If Iga Swiatek retired today, she’d be a shoo-in for the Hall Of Fame.
But at just 24 years of age, there’s plenty more to come from the greatest Polish player of all time.
Six times a Grand Slam champion already, Swiatek will be after a seventh title in 2026.
Always a favorite at the French Open, perhaps Swiatek will reign victorious on the Parisian clay again later this year.
It’s not all good news for the world number two, though, as she hasn’t quite looked herself so far this year.
Swiatek lost to Belinda Bencic and Coco Gauff at the United Cup and was pushed to a deciding third set by Germany’s Eva Lys.
Heading into the Australian Open, there are some real question marks surrounding Swiatek’s ability to compete for the title.
Former Grand Slam semifinalist Andrea Petkovic shared her assessment of Swiatek during the latest episode of the ‘Becker Petkovic‘ podcast.
Andrea Petkovic says it will be ‘scary for the rest of the field’ if Iga Swiatek matures
Petkovic explained how one of Swiatek’s greatest strengths can also act as a weakness.
“When Iga [Swiatek] was a little more relaxed in Wimbledon, she won the title and dominated everyone, because I don’t think she had so many expectations of herself,” she said.
“And that’s often the case, I think, with tennis players, that their great strengths sometimes also mutate into weaknesses.
“Iga is the absolute most blatant perfectionist and has the highest standard not only of herself, but of all the people who are in her team, of her training sessions.
“Everything has to be perfect.
“And I think that makes her an absolute champion, she has already won Grand Slams, won six Grand Slams, and was the number one for a long time.
“But sometimes this perfection, which is impossible to achieve in tennis, is also [a problem].”
Petkovic thinks that if Swiatek can sort that out, she’ll become even more dangerous.
“She often fails to accept that things are not going that way right now and that she has to find a new solution,” she said.
“And if she can do that, she’s so young, we forget how young she is.
“I think if she still matures, she will play tennis better, which is scary for the rest of the field, because she is already so good now.”
Only time will tell if Swiatek can find solutions at the upcoming Australian Open…
Who will Iga Swiatek play at the Australian Open?
Entering the competition as the number-two seed, Swiatek was placed in the bottom half of the draw.
She will play China’s Yue Yuan in the first round, a match she’s expected to win.
The challenges will only get tougher, though, and several dangerous players are lurking in her section.
Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka could await Swiatek in the fourth round should both players make it that far.
Then, in the quarterfinals, Swiatek could play the likes of Elena Rybakina or the in-form Belinda Bencic.
She won’t want to get ahead of herself just yet, though, and will first focus on her opening match against Yuan.
Swiatek will play Yuan in the first round of the 2026 Australian Open on Monday, January 19.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
