Iga Swiatek’s Australian Open heartbreak sparked criticism from some fans, but Andy Roddick isn’t having it. The 2003 US Open champion came to Swiatek’s defense in a fiery rant, making it clear that questioning her hard-court abilities is pure nonsense.
Swiatek’s Gut-Wrenching Loss to Madison Keys
Swiatek came agonizingly close to her second Grand Slam hard-court final, holding a match point at 6-5, 40-30 in the third set against Madison Keys. However, Keys fought back, snatched the match in a deciding 10-point tiebreak (10-8), and went on to win the tournament.
Swiatek was the tournament favorite after dominant performances in the earlier rounds, making her exit a shocker for many. And while most recognized it as a tough loss, some fans took it a step too far, suggesting that the world No. 2 can only win on clay.
Roddick Destroys the “Clay-Court Specialist” Myth
In his Served With Andy Roddick podcast, the former world No. 1 didn’t hold back, calling out ridiculous takes that Swiatek is only a clay-court player.
“I don’t wanna hear your chirping about clay versus hard versus anything else. Iga is gonna win a handful of Grand Slams on surfaces that aren’t clay. She just will, she’s 23.”
“Oh, by the way, while she’s trying to figure that out, she’s gonna win like five French Opens. So save it, everyone’s better on one surface. It doesn’t mean that the Grand Slams count any less. So save that st. You can have that.”**
Roddick’s main point? Being dominant on one surface doesn’t make you weak on another—it’s just how tennis works.
“Just because she’s not as good on a hard court as she is on a clay court doesn’t mean she isn’t good on hard courts. Where does that leave her on the all-time count? Save it. Some people are better on different surfaces.”
He’s absolutely right. Swiatek already has a US Open title (2022) and consistently goes deep in hard-court Grand Slams. To suggest that she’s somehow flawed because she hasn’t won multiple hard-court Majors yet is absurd—especially at just 23 years old.
Handling Pressure: Swiatek’s Mental Strength Shines
Roddick also praised Swiatek for how she handled adversity—including navigating a doping suspension scare that turned out to be a false alarm.
“Props to Iga. We’ve been questioning how the contaminated substance, melatonin situation was gonna affect her coming into Australia. She is someone that is not thirsty for attention, I think the last thing she wants is some kind of negative spotlight keeping her name out there.”
He also compared her point-to-point focus to Rafael Nadal, noting how her intensity and refocusing ability set her apart.
“Her intensity point to point is Rafa-like. She emotes more than Rafa, which makes us view her differently, but she’s right back in it.”
Swiatek’s ability to compete under pressure, deal with public scrutiny, and reset quickly is why she’s already a five-time Grand Slam champion.
What’s Next for Swiatek?
Despite the disappointing loss, Swiatek’s 2025 start is far stronger than her rocky 2024 campaign. That could be huge momentum heading into the Sunshine Double (Indian Wells & Miami) and eventually the French Open, where she remains the undisputed queen.
If anyone still doubts that Swiatek will win more hard-court Grand Slams, Andy Roddick has one final message:
“Save it.” 🔥
