Despite her impressive achievements in recent seasons, Iga Swiatek remains largely unproven on grass courts. However, the Polish player has a golden opportunity to claim her first Wimbledon title, as several of her main rivals are currently dealing with injuries and illnesses.
The five-time major champion has been a dominant force since becoming world No. 1 following Ash Barty's retirement in 2022, although none of her 22 titles have been won on grass. Fresh off her fourth French Open title and a 19-match winning streak, the 23-year-old heads to the All England Club ready to go beyond the quarterfinals for the first time and prove herself as an all-court player.
Swiatek decided to skip the tune-up events to stay fresh for Wimbledon, a decision that appears justified given the setbacks faced by other top players. Defending Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova suffered an injury at the Berlin Open, while world No. 3 Aryna Sabalenka retired from the same tournament with a shoulder issue. Ons Jabeur and Elena Rybakina also withdrew from their respective tournaments due to illness, leaving Coco Gauff as the only other top contender with an incident-free run.
Swiatek has acknowledged the challenge of adapting to grass but is optimistic about her chances. "I had these ideas, like doing a pre-season on grass so I can learn how to play there. Last year's result was pretty nice. I feel like every year it's easier for me to adapt to grass," she said after her Roland Garros win. Swiatek aims to continue improving her serve and overall game on grass, understanding that the conditions are different but remaining committed to working hard and performing better on the surface.
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