Swiatek is More Vulnerable on Grass But Can Still Win Wimbledon

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday June 28, 2023

During today’s ESPN press conference to promote the network’s coverage of Wimbledon, legend Chris Evert was asked a simple question: is Iga Swiatek more vulnerable on grass more than on other surfaces?

“100%, yes,” Evert replied, adding: “ I think her record reflects that.”

That being said, Evert still believes that Swiatek is in it with a chance to win it when it comes to this year’s Championships, which begin in full on Monday July 3rd.

“I’m nitpicking here because she’s No. 1 in the world and she’s great, and I think she can win Wimbledon, don’t get me wrong,” Evert said, “but there’s some little nuances in her game that might hurt her a little bit on the grass court that don’t affect her as much, that help her actually, on the other surfaces.”

The nuances: footwork and the forehand

Evert elaborated on the details, saying that it is simply more difficult for Swiatek to exploit her advantages in the departments of footwork and forehand on the slipper, lower-bouncing grass surface.

“She has such great court coverage in the sense of she can slide, her legs are very crucial, the court coverage is very crucial in her game,” Evert said. “In order for her to really get set for the ball, she has to know how to move and she has to be very comfortable and her footing has to be solid. Footing is not necessarily solid on the grass.”

Evert adds that it is harder for Swiatek to connect with the forehand at her waist-high sweetspot. Evert says that playing with an extreme western forehand grip makes it tougher to handle low-bouncing balls on the grass.

“I think that and the fact that she can’t really at this point feel super confident on the grass. I think she feels confident. She’s No. 1 in the world, the best player in the world, but this surface may take away a little bit of her strength, which is her moving because of the sliding,” Evert said.

The Serve an Issue as Well

Evert says that Swiatek’s serve is not necessarily tailor made for the grass game as well, particularly when compared to her key rivals, Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina.

“I think if you’re going to win Wimbledon, you’ve got to have a big serve, you’ve got to win free points off that serve,” she said. The players have been attacking her second serve a little bit. She doesn’t have that big Sabalenka, Rybakina first serve.”

Rybakina In a Tough Spot as Well

But Swiatek may benefit from the fact that some of…