Former Grand Slam victor, Lindsay Davenport, asserts that the primary obstacle for Iga Swiatek in the upcoming Indian Wells tournament is mental pressure. Davenport observed that Swiatek, who is currently ranked second in the world, appears to be under more stress on the court than ever before.
The 23-year-old tennis pro from Poland made headlines when she won her fifth Grand Slam title at the French Open in June. However, since that impressive victory, Swiatek has been unable to secure a title in the last nine months – a development that has surprised her fans and critics alike. Known for her knack for delivering exceptional performances in high-stakes games, Swiatek’s recent form has been a stark contrast to her past triumphs.
Swiatek’s performance this year has seen a series of disappointments, including losses to Coco Gauff in the United Cup final, Madison Keys in the thrilling Australian Open semi-final, Jelena Ostapenko in the Doha semi-final, and most recently, Mirra Andreeva in the Dubai quarterfinal.
Davenport, in conversation with tennis.com, remarked that Swiatek’s demeanor on the court has changed noticeably. “Swiatek doesn’t seem as relaxed or comfortable on the court. Whether it’s due to her recent performance or a change in coaching staff, I can’t say for sure. But she definitely appears more stressed,” said the American former world No. 1.
Swiatek, however, has shown remarkable performance at Indian Wells in the past. Since 2022, she has maintained an impressive 16-1 record at the tournament, clinching titles in 2022 and 2024, and making it to the semi-finals in 2023.
Despite Swiatek’s recent struggles, Davenport remains optimistic about her prospects at Indian Wells. She believes that Swiatek could possibly break her title-less spell in the tournament. “It sometimes only takes a single tournament, a single match, or even a single set for a player to regain their stride. Swiatek is lucky to be participating in one of her favorite tournaments. In my view, she is the favorite for Indian Wells,” stated Davenport.
