 26 to 35, I think that makes a world of difference for her. She may not have to get it to 50, like Rybakina.

“What does all of this translate to? It comes down to short points won. At Iga’s last two Wimbledons she’s won 53 per cent of those short points played, in the 0-4 shot range. Vondrousova won 58, Rybakina won 56.

“If Swiatek’s serve and return stuff improves even five per cent, I think she’s right there. There’s no good reason why she can’t translate that to being a legitimate title contender on the grass.”

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